External drive data Lost - Windows 10

Hi @callahan34

Let me start from scratch.

1. You have two internal disks, both SSDs.Your external disk is a Samsung HDD in a an external enclosure ( correct me if I am wrong). Plugin only the external drive, and post a screenshot of Windows Disk Management. Follow the guidelines here How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management

2. Launch Partition Wizard and post the screenshot showing the drives. - the very first screen when you launch PW.

Let me examine and decide what is to be done further.

Hi @callahan34.

As I expected your external disk is shown as RAW in Windows Disk Management.Partition Wizard shows that it is an MBR disk. That is all the information I wanted to proceed further.

(There iis only one discrepancy I have noted. In all the earlier screenshots its drive letter was E: . Now it is T:. I am just curious to know how it happened.)

That external HDD has a drive letter ( no matter what). Indicates the partition exists and it is rightly placed in the MBR at sector 0.

The file system is corrupt. We have to find out what exactly is corrupt in the file system and repair it if possible.

I am five and a half hours ahead of you and it is already approaching midnight.

I shall continue tomorrow.

@callahan34
Changing the drive letter is not a solution as you have seen.

Now continuing with my previous post:

You will be running TestDisk to ascertain what exactly is wrong with the file system.

1.First and foremost there is absolutely no need to hurry up. Take your own time and do things at your leisure and pace.

2. Have a look at my post here. WD Elements being read as RAW // Contents readable through app - Windows 7 Forums , The screenshots therein show how the workflow with TestDisk will be.

3. Read my post here Restore last data on external HDD

4. Explore the partition in the external disk with Partition Wizard and confirm that you can see all the data - as in the third screenshot in your post #1.

You are now Ready to go.

Download the latest stable version 7.1 from Partition Recovery and File Undelete .



Extract the testdisk-7.1.win.zip to the root of your system drive C:. You will run testdisk_win.exe in the extracted testdisk-7.1 folder. Create a short cut on your DeskTop

TestDisk should be run with administrator privileges - Run as administrator. Rightclick on it and "Run as administrator".

I repeat the steps here specific to your case.

If at any time you get a screen different from what is expected in this procedure as outlined or you have any doubts on how to proceed further, stop,take that screenshot, close TestDisk,post the screenshot and ask for clarification. Do not try to experiment on your own.

You can close TestDisk anytime by repeatedly pressing Q, or [Quit] command if available on the TestDisk window or clicking on X in the top Title Bar - the usual process to close a window.

Screen1: [No Log] Press Enter ( You will use the Up/Down Left/Right arrow keys to highlight/select any field in the TestDisk windows)

Screen 2: Highlight/Select your 1TB external HDD (identified by its capacity/device name) [Proceed] is already highlighted. Press Enter

Screen 3: Highlight/Select [Intel] (if it is not highlighted already) Enter
(Note: By default TestDisk will show the partition table type of the selected disk. In your case - MBR- it should be [Intel] - Intel/PC partition.)

Screen 4: Highlight/Select [Advanced] Enter

Screen 5: Does this screen show your single partition highlighted? Is [Boot] highlighted? Enter

Screen 6: will show the status of the Boot sector and Backup boot sector. Further action will depend on their status.

Various possibilities exist:

1. Boot sector - Bad
Backup boot sector - OK
Execute the [Backup BS] command ( writes the backup to the start sector of the partitïon when you confirm "y" in the next screen)

2. Boot sector - Bad
Backup boot sector - Bad
Execute [Rebuild BS] command ( Rebuilds the Volume Boot Record and writes it into the Partition start sector and partition end sector)

3. Boot sector - OK
Backup boot sector - Bad
Execute [ORG. BS] command. ( this will copy the original boot record in the partition start sector to the partition end sector and make it OK.)

The above three operations should repair the boot sectors and make your drive accessible. A reboot is required.

The fourth possibility and an important one:
Boot Sector - OK
Backup Boot sector - OK
Hmmm... both are good. Then what is the problem? MFT???
You will execute [Repair MFT] command.

If TestDisk says 'Both MFT and MFT mirror are OK" close TestDisk. You will run check disk on that volume to correct the file system corruption.

Caution: You will run checkDisk only and if only TestDisk confirms that your MFT is OK and you will not interrupt Check Disk for any reason. Running Check Disk when the MFT is corrupt will delete all data and all data will be lost irrecoverably. You will be left with an ultra-clean disk without any data.

Caution: You will run checkDisk only and if only TestDisk confirms that your MFT is OK and you will not interrupt Check Disk for any reason. Running Check Disk when the MFT is corrupt will delete all data and all data will be lost irrecoverably. You will be left with an ultra-clean disk without any data.

"Run check disk from command prompt.

Open Command prompt. Start > All programs > Accessories > Command Prompt

Type
CHKDSK K: /f /v /r /x Press Enter. Note: Replace K: with the actual drive letter of the external drive

Allow check disk to complete. Do not, do not, do not interrupt/abort for any reason.

If TestDisk says it is unable to repair MFT, you will have to use a commercial software to recover the files - GetDataBack or active @ File recovery. These are "try before you buy" software. If these show your files, you may be able to preview/open the files and check the file integrity. You can buy a license only when you are satisfied.

Have a good day.

@callahan34

Yes.That is good news. MFT is repairable in this case. Run checkdisk as indicated in my post. Note down the drive letter of the external disk and incorporate that drive letter in the checkdisk command. Run Command Prompt as administrator.

Before you run checkdisk adjust your power setting not to allow your PC go to sleep ever.

" When plugged in put my device to sleep after ...........Never"

Do not interrupt the checkdisk run for any reason. Be patient and let it complete even if it takes one day. Leave the computer alone -Hands off and no multitasking.

Good news... I guess that may prompt you to consider your backup regime!

callahan34 said:

jumanji Thank you ever so much.

I have got my drive back with my data.

Thank you so much for your help. Thank you everyone who has commented on this thread. I wish you all the very best of health.

That is great news .

I was waiting for this with bated breath. Every data recovery job is a challenge and nothing is certain until it is certain .

And yes, because of that it is imperative that you always backup your data as dalchina mentioned and live in peace.

Enjoy.