Resolved Major data loss on one partition

No idea if this is in the right place, but after an attempt to install Windows XP for a dualboot, it has somehow caused my 400GB partition, containing 200GB of data, to disappear and appear as unformatted. I haven't reformatted it since, obviously, and I've still got all my old user data, but is there a free programme that can get me the data back ASAP? (Windows is now back on the original hard drive). Some things hadn't been backed up (savegames mostly, some programmes that I no longer have discs for), simply because I couldn't forsee such a mess occuring.

 

You could try Active@ Partition Recovery, I've no experience with this tool but if it does succeed can I advise you to backup, backup and backup, once you've done that backup again

 

Have you installed SP2 or SP3 yet? You may need this so that XP can see the over 128GB partition. If that doesn't help try PC INSPECTOR™ File Recovery to recover the data.

 

I didn't back up as I couldn't see how a hard drive that wasn't even being touched (XP would've gone on this drive I'm using at the moment) could lose data, but now I know I'm wrong! As a side note, why does XP fail to recognize that drives can be bigger than 131072 (I think it was that) mb?

 

As whiskeyman posted, the 128Gb limit is from XP SP1 or earlier (I'm taking his word for this), SP2 & SP3 would recognise the whole partition.

None of this explains why Vista doesn't recognise it though.

 

No, it doesn't explain how the partition disappeared. And I never got XP installed, due to Dell's crippled BIOS not actually letting me proceed to install the operating system once the files were copied - if I'd spent enough time poking around, I might've eventually found it, but since it made such a mess of the Vista partition, I'm glad I didn't.

 

I am now absolutely furious - it's found the partition, much to my delight, but I'm furious that it is asking me to pay to restore the bloody thing!

 

Sorry about that luke, I never looked into the small print

Don't be furious with the messenger though nor the vendor. I'd be furious with the user who didn't keep backups.

Have you tried Whiskeymans File Recovery tool? Failing that Google for partition recovery you may well find some freeware tools there.

 

I'm annoyed at myself partly, but there was no way I expected it to lose data on something unrelated. I missed Whiskeyman's post, and at the moment I'm trying a different tool. If that doesn't work, I'll use the one in his post.

 

So your a follower of I don't need a backup until I need one

No matter the situation luke you should always have a backup.

 

I do... from 2008. I used to backup regularly on my old computer, but I've got out of the habit. I'll make one later, IF I can get the bloody data back.

 

No experience with the following. It's Home page has a good following ... Freeware
EASEUS Partition Master

Additional Info
Difference between Free Home version and EASEUS 4x paid versions

 

Currently using the PC Inspector program, that's gonna take a hell of a time, as the previous program only found a 128GB partition... *sighs*. Though this one tells me that I have at least 13 logical drives on one... what on earth?

 

No matter what we tried, we couldn't rescue the data.

 

You might give 'testdisk' a try, if you do be sure to read the How-To use first.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/index.html?testdisk.html

If a partition is listed for the drive but in raw format, it is very likley that the XP's volume boot record became corrupted. testdisk can check it along with the backup one.

 

TopFarmer, please read previous posts. XP was never actually installed, merely the installation files copied onto a drive different from that containing the Vista setup. I'll try that programme, but since all another programme did was recreate the partition, I'm not hopeful.

 

Success! Eventually I fell across a program called Active@ Parti1tion Manager 1.3.012. This has succeeded in restoring the partition, data and all. However, I then had a major problem - boot sequence was of course trashed, that didn't worry me. However, neither Vista CD would boot Vista setup, much to my annoyance and worry. After a lot more methods, dad had a brainwave - look for a DOS program called fdisk. XP's disk didn't have it, so in goes Win98. Found it, recreated the boot procedure, and BAM! Into Windows and then Windows completes the procedure of recovery