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Windows 8 isn't detecting HDD my partitions. HELP! :-(

Aug 18, 2013 4:34PM PDT

Hi folks,
MY REQUEST : PLEASE READ MY FULL POST - THANK YOU
PLEASE DONT OVERLOOK
This is my very first post on Cnet. And I am expecting someone would reply. ( I'm impressed with the Cnet experts and hope they will solve my problem)
.
So recently my windows 7's some system files got corrupt . won't start after windows logo (when the arrow shows up=>always bsod, even in safemode). so I decided to format C and install fresh windows 8.
.
Then I had four partitions
C:\windows(7)
D:\Softwares
E:\Games
F:\Mix Stuff.

My plan was to format C (of course for windows Cool and D (as C had only 20Gb space so I thought I would also format D 46Gb and give C 45Gb and D 20-21Gb as it was useless to me and contained only a bunch of crappy softwares ). Well, it FAILED here's how. after formatting C and D I deleted them thinking that boths unallocated space will merge. but it DID'NT.
After deleting I tried creating new partition on D but it FAILED "we cannot create create new partition" (search google 'cause others also sometimes have this ****** error many times). Then I did same thing with C and it WORKED. I had to give it again 20Gb (maximum) - NO CHOICE.
Then I installed Windows 8 on C. (thinking I will later format D on desktop)
.
Now here's the scenario : I DO NOT WANT TO FORMAT E:\ AND F:\ AS IT CONTAINS MY PRECIOUS DATA.

After the startup config, 'Startup' came up I went to Desktop then Computer and then wow what????
WHERE THE HELL ARE OTHER PARTITIONS????????
Only C:\ I found there 7.67Gb free of 19.5GB.
Where are others gone .
I am begging you please HELP. Don't overlook it. P.L.E.A.S.E

UPDATE : MORE TROUBLE
.
What a sad day for me. I went to disk management and saw only (C:\) other 138Gb (something) was unallocated space
.Then just for checking I booted my pc from windows installation usb and on the drive screen I saw C 19.5-20Gb and same Unallocated space 138Gb.
PLEASE TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED IF THE DRIVES WERE DELETED CAN MY DATA BE BROUGHT BACK??? USING SOME TOOL?
PLEASE DONT IGNORE.

Discussion is locked

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Re:partitions
Aug 18, 2013 5:01PM PDT

You won't be happy with a c-drive of only 20 GB. If I were you I would make this hard disk one partition of 160 GB.

If your precious data from E and F isn't on a backup (precious data should be on a backup ALWAYS, don't you think, if only a copy on a USB-stick) you might have lost it.

See if the program Bob mentions in http://forums.cnet.com/7723-6138_102-599642/accidentally-delete-a-partition-how-to-get-back-the-files/?messageId=5488597#message5488597 can restore those partitions. If not, have a look at the data recovery programs mentioned in http://forums.cnet.com/7723-7588_102-354911/lost-and-found-or-the-storage-forum-sticky/

Kees

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Thanks
Aug 18, 2013 7:16PM PDT

Thank you very much for giving your time, Kees. I know 20 GB is not enough that's why I wanted to make it 45 GB but it failed ( as I have mentioned above in my post ). I don't store much heavy data so 160 GB HDD is just enough for me ( I think ). And yeah I didn't had my data on E:\ and F:\ backed up Sad Now lets try my luck here.

Now this is what I've wanted to ask :

On disk management, there is (C:\) drive 20 GB and unallocated space 129.48 GB.
Now should I create a single partition of 129.48 GB and then use the tools or should I keep it remained untouched and use the tools? Actually there should be the data of E:\ and F:\ on that unallocated space ( If I am lucky). Just to make things more clear:
.
E:\ AND F:\ WERE PRE-PARTITIONED(NTFS) "LOGICAL" DRIVES FROM WINDOWS 7. I DID NOT FORMAT THEM. THEY JUST BECAME UNALLOCATED SPACE UPON INSTALLING OF WINDOWS 8.
.
Also someone suggested using Hiren's BootCD and GWscan. Please advise me further. More help is appreciated. THANK YOU

- Hamza

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Re: recovery
Aug 18, 2013 7:24PM PDT

Don't touch that unallocated space except with the recoverytools like Bob's TESTDISK and GETDATABACK.

It's unsure if the data can be recovered in-place. I'd prefer a recovery program that writes a copy of what it can recover to another disk. Since your c-drive obviously is too small to receive everything, I'd find a USB-stick or an external hard disk for that purpose. Quite useful for a backup copy (one of your backups!) afterwards.

Kees

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thanks again
Aug 18, 2013 8:39PM PDT

Thank you Kees. Will try TestDisk and GetDatBack. Yeah it is unsure if I can get it in place. Can you tell me if these will recover selective data or they would just recover all the data that could be found? Reply is appreciated. Happy

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Re: recovery
Aug 18, 2013 8:46PM PDT

Luckily, I've never needed programs like that myself, so I can't tell you.

If these 2 fail, there are others to try. Just let me mention RECUVA and ZERO ASSUMPTION RECOVERY.

Kees

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recovery
Aug 18, 2013 9:57PM PDT

Oh, right. Thanks for the programs. Also have you or anyone you know, used Hiren's Boot CD before?
I think it contains some diagnostic programs plus disk utilities. If you have, please do share your experience. BTW how much size USB or External HDD will you suggest me?

- Hamza

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While I've used such programs and discs.
Aug 19, 2013 12:39AM PDT

The one thing you learn is that you rarely find yourself repeating the same procedure. Unless you consider trying one title after the next the same procedure.

The folk new to this get really upset there is not "the one", the single tool and advice that works for most situations.

For now, if folk don't backup, then we will continue to have these discussions.
Bob

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LOTS OF PROGRAMS..
Aug 19, 2013 2:37PM PDT

Bob's right. Newbies do get upset. While I think I don't have much problem myself in trying one program after another. But what I am worried about is about:
a) Which one should I go with first?
b) Would these programs distort (or corrupt?) my data (so that it would become unrecoverable) just by diagnostic and "trying" to recover? (Of course if one fails and I have to try another).
.
Till date, I have came to know of these:
1. Hiren's Boot CD=>GWscan+WDdiag ( A guy specially advised me to use these from HBCD first before using any other tool)
2. TestDisk
3. GetDatBack
4. EaseUS
5. Recuva
6. Zero Assumption Recovery
7. AOMEI Partition Assistant
8. Rescue Kit by Paragon Software Group
9. Mini Tool Partition Wizard Bootable CD
. Can you tell me if the programs that you used fixed yours on one go? Or you tried again with the others? Thanks

Hamza

P.S. If I ask you to pick one out of these nine which one you would go for? Happy

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Re: which one
Aug 19, 2013 5:00PM PDT

I'd first make a sector-by-sector copy of that disk on another disk, so that - when a tool fails and corrupts the data even more, I could copy it back before using another tool.

Kees

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Good list.
Aug 20, 2013 12:13AM PDT

As noted a clone (sector) copy is best so you can try it all on copies without risk to the original.

-> Can you tell me if the programs that you used fixed yours on one go?

Sorry if I was unclear. The damage is never the same so the tools are never the same.
One thing remains constant, it would have been a non-event if folk had backups. That's plural.
Bob

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Problem Solved...!!!!
Aug 20, 2013 1:36AM PDT

Thank you very much Kees and Bob for your help. Now my freaky problem is finally solved. I was very confused because of so many programs and was thinking "Which one should I go for first?". So I searched on google for a better one. First video I saw was of a guy explaining and using EaseUs Partition Master. So I thought lets go for it first. I got EaseUs Partition Master Professional and scanned unallocated space and Ah! There. I got my E:\ and F:\ drive back INTACT :-D
Now I WOULD REALLY BACKUP MY IMPORTATNT DATA (LESSON LEARNED). Thank God. Once again thank you and BLESS you.

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Install AOMEI Partition Assistant
Aug 19, 2013 5:22AM PDT
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Problem Solved...!!!!
Aug 20, 2013 1:38AM PDT

Thank you too Daniyal. Happy