data lost due to incorrect update

Question

On my acer windows 10 laptop it was asking for updates. After I ran update and restart, it ran a diagnostic repair and did not boot correctly. I had to restore the laptop using backup restore drive(USB which I had created immediately after first using the laptop). But now all my data has been lost and the drives have been un-partitioned(i had C, D, E and F drives before restore and now it only shows C drive). How do I recover my data stored on D and E drives. ).

Answer 1

You said in your first post that you did a restore from backup and that data and some partitions were missing - something you could not know if Windows wasn't starting. Nothing was said about WIndows not being able to start.

Now I understand WIndows will not start. You can try to rescue your files from the Command Prompt in the Repair Mode or bootable media which I'll provide you, following this method to rescue files when WIndows won't start: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Here are steps to recover from failed Updates or Version Update install which cause Windows to fail to start or function. If any steps won't work then report back and move on to the next. At least one step will always work, leading up to if necessary doing an automated Reset or a gold standard Clean Install:

1. Try whichever method works in this tutorial link to get into Advanced Startup Options to run System Restore or Uninstall Updates button, or if this is a version update Go Back to Old Version: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc....

Easiest is to restart or force shutdown the PC 3 times to force it into Repair Mode.

If you are able to access System Restore or Go Back and it fails, skip to step 3.

2. If necessary borrow another PC and follow the steps in the middle of this download page to create bootable installation media to access the repair options if not accessible by any other method: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... The bootable media is also the only method that doesn't require the password if you're stuck on that.

Boot media by powering up the PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

You may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup to turn off Fast Boot if it won't allow the Boot Menu key to interrupt starting Windows: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

Choose UEFI version of media if offered, browse to second screen to Repair Your Computer link.

3. Choose Advanced Troubleshoot options to run System Restore, the new Uninstall Updates button, or if this was a version Update choose More Options to Go Back to Old Version.

If it rolls back then you can hide the Windows Updates and Version Upgrade responsible until they mature by installing and running immediately the Hide Updates tool: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

There is a new option after Version 1809 to roll back Windows Updates from the Repair Mode in Option Four here: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

If this fails try a Startup Repair, or go back to Troubleshoot Options on the previous screen to Reset your PC which will save your files while reinstalling Windows.

4. If that fails you can use the booted media created in Step 2 to Clean Install the latest version which should get you past all difficulties as it has hundreds of thousands of others who have followed the steps in this link and never come back to report another problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/wiki... The link compiles the best possible install of Windows 10 that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given.

There is a step to rescue files from the same bootable media: http://answers.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/wiki...

Make sure during the booted install to follow the illustrated steps to delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, then click Next to let it auto-create the needed partitions, format them and begin install - this makes it foolproof.

The media provided for the Clean Install is latest and normally the problems go away with the Clean Install, however if they don't you can find earlier version media to use here: https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php

Burn to DVD or create bootable 8+gb flash stick installer using this tool installed to Windows: https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/download/detail...

Then once you're back in Windows 10, you can block the problem Update using one of these methods:

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

For Version Updates the most stable method to install is using the media as shown in these steps for overcoming Version Upgrade problems: http://answers.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/wiki...

Good news, Microsoft is giving back to users more control over Updates as announced recently here: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/201...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Answer 2

Hi AA. I'm Greg, a Volunteer Moderator and 10 years Windows MVP here to help you.

What exact recovery did you run to reinstall Windows without making sure your files were backed up first and protected? Was it the Reset? Did you make sure you chose the option saving files as shown here: http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/reset-windows...?

Even if you told it to save files the Reset is dependent upon the same onboard files that may be corrupted, so a better choice would be to doa System Image Recovery using a stored image you made ahead, or the gold standard Clean Install which I'll provide here so you'll have it in the future:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Please post a screenshot of Disk Management, which I read like a doctor reads X-rays. Follow the steps here so I can see everything needed to advise you: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/foru...

If you see your data drives on the drive map at bottom of Disk Mgmt, you might be able to get them to show up in Explorer by right clicking to assign a Drive Letter. Otherwise the Recovery may have deleted those partitions, another reason why files must always be backed up if you value them at all.

FILE BACKUP -

The safest and most reliable backup method is to sort your files into their User Folders (Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Downloads, etc) and periodically drag or copy them to external or another hard drive. See tips for copying large groups of files here: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2086566/the-man...

Then have one other Cloud backup so your files are safe from fire and theft and easily accessible via the internet just like email. Some suggestions to help ease into this habit:

You can drag or copy 5gb for free into OneDrive app to store in the cloud where they are safe from fire and theft. You can also choose to sync the Desktop, Pictures and Documents folders (only) in OneDrive app Settings > Backup for real time backup. More here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/116029-turn...

If you install Google Drive, you can use their new Backup to choose ANY User folders (Documents, Pictures, etc.) to sync up to 15g for free to their cloud in real time. You can also drag/copy selected files into Drive folder. More here:

https://www.blog.google/products/photos/introdu...

Besides your files you should back up a System Image to use in place of reinstall in 20 minutes. The best free alternative is Macrium: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/7363/macrium-ref....

There is an easy way to mount the System Image to extract files if needed. Some prefer to move their User folders off of C to make the image smaller and so they stay current if you need to re-image C. Here's how: http://www.dummies.com/computers/operating-syst...

This way if Windows ever becomes irreparable you can restore C in 20 minutes from recovery media, and your files will be current and safe in their own separate partition. If they are left on C they will be dated from when the image was taken.

Another useful built-in backup is to schedule daily Volume Shadow snapshots which will make every file have a daily backup on it's Properties > Previous Versions tab:

https://pureinfotech.com/enable-previous-versio...

I regularly recover lost Sticky Notes this way from it's backup location here:

https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/how_to_...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and keep me posted. If you'll wait to rate whether my post helped you, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Answer 3

I'm sorry that Reset did not save your files as it promised. Reset is reliant upon the onboard Windows files which may be corrupted just like Windows. So it's best to run it from bootable media. Had you asked here I would have showed you how to create and boot media and rescue your files first so there would be no chance.

Check for a C:\Windows.old folder which may have files archived. Also Rest doesn't normally have the ability to delete partitions. Is it possible they're still there and the new WIndows just didn't assign them a drive letter? You can do this in Disk Management.

So I can help you be sure, post a screenshot of Disk Management, which I read like a doctor reads X-rays. Follow the steps here so I can see everything needed to advise you: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/foru...

If the partitions holding your data were formatted over (like C was to reinstall Windows) then it's almost impossible to recover files. But you can still try running Recuva: http://www.piriform.com/recuva/features to see what it finds.

Answer 4

You said in your first post that you did a restore from backup and that data and some partitions were missing - something you could not know if Windows wasn't starting. Nothing was said about WIndows not being able to start.

Now I understand WIndows will not start. You can try to rescue your files from the Command Prompt in the Repair Mode or bootable media which I'll provide you, following this method to rescue files when WIndows won't start: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Here are steps to recover from failed Updates or Version Update install which cause Windows to fail to start or function. If any steps won't work then report back and move on to the next. At least one step will always work, leading up to if necessary doing an automated Reset or a gold standard Clean Install:

1. Try whichever method works in this tutorial link to get into Advanced Startup Options to run System Restore or Uninstall Updates button, or if this is a version update Go Back to Old Version: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc....

Easiest is to restart or force shutdown the PC 3 times to force it into Repair Mode.

If you are able to access System Restore or Go Back and it fails, skip to step 3.

2. If necessary borrow another PC and follow the steps in the middle of this download page to create bootable installation media to access the repair options if not accessible by any other method: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... The bootable media is also the only method that doesn't require the password if you're stuck on that.

Boot media by powering up the PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

You may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup to turn off Fast Boot if it won't allow the Boot Menu key to interrupt starting Windows: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

Choose UEFI version of media if offered, browse to second screen to Repair Your Computer link.

3. Choose Advanced Troubleshoot options to run System Restore, the new Uninstall Updates button, or if this was a version Update choose More Options to Go Back to Old Version.

If it rolls back then you can hide the Windows Updates and Version Upgrade responsible until they mature by installing and running immediately the Hide Updates tool: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

There is a new option after Version 1809 to roll back Windows Updates from the Repair Mode in Option Four here: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

If this fails try a Startup Repair, or go back to Troubleshoot Options on the previous screen to Reset your PC which will save your files while reinstalling Windows.

4. If that fails you can use the booted media created in Step 2 to Clean Install the latest version which should get you past all difficulties as it has hundreds of thousands of others who have followed the steps in this link and never come back to report another problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/wiki... The link compiles the best possible install of Windows 10 that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given.

There is a step to rescue files from the same bootable media: http://answers.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/wiki...

Make sure during the booted install to follow the illustrated steps to delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, then click Next to let it auto-create the needed partitions, format them and begin install - this makes it foolproof.

The media provided for the Clean Install is latest and normally the problems go away with the Clean Install, however if they don't you can find earlier version media to use here: https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php
Burn to DVD or create bootable 8+gb flash stick installer using this tool installed to Windows: https://www.microsoft.com/de-de/download/detail...

Then once you're back in Windows 10, you can block the problem Update using one of these methods:
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&...

For Version Updates the most stable method to install is using the media as shown in these steps for overcoming Version Upgrade problems: http://answers.microsoft.com/de-de/windows/wiki...

Good news, Microsoft is giving back to users more control over Updates as announced recently here: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/201...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

______________________________________________
Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Greg Sir,

My files have been lost because I had already reset the laptop as mentioned. Is there any way to get the data back after system reset.

The system after being reset is showing only C drive and no other drives.

Answer 5

Greg Sir,

The laptop did not boot. It showed a blue screen with options like advanced recovery, system repair, etc.

I first tried system repair but It was asking for password. I entered the correct password but it was not accepting.

Then I tried to reset the laptop using either the USB, or windows CD/DVD or through the Net. I selected the option of resetting windows through the USB and then it asked for two options: One was to keep files and other option to completely delete everything.

I selected the option of keeping the files but still all data was removed. It had shown the following image before the final reset.

Is it possible to recover the data now. I really need the data as it was all personal files photos and study documents collected over 8 years.