accidental format of external hdd using win32diskimager

niall300

Hi all
I was tryiing to create a linux image on my sd card but accidently put it on my external hdd, which appears to have formatted my external hdd, with my entire music collection, is there any way back from this, It did it so quick that I find it hard to believe that it managed to properly format the 600gb drive. The only thing visible at the moent on the drive is a few linux files. I a hoping the files are still there somewhere, Any suggestions to get the back would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

yoyo

Use Testdisk to see if you can recover the partitions, also use PhotoREC to recover the files to a different drive (i.e: not the formatted one)

Nick

niall300

thanks

trying those now but I have a feeling that once the linux image wrote to the disk it may have lost the existing data on the disk. although it was way too quick for a format of a 640gb hdd. so fingers crossed.

the_syco

niall300 wrote: »

thanks

trying those now but I have a feeling that once the linux image wrote to the disk it may have lost the existing data on the disk. although it was way too quick for a format of a 640gb hdd. so fingers crossed.

Once you don't use the disk at all, and recover the files from another disk, you should be okay. When you say "t was way too quick for a format of a 640gb hdd" it sounds like it may have just deleted the contents table, but the files are still there. Any decent file recovery software should enable you to get your stuff back.

yoyo

niall300 wrote: »

thanks

trying those now but I have a feeling that once the linux image wrote to the disk it may have lost the existing data on the disk. although it was way too quick for a format of a 640gb hdd. so fingers crossed.

Unless files were actually copyed over onto the disk then all your data should be ok, I can't imagine much if any files being corrupted!

Nick

niall300

the only files that appear to be on the disk are the linux boot files, so not looking good I think. the software you suggested is running for the last two hours currently at 45% and doesn't seem to have found anything other than the linux files.

yoyo

niall300 wrote: »

the only files that appear to be on the disk are the linux boot files, so not looking good I think. the software you suggested is running for the last two hours currently at 45% and doesn't seem to have found anything other than the linux files.

Thats normal, just let it run,. use photorec btw, instead of testdisk may help

Nick

niall300

Now using "paretologic" free download, it is currently scanning and it is finding all my files, a great piece of software, however i suspect the scan is free but the file recovery is not. i think the software costs 80 dollars, a bit steep! Luckily I have my music backed-up and my movies are easy enough to re-download. The real issue is my photos and a couple of important documents. So I am wondering if anybody has a way of retrieving these photos cheaply?

yoyo

niall300 wrote: »

Now using "paretologic" free download, it is currently scanning and it is finding all my files, a great piece of software, however i suspect the scan is free but the file recovery is not. i think the software costs 80 dollars, a bit steep! Luckily I have my music backed-up and my movies are easy enough to re-download. The real issue is my photos and a couple of important documents. So I am wondering if anybody has a way of retrieving these photos cheaply?

Recuva is fully free and also good, may be easier to use than PhotoREC.
Edit: Just to say again don't pay for software, the free ones will do as good a job!

Nick

niall300

thanks for all your help nick much appreciated, have to wait until scan is finished before i will know if it will let me recover the files that i want. otherwise will try recuva, will let you now how i get on.

regards
niall

niall300

I have managed to recover a lot of my files thanks to everyone here. I used paretologic pro, but nowm y external hdd is only showing a capacity of 64mb even after another format, How do i get back y other 550gb?

bonzodog2

Remove all partitions and create a new one.

niall300

thanks again for all the help. Used disk management in windows to sort the partitions and reformat, now have my 600gb back.

regards
niall