My Harddrive is invisibile!

Hello to everyone!
Before I had Windows Vista but due a very malicious virus I was forced to decide to format the drive c: and I updated the OS to Windows 7.
Now the new OS works properly except the fact that the other drive d: (both partition are on the same physical hard drive) cannot be seen by the system; i mean the system knows that I have another partition but is unable to read the specifics data (as how much free memory remain or how big the partition is).
Now the problem is that I have very valuable data on my partition d: but unfortunately I am not able to access it. I have to mention that my PC is a laptop.
Please, could someone help me with some advices regarding how I can recover the data from the partition d: ?
Thank you very much.

 

Sorry for my confusing info. I 'll try to clarify it now:
My laptop has only one hard drive which is split in two partitions: C: and D: aprox 500 Gb each.
the partition c: where is installed Windows 7 works fine instead the partition d: exists in disk management and in explorer only as a simple letter. if I right click on it or I try to open it comes this message: "d: is not accessible. Access denied "
Any suggestions? Please ....
I mean why is the access denied? ... I'm really confused.
Or maybe someone can recommend me a method to recover the data from the hard drive from dos or to connect my computer to another and read the partition d: or anything else ... or maybe exists some specialized software in order to help my problem ...

 

If you login as Administrator, can you access the D partition ?

 

Thanks for your advice!
Unfortunately when I press properties on the partition d: I don't have in tab any security tab. The only tabs which I can see are:
General, Tools, Hardware, Sharing, Previous versions, Customize, which does not help too much on my problem....
I mean I think the inaccessibility of my partition does not have nothing to do with previous version since I formatted partition C:. Instead could be a lock code in the header of partition D: or a malicious virus forbidding Windows to read it. Ok, suppose this is the real diagnose now how can I read it even the OS refuse that?
I mean this is quite cumbersome for me since I never meet such a problem.
Maybe someone has enough experience in order to guide me how to access my partition.
Thank you in advance ...

 

Try taking ownership of the complete drive with full permissions.

1. Click the Windows Orb (Start) > All Programs > Accessories and right-click Command Prompt, then ‘Run as Administrator’.

2. Type these two commands, each followed by the Enter key, then close the Command Prompt. In the example, I have used drive d: as the drive and JohnSmith as the user name, which needs to be changed to your user name. Note the spaces within the commands.

takeown /f d:
icacls d: /grant JohnSmith:F

 

Have a look in disk management again. Right click on the drive (partition) that is the problem one and see if initialize is available. If so, select it.

 

**Type these two commands, each followed by the Enter key, then close the Command Prompt. In the example, I have used drive d: as the drive and JohnSmith as the user name, which needs to be changed to your user name. Note the spaces within the commands.

takeown /f d: **

I did it and I received this message:

ERROR: The data drive specified is not set to automatically unlock on the current computer and cannot be unlocked automatically.

 

I did it unfortunately I am not able to attach a picture with the result.
Anyway in the square of the d: drive, write: 465MB, Unknown, (BitLocker Encrypted)
Healthy (Active Primary Partition)
That's all and i suspect that this bitlocker or whatever is is a virus ...

 

Bitlocker is a feature not a virus. You must have turned it on. Read this http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee424315(WS.10).aspx and http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...cryption-windows-7-drive-turn-off-no-tpm.html

 

Ok, now I managed to unlock my d: drive, is no longer encrypted by bitlocker (thanks).
I tried to change the ownership of the drive; succeeded!
But still the d: is not accessible, "access denied ". Now I set the owner exactly as the owner of the c: drive so is not anymore a problem of ownership.
Any help please?

 

Have you run icacls to give yourself full permissions?

 

yes I have tried the recommended commands (both of them). No effect! The answer is "Access denied ". I realize that in order to use again the d: partition only I have to format it and it's new and fresh again ... but it is like I loose a war .... I can recover all the info found on that digital support in a matter of months restarting my lost work .... but I wonder: Really there is not any other solution? The info is still there and yet I have to give it up....Please anybody?

 

Boot from a Linux live cd & copy all your data to a USB flash drive. That would be easiest way to get your data without worrying about permissions.

 

Thanks ... I think this is the solution unfortunately I don't have any experience with Linux .... from where can I get a Linux boot CD?

P.S.
Sorry for my absence!

 

Sorry for silly question ... I investigated on google and found some clues regarding LINUX ... I'll revert after I'll try it .... thanks

 

Thanks ... I'll investigate on google about LINUX ... (I don't have any experience in LINUX and your solution chalenge my ability to learn new things). I'll revert with the answer (succeded or not) after a while.

Thanks again to everybody

 

Just curious, and I may be talking through my hat here, but: Is it possible this is an a system that came with the OS preinstalled? I fit is I wonder if your drive is being locked by the system looking for a recovery partition somewhere. Under Disk Management perhaps try changing the drive letter for it. Perhaps J: or W: or something else unlikely to be taken. I had a problem with another computer not recognizing any Optical drives or USB drives because of this. Good Luck.

 

Download the smallish Puppy Linux ISO file then burn it to a CD, here http://puppylinux.org/main/index.php?file=Overview and Getting Started.htm

Put the Puppy CD in the drive, restart the computer and boot from it (you may have to change a BIOS setting to boot from an optical drive). Wait a little while for it to load and copy files to RAM. When the Desktop appears, your drives will appear along the bottom of the screen, e.g. FD0, SDA1, SDB1, SR0, etc. Open both your drives. It’s then a simple matter of dragging from one drive to the other and selecting copy. Remember to single-click folders not double-click. When you have finished copying, just Exit, don’t save the Linux changes.