Windows 10 Installation- old windows data in secondary drive

Riz · 13 Mar 2017

Hi,

I am using Windows10 but because of some reason I've to reinstall it gain.

My system has two drives. Unfortunately, I forget to unplug my secondary drive that's 500GB and has 2 partitions (D & E).

When I completed the Windows, I got 2 options (1. Windows 10 Vol 1 & Volume 2). I went to volume 1 by default.

I saw that D drive has old windows' 10 but hasn't the 200GB data there.That 200GB data is very much important.

I ran some recovery tools but didn't work effectively. Kindly do help me out so I can get all my 200GB data.

Thanks in advance

Regards,
Riz

essenbe · 13 Mar 2017

If you would try, please look in the Users folder, yourusername and see if there are folders there like Desktop, Downloads, Pictures, Documents and such. If you didn't move your data to another location, that is where they should be. For example if your user name on that computer is Riz, your data should be in D:\Users\Riz.

If that does not work, please post a screenshot of your current C drive and E drive just like you posted your D drive above.

Also, please post a screenshot of Disk Management. This will tell you how if you need to know. Disk Management - How to Post a Screenshot of

Riz · 13 Mar 2017

Thank you for response Essenbe Sir

I've checked as you said. That drive contains the temporary data not the data has been removed.

Here is screen shots of all drives along with Disk Management.

essenbe · 13 Mar 2017

On disk D is where your data should be. Those are your libraries. Inside the pictures folder, your pictures should be in there, the same with Music and Documents.

Is that not your data on drive E?

It also appears your system is booting from Drive D. That drive has the System Flag, even though your current install is on another disk. That will happen if you do a clean install while another installation is connected. That would also be why you say you are getting the prompt to boot into Volume 1 or volume 2.

Riz · 13 Mar 2017

I've no any D drive data on drive E.

You said,

Code:

 "It also appears your system is booting from Drive D. That drive has the  System Flag, even though your current install is on another disk."

I just selected C drive and install Windows. I really don't know how it deleted D drive data. It was my mistake that I didn't unplug the secondary drive and while searching in internet, I came to know to unplug secondary drive when installing windows.

Is there any way to get my data back? I almost used many known data recovery software but in vain.

essenbe · 13 Mar 2017

Then on D drive there is nothing inside those user folders? In the screenshot of your E drive, it appears to be data folders. You can copy and paste them anywhere you would like to. I notice you have a Western Digital Passport drive. Have you done any backups of your data to it? If not I would strongly suggest you do regular backups to different drives in the future. It would avoid problems such as this. I have been right where you are, for a different reason. I learned my lesson and keep regular backups on 3 different external hard drives now.

I will try to get you some help recovering data. Until someone comes to help, I would suggest you try no data recovery programs. I would leave everything just as it is right now. You do not want to hurt what chances you have of being able to recover your files.

Riz · 13 Mar 2017

Alas! This time I couldn't have backup.. My bad luck perhaps.

I stopped the software which I ran for recovering data.

Kindly do help me out so I can get my important data back. That's much necessary data I've lost. Kindly do something. I shall thankful..

axe0 · 13 Mar 2017

Hi Riz,

As Essenbe mentioned, but I'll specify it a bit more, do NOT do anything with the D drive.
The D partition has 88% free space, there is a good chance that the data you want back is simply marked as free space but is still present.
What I recommend first, disconnect the D drive to prevent accidental write actions overwriting the files.
After the D drive is disconnected, you can prepare to recover data.

Riz · 13 Mar 2017

Hi axe0,

Thank you for reply,

How can I get data If D drive will be disconnected? Whereas D and E drive have the partition of 500GB drive.

f14tomcat · 13 Mar 2017

Riz said:

Hi axe0,

Thank you for reply,

How can I get data If D drive will be disconnected? Whereas D and E drive have the partition of 500GB drive.

@Riz

Before you reconnect the "D" drive, download and install this Recovery program. It's been around for quite a while and does a good job of recovering data that had not been overwritten, or even partially overwritten. It's Free.

Recuva - Restore deleted files, even if you've emptied the Recycle bin! - Piriform

Once one have it downloaded and installed, post back. Do Not connect the drive back up yet. OK?