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Question

Help;HDD-Problem, Win10, no access, lost data, CHKDSK issues

Aug 11, 2018 12:38PM PDT

HDD not migrated, no access to stored Data, Lost drive access, defect SATA

My system runs on an SSD[eHappy and my programs on an HDD[eHappy (Barracuda 2TB).
I have an additional internal 2TB HDD for games (Hitachi)
Today I installed an additional 2TB HDD for media (Barracuda) [mHappy

In that process I switched up my SATA configuration on the mainboard (GA-Z97-D3H S1150)

After setting up the new drive I noticed that was missing.
After some testing I found out that the (till then unused) SATA port that I connect to was not working.

I plugged back into the old (working) port and on starting windows took a long time checking and repairing (canceled it first but as the drive was not visible I restarted and let it check).

Now: is visible as drive with only 465GB of space (which was the free space left) the folder is empty, and I am unable to see and access my data.
Checking with HDDtune the drive is healthy and undamaged.
CHKDSK is not working on it.
Same problem on different pc (adapter).
Disk management shows me the 2TB on the bottom as completely assigned but just the 465GB as partition size.
Last events report that the device has not been migrated, don’t know if that might help, all other devices are.

Does someone know what might be going on or a way to access the 1,5TB data, that seem to be still on the drive?

I guess that formatting is my last option, but the data loss would be a painful.

I am thankful for any help or direction to search.
My system is in German but if you need screenshots let me know.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
If this happened to me.
Aug 11, 2018 12:42PM PDT

I'd have my backup to fall back on but let's go with no backups.

1. STOP USING THAT HDD!
2. Remove it so we can work it later and install then setup your new HDD.
3. All working? Time to add the old HDD so we can run RECUVA on it (what is Recuva and tutorials are on the web) so we can pull what Recuva finds onto that new drive.

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thanks for the answer, but what happened?
Aug 11, 2018 12:46PM PDT

Thanks for the fast response,
I stopped using the HDD immediately and plugged it back in now that the system is working to see what happened.

Do you have an explanation what happened?
Will look up RECUVA

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I would be guessing.
Aug 11, 2018 12:53PM PDT

And with millions of PCs out there I can't tell you what happened but if you move the SATA cables from port to port there is a good chance the drive data can get corrupted. Why is something that would take too long to type in and will not help in recovery of the files.

I've never seen this happen when I'm adding a drive but have seen techs lose all the client's data if they change ports. It seems this advice is ignored by most. Until it happens. Then they learn why this and backup advice is handed out so often.

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Recuva over night
Aug 12, 2018 1:25AM PDT

Well it seems like most data has been overwritten.
Recuva is able to find a lot of files but the few that can be recovered easily are game assets that are useless without the the tree and knowing where it belonged to Sad
Funny is that some "excellent" files are from the future like 2061.

As it looks to me my only option is to format the drive and try to reinstall from my memory what has been on it.

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so what can I take out of this mess for the future
Aug 12, 2018 1:34AM PDT

You're saying that I shouldn't move SATA ports.

But to find the defect port I had to move my harddrives in order to test.
Luckily no other drive got corrupted although beeing on the same defect port.
So there have to bee other factors as it appears to me, anything you can add so I can understand the matter better?

With 1/4 ports defect and 3 hard-drives + 1CD-drive I will have to do some switching at some point and seeing that result I'm a bit scared.

(SSD&Main[eHappy are on a different ports so my advantage I didn't and wont touch them)

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Not sure what to add here.
Aug 12, 2018 8:16AM PDT

If you move a drive with data to other ports you risk an overwrite. It's that simple. It could be from a change in how the BIOS and OS maps drives but the rule is pretty simple. Backups and don't change ports until the backups are complete. Many don't want to believe this but once it happens to them, then they get it.

If there is a defective port, at the shop they rarely will work around such because the owners would likely sue for data loss which is another discussion about why we tell the owners we are not liable for data and have such in all service agreements. We try hard to not wipe out drives but at times the machines don't agree.