Blunder! Deleted Partitions, Can I Recover Them?

I should NEVER work on the computer late at night. I decided to do a clean install of XP SP1 before I installed SP2. With three partitions on the drive, I used Maxtor MaxBlast thinking I could simply wipe C: clean and then do the re-install.
I ended up deleting all the partitions. Hoping to save the data that was on the other partitions, I only created one new partition the same size as the original C:, leaving the rest of the disc unallocated.
I've spent most of the day Googling for info on how to retrieve the data in the unallocated space. But have some unanswered questions:

1. Will a program like Acronis Disk Director be able to retrieve data from unallocated space? Couldn't find any info specific to that on their site. They list recovery of deleted partitions but I don't know if they're assuming they were deleted while creating a new partition.
Or is there another program you could recommend?

2. Could I use Windows Disc Management to create a single new partition of the unallocated space, or would this mess up the data in the unallocated space, and then use a file recovery program?

3. Is there another approach I should be taking?

Believe me, I've learned that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!

Thanks for any help.

 

I wouldn't recommend that. I wouldn't do anything with that HD until I'd recovered the data or at least until I was done trying. The more you mess with the disk, the less chance there is of you getting your data back although I would think that being you've already installed windows on it you should be able to use that as long as you don't mess with the unallocated space.

 

Thanks for the responses!

I did try to do a clean install from the CD but ended up with two installs, the original and a new install. I must have missed the option to format the C: partition. That's when I resorted to MaxBlast.

I guess I'll try Acronis, and take seriously a regular backup protocol from now on.

There was nothing earth shaking on the disc. It's just frustrating to know that I had kept putting off backing it up.

Again, thanks!