Major Problem

Hi All,

This is my first post here, unfortunately the circumstances couldn't be worse...

I was performing a re-install of xp pro on my computer and used an old hard drive based mp3 player to backup my data (idiotic I know), it was an iriver h340.

Anyway I booted up the xp disk and got to the drive partition stage (h340 still attached) and instead of partitioning the internal hard drive I accidentally partitioned the h340. (I didn't know that the bios detects usb hard drives)

Now when I connect the h340 to my computer it acts as if the drive is empty (there was about 30gb of my life on that thing!). However, the graphic interface on the h340 itself still says the files are all still there (though it can no longer access them)

Is there any way for me to retrieve the data on the hard disk? There was so much important and sentimental stuff on it!

Any help from you guys would really be appreciated.

Before anyone says anything, I know, I'm a complete Idiot!!

 

If you re-partitioned and reformatted the mp3 drive instead of your PC's HD, then doesn't that mean that your PC's HD is untouched, and so your data remains on there ??

If you've also repartitioned & formatted your PC's HD, I'd say it's bad news unfortunately.

 

The data should still be on that h340 drive as long as you didn't write anything new to it. Try using this free recovery program to scan it and see if it can recover the files.

http://www.recuva.com/

 

well, I think the harddrive experts can still recover your files after formatting. I would contact the people at Acronis, or other data recovery places, cause they can probably help you get your files back. It will be expensive, but I think its still possible to get everthing back.

K-TRON

 

If the graphics interface indicates the files are there, they should be there. Did you format the drive when partitioning ?
If not, go into Disk Management (Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management), and check how many partitions are there on the MP3 HDD (H340).

 

TestDisk is a useful program. Use that to rebuild the old partition. If TestDisk is unable to, then use PhotoRec. It will recover the deleted files.

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

 

Thanks for the Advice guys

actually windows is no longer recognising the disk as a hard drive. so although it is connected its not turning up in my computer.

i tried recuva but it didn't recognise the h340 either.

Is my best bet now to get in touch with the experts?

 

Weird, it doesn't show up in Disk Management as well ?

Is there any synchronizing software available for it ? If so, try that out....

 

I think the iriver firmware driver was deleted as well when I partitioned it. Trouble is that I'll have to format the drive again to reinstall the software...

 

See if you can find anything relevant to your MP3 HDD on these sites....

http://www.opendrivers.com/company/27302/iriver-free-driver-download.html

http://www.iriver.com/support/ask.asp

EDIT: http://www.iriver.com/support/down_...dx=42&tmpSearchCategoryIdx=1&tmpSearchString=

 

actually, it shows up as 'usb mass storage device' in the hardware removal tool, just not in disk management.

 

This normally occurs when the driver is not installed for the device.

http://www.iriver.com/support/down_...dx=42&tmpSearchCategoryIdx=1&tmpSearchString=

http://www.iriver.com/support/down_...dx=42&tmpSearchCategoryIdx=3&tmpSearchString=

Found anything in here ?

 

No luck with the drivers. I've installed a couple, Neither has had an effect

Thanks for your help Andy, If you've any other ideas let us know.

 

I wonder... If the Windows installer may have deleted the partition, but not fully created a new one? Andy do you think if that were the case the device would show up in the 'removable hardware' thing at all?

Edit: also, is the device displayed in TestDisk?

 

Ok....So probably you could make a fresh start then, if the drivers and firmware stuff don't work. Reformat, reinstall drivers, re-initialize the drive, and then try data recovery software to recover all the lost data, because formatting in windows doesn't actually remove/bury the data, it just removes the references to it. So if by doing the above would make your drive detectable, you could have a good chance of recovering the data via software.

I am not very sure, and maybe you should seek advice regarding this in the Windows and OS forum.

I guess the above should be the very last step, if nothing can be done to re-initialize the drive and make it detectable by any other means.

Good Luck !!

 

Not sure. I have normally noticed this when a USB device is installed with standard/generic drivers by Windows which were not actually made for it, hence making the device not detectable. (This happened with my printer)

 

Or try chatting and explain your situation to the Tech Support Bi*ch at IRIVER....
(Enquire about the drivers and stuff)

 

Thanks for your help lads, will update on any news.

 

Check out Disk Management. It might need formatting/initializing

 

He cannot see the drive in Disk Mngmt....?!

 

UPDATE:

So I formatted the H340 drive and ran recuva. All seemed to be going well and it was finding files. Then about 30 percent through it stopped and said 'Data Error (cyclic redundancy check)

Apparently this means the data is corrupted?? Are there anty other similar programmes that I should try, or does anyone know of any other good data recovery experts?

 

Tried TestDisk ??

 

Have you tried Gregory's suggestion? There is another more advanced software that I suggested to another member here before with successful result. However, it is not a free software.

http://www.powerdatarecovery.com/power-data-recovery.htm

Try the trial version to scan the drive to see if it can find all the files first without any error before deciding if you want to buy it or not. The trial version is full featured, only limit is saving recovered data over 640k requires a license.

 

Hey guys, its me again... sorry to be a pain

Currently running testdisk on the h340 and its asking me for the "partition table type" and giving me a number of options:

Intel/Pc partition
EFI GPT patition map (mac i386, some x86_64...)
Apple partition map
Non partitioned media
Sun solaris partition
Xbox partition

A quick look on google has turned up nothing so I have no idea which type it is...

I know that the hard drivve is a toshiba MK4004GAH and thats about it

does anyone know which option I should choose, or how I can get information for this?

 

Intel/Pc partition should do it. I don't think any harm will come by selecting the wrong one anyway... It just won't find the partition table I assume.

 

will do, thanks