It seems that most of the file recovery software locations will eventually lead you back to MiniToolPartitionWizard. I used one to scan and it took several hours, and listed some of my files. I chose recovery and it then referred me back to MTPW. I will go searching for those old still "free" versions and see what happens. Tx for info
Do you recognize the label BU2TB in your screenshot? If so, you could try recovering that partition.
If your data is important, it safer to recover data first, then try the partition recovery.
The version you want is here, Download MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition 9.1 for windows - Filepuma.com
Download it and run the .exe installer. It automatically removes the newer version and ignore the popup stating there's a newer version available. As always you'll need to allow it memory access if you use Defender.
Please wait, after installing, for further input from @jumanji before trying anything.
As the scan is progressing (56%) you can see additional partitions present. I suspect that these are random "junk" indicators and only the 2nd one down is the one I want BU2TB (BackUp 2TB) ?
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So the scan finished, placed check mark in BU2TB label, expanded it and all my files are there. Now just getting them restored is the main task. Overlapped sounds troublesome.
Note the graphic presentation of the partitions.
OK, you hit the jackpot.
When you selected the partition named BU2TB, the preview map at the bottom turned to show your drive as it was before.
The 129 MB partition which shows as unallocated is the Microsoft System Reserved (MSR) partition. It will not show in WDM and not counted.(Is that you counted it as one partition and told that you had two partitions? We do not count it.Literally you had only one working user partition. I thought you must have had two user created data partitions.)
Normally 2TB drives come formatted as MBR drives. Did you at anytime initialise it as a GPT drive and formatted it?
Download PW v9.1 from Download MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition 9.1 for windows - Filepuma.com ( Yes, Fabler2 already told you)
With a newer version installed, you cannot install PW v9.1. So uninstall the current version of PW and install PW v9.1
With PW9.1 , run full scan, allow it to complete, select only the BU2TB partition, double click and check all the files are there. Close that Window and click on Finish. On the top menu bar click on Apply and your partition will be restored You will be returned to the first screen in PW. Assign a drive letter to the BU2TB partition > Apply. Close PW.
Important Note: If you also see a lost partition starting at LBA 34 and ending at LBA 264191 select that also. That will be the MSR partition.If done, in the preview map below the 129MB partition should show as Other instead of Unallocated.
Last edited by jumanji; 17 Mar 2021 at 02:03.
jumanji Thanks again for sharing your knowledge. The scan takes several hours, so I might start it right before sleep time tonight and hopefully will be ready in the morning
Do you recommend converting that G: drive to MBR or does it matter. ??
Also, you said to run a full scan, assume that being Data Recovery or Partition recovery??
At one point, I did format and change the drive type, but that was several years ago. The drive has been flawless since them. It was my inattention that caused this problem.mea culpa !
Last edited by meebers; 17 Mar 2021 at 12:46.
Actually you can stop the scan once the scanning progress field passes sector 264192. In that case you will definitely see the data partiion and BU2BP partiton will be shown. Whether PW 9.1 will find the MSR partition I do not know.If it finds it will show before the the BU2BP partition. In that case you will select both the MSR and BU2BP partitions before hitting Finish.
We are not doing Data Recovery. The partition table corresponding to the BU2BP partition will be written into sector 2 and hopefully your drive will be restored.
Let me see the Disk Management and PW screenshots before deciding on further proceedings.
I am off to bed now. its past midnight.
Thank you again. Uninstalled 12.3 and D/l 9.1 and installed. Ran partition wizard and did the scan.
@meebers
OK, PW9.1 did not find the MSR partition. Does not matter. Now complete the process.
Run Full Scan. You need not wait for the full scan to complete. Once the scanning progress field passes sector 264192. you can cancel the scan, select only the BU2TB partition by putting a tick mark in the square as in your last screenshot, and click on Finish. On the top menu bar click on Apply and your partition will be restored. You will be returned to the first screen in PW. Assign a drive letter to the BU2TB partition > Apply ( to assign a drive letter right click on the partition in PW > Change letter)
You should now be able to access the partition and access all file. Does that happen?. Post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management and PW ( the very first screen when you launch PW)
Thank you again. I followed your detail instructions and SUCCESS. The files are again back on G:. What a relief. First thing I did was attempt doing an image with MR. It was in the high 90% of completion when it error-ed out with what I believe was something like CRC errors? began checking individual folders etc. looking for the problem file(s). It turned out that quite a few problems were with MR image files and Quicken B/U files. So decided to do a lot of "Spring Cleaning" and keep only the last month or so. Now the used space is around 22GB. Repeated the MR attempt again and it was successful.
Being overly cautious, copied individual files and folders over as well. Did a Disk Cleanup/Tools/error check and windows found a lot of errors on the disk, followed by a repair and restart and things seem back to normal.
Will format the G: after a little more checking and lunch. jumanji you are a true GURU, grateful for your assistance !
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