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Accessing files in unallocated space of hard-drive

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  • 14-12-2009 12:27pm
    #1
    cash22
    Registered Users Posts: 30 ✭


    Hi there,
    I recently left my WD harddrive in an internet cafe.....I got it back (phew!) but now all of my files seem to be hidden in a newly created unallocated space in the drive.

    It is a 250gb drive, however when I go into disc management only 30gb is allocated to a drive, the remaining 220gb is unallocated space. None of my original photos/music files are in the 30gb portion, however I ran a scan of the harddrive which showed up missing photos etc so I'm assuming that my files are all in the unallocated portion of the drive.

    And so my question:
    Is it possible to allocate this 220gb to a drive and recover my files or will they be wiped by this process. If so, how do i get my files back. Help!


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    #2
    Cluster
    Registered Users Posts: 247 ✭✭Cluster


    cash22 wrote: »
    Hi there,
    I recently left my WD harddrive in an internet cafe.....I got it back (phew!) but now all of my files seem to be hidden in a newly created unallocated space in the drive.

    It is a 250gb drive, however when I go into disc management only 30gb is allocated to a drive, the remaining 220gb is unallocated space. None of my original photos/music files are in the 30gb portion, however I ran a scan of the harddrive which showed up missing photos etc so I'm assuming that my files are all in the unallocated portion of the drive.

    And so my question:
    Is it possible to allocate this 220gb to a drive and recover my files or will they be wiped by this process. If so, how do i get my files back. Help!

    What in the name of Christ happened it??

    Thats really weird, there was tampering going on somewhere.

    I'd get a rescue cd on the case and transfer all the files onto another disk before I did anything else.


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    #3
    cash22
    Registered Users Posts: 30 ✭cash22


    I know! Very weird! There's random C drive files on the 30gb portion. I think someone was trying to mess with my head (successfully!)

    So I'm not the most tech-savvy person. A rescue CD???

    The problem with transferring the files is that I can't access them in the first place as there all in this unallocated limbo!

    I was going try this but I'm worried that it will wipe all the files that are on the unallocated portion


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    #4
    MunsterCycling
    Registered Users Posts: 4,864 ✭✭✭MunsterCycling


    Try http://www.filehippo.com/download_recuva/ it should be able to do something for you.


    MC


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    #5
    extra-ordinary_
    Registered Users Posts: 1,319 ✭✭✭extra-ordinary_


    What was the original configuration of the drive - one partition of ~250GB?
    Is there any data on the new 30GB partition?

    Sounds like the 250GB partition has been deleted and a new 30GB partition created leaving the remaining space on the drive unallocated. Creating a partition in this unallocated space will further overwrite your lost data. You will need recovery software to recover the data from the unallocated space. Have a search online for 'Hirem's Boot CD' - it contains loads of support tools including a few recovery programs.


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    #6
    monkeypants
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,386 ✭✭✭monkeypants


    Sounds like someone encrypted it, just to mess with your head.


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    #7
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 90,838 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    most likely it was removed before it was safe to do so
    and the partition table took a hit

    use testdisk to rebuild the partition


    - always click on the icon to eject it and wait OR wait until the PC has shutdown


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