[Unable to access all data on 200+Gb partition after re-installing Windows on C:\ ]

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some advice on this. Here's the deal...

A while ago, my desktop crashed out because of a corrupted system file. I couldn't repair it, delete it, or replace it, so I formatted my c: partition and reinstalled windows. Now I have windows up and running, but a whole lot of folders and files are missing from my e: partition. The drive info says the e: partition has 189GB used out of 219GB, but I can only access about 11GB worth of data/files/folders. This makes me believe it's still there somewhere, but I can't find out how to get to it. I am signed in on the admin account and have hidden files and folders visible.

My instinct tells me it might be a registry problem... Any ideas anyone?

 

Oh yeah... and I'm running XP Pro w/ SP1.

 

Hi, C. Welcome to Windows BBS!

I'm sorry I am not familiar with your issue.

However, this Microsoft KB document might assist you in your investigation:

How to gain access to the System Volume Information folder

I suspect gaining access to the System Volume Information folder for your troublesome drive can potentially be dangerous. (I have never done so.) So I advise you tread carefully if you decide to go that route.

There are several people here that are very familiar with Windows XP. I expect someone will be able to offer guidance.

 

Well, I accessed the folder, but I don't know enough to be comfortable playing around in there on my own. I'll wait for some more assistance on the matter.

Thanks, mailman.

 

More information that I just thouhgt of (don't know how I didn't realize this earlier)...

Any folders contiaining installed programs are still there and visible; folders only containing other files (media, documents, etc) are MIA. Is that a clue?

 

Arie,

Thanks, but no dice. The first step requires that I ... "1. Right-click the folder that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties." ... which I can't do because I can't see the folders in the first place. Going to the command prompt and doing a dir does not display the missing folders either, nor does trying to witch to the missing directories with a cd\ command.

-Carlton

 

Carlton

Have you gone into your internet options and the tap at the top that says Advance, look in there for something that say Show Hidden Files. If you do have something that says that put a check mark in there. That might help show your hidden files. It worked for me on hidden files if it's the same problem I had. If not I have no idea .

Good Luck

Wisegal

 

Wisegal,

Already tried that, to no avail. Thanks for the effort, though!

-Carlton

 

By formating you removed all references to anything on the E:

I am willing to bet that a lot of things on the E: drive will need to be re-installed.

Or even anything that was on the C: drive that used the E: drive.

BillyBob

 

The programs are still there, though, just not the other files, so not everything was lost. Assuming you are correct, however, my question would be is there any way to get back the lost data (or rather the references to it). The programs I'm not worried about. It's mostly my huge and relatively expensive digital music and movie collection.

-Carlton

 

So I found a solution to my own problem, and I figured I'd share with everyone...

I went to the "administrative tools" in the control panel, and opened "services ". I restarted the "Distributed Link Tracking Client" (which maintains links between NTFS files). When I looked in my e:\ directory, there was a folder "found.000 ", and this folder contains a bunch of folders each named "dirWXYZ.chk ", where WXYZ are ordered numbers. Each of these folders contains data from one folder prior to the format. ...now I just have to go back and rearrange everything, but at least it's there!!!

Thanks for all the assistance everyone, and I hope that someone else can learn from my experience as well!

Best,
-Carlton

 

Hi, C.

Perhaps these links will help.

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec

 

BTW, I should add a disclaimer.

I have no experience with the particular software I referenced above. I also have no knowledge of the software's reputation. Proceed at your own risk.

However, this link is the source that led me to the two URLs I posted above.


EDIT: THANKS to the person who modified C's thread title to more accurately reflect C's problem. I used that to Google Unable to access all data partition after re-installing Windows and that search is what ultimately led me to the links I provided above.

 

Mailman,

Thanks for the TestDisk link. After rearranging everything I realized some things are missing or corrupted (although few, luckily) so I'll give it a shot and let you know how it went. ...Oh, and I wikipedia'd it and it's certainly legit.

Thanks!
-C

 

That's GREAT news, C! I'm glad you're making progress!

Thanks for following up with details. If you run into bumps along the road, please consider sharing those details as well in case someone else with a similar problem finds this thread.

 

One final update:

While going back and trying to rearrange all the folders back into the order from whence they originated, I realized that there were a reasonable amount of files missing (maybe 10%) and even more that were there but corrupted (maybe another 20%). There were also a lot of .chk files in the folders, which I tried to restore using software found here, which restored a lot of the various media types of files. All in all, with a bunch of data corruption and missing data, sorting throuh my e: drive feels like something reminiscent of driving through WWII Paris. At the end of the day, I've decided it's not worth the struggle, and I'll salvage what I can of the things I really want to keep, and just format BOTH partitions at the same time and start from scratch.

It'll be pretty, having my bits all lined up in the same direction and homogenous; kind of like a giant, digital bowl of cheerios.

Again, thanks to everyone who offered help.

Best,
-C