Hi all,

Here is my story:
I use to turn power off as I turn PC off, and I did not wait always for Windows to shut down. One morning I could not start Windows neither from last know configuration nor safe mode
So I tried two things:
1) win xp recovery, but I did not get anything from it
2) ubuntu from cd ( I could see folders and files so I installed Ubuntu (Linux version)

After installing Ubuntu I could not see any old folders or files.
Then I bought HDD box and conneceted HDD into it and tried to see if other computer would recongnize it as extern HDD, via USB, but it did not It could be seen in device manager, but windows would not make it a drive (did not get any drive letter)
Then I installed win xp again on partition made by linux in hope it would see other partition, but it does not
When installing win xp it saw two partitions and both are aparently empty (eventhought I still hope there is some data left)
Today I heard of fdisk that linux does when it is being installed, so my hopes are fading, but that I found something called data recovery software and that fdisk is not problem for this program.
It is an older seagate baracuda IV 40 GB Hdd and there were no problemes before this. All I want to recover are some 4-6 gb of pictures I have on it, rest I do not care (if possible to recover Ok, if not fine)
Do you have any sugestions, advises and tricks?
What is easiest way to recover these pics and data if any and please write it in step by step procedure?
Please do not hesitate do ask any additional questions and I thank you in advance

So, you installed Linux on the drive you wanted to recover files from? First, the more you write to the drive, the less likely you'll recover anything. Try putting the drive in your USB box, and run data recovery software on it. There are some recent threads on what software is best. It seems people in your position prefer Easeus.

I did install Linux but then I overwrote that part of HDD with win xp so Linux is gone. Problem is or was that when I put this HDD in USB box other win xp does not recognize it as drive and it does not get any letter. In meantime I have run HDD scan and it has found 1 Bad block rest is fine. I also have runned NFTS Data recovery (demo version) and it does not find or search on entire HDD just on partition recognized by the newest win xp which is some 1,8 gb. Is it possible to run data recovery software and recover data from hdd even if win xp does not see whole hdd? How can I force win xp to see and recover data from hdd if it is not recognized by win xp? Where can I find full version of Easeus? Thank you.

I just plugged 40 gb seagate to my laptop via USB box and it only recognizes the 1,8 gb partition What to do so it can recognize entire 40 gb hdd or another 38 gb partition?

Try this DRecovery programs. they are both free and very good. Just remember to read the documentation carefully.
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec

good luck

_________________
"Dum Spiro, Spero"

Hi again,

I tried to recover data with Easeus, but as I have an old laptop with USB 1.1 it took ages. I invested in 500GB WD Caviar SE16. As I have older motherboard which only supports SATA-I, I needed first to put jumper, so BIOS can see HDD. Now I want to install WIN XP on to it, but windows does not see any hard drive??? So BIOS does (it didn't until I put jumper on 5-6 so it runs as SATA-I) recognizes new HDD, but win install cd doesn't. What to do next, so WINDOWS installation also sees my new HDD, so I can install Win XP and run Easeus on new and much bigger HDD??
Is jumper setting correct? Does anyone know jumper setting for this WD model so it runs as SATA-I? Any other clues? I have Asus P4V8X-X with AMBIOS 08.00.29
I thank you in advance

Hi again,

Here is my final evaluation of my recovery saga. I bought new 500 GB SATA II WD hdd and installed Win XP on it. First I had to set jumper on 5-6 so it runs as SATA I(becasuse of my motherboard) and you need to install SATA driver prior to WIN XP instalation. After that I run Easeus and after a while (45 minutes of scanning and few hours of making RAW files) I succeeded in recovering lost files (mainly pictures). When Easeus made recovery it founded cca. 20 partitions with some files and I recovered just first with most folders and files. For 35 GB it used 180 GB (RAW files used 150, rest were lost files)
In folder Lost files I found everything I needed, and in RAW files folder there were all files listed after type and there was lot of repetition. But I want to thank rchadwick for recomending that program, it realy helped me.

how will i ignore CRC error?
i wand copy data at one hdd to another hdd,
i want ignore CRC .