How can I recover a raw partition?

Data Recovery
1

I accidentally deleted a partition and now it’s showing as RAW. I have important data on it that I need to recover. Any suggestions for retrieving my data?

2

Accidentally converting a partition to RAW can be super frustrating, especially when crucial data is on the line. First, don’t panic or attempt to format the drive because that could further complicate recovery.

For RAW partition recovery, you might wanna check out a tool like Disk Drill

Disk Drill Screenshot
Disk Drill Software1536×902 166 KB
. It’s a solid piece of software known for its intuitive interface and powerful data recovery capabilities. Here’s a brief rundown of how you can use it:

  1. Download and Install Disk Drill: Get the tool from their official site and install it on a different drive than the RAW one to avoid overwriting any data.

  2. Run Disk Drill: After launching, choose the RAW partition from the list of detected drives.

  3. Quick & Deep Scan: First, try a Quick Scan. If that doesn’t find what you’re missing, go for the Deep Scan. It’s slower but dives deeper into your drive’s internals.

  4. Recover Data: Once the scan completes, Disk Drill will list recoverable files. Preview them if you can (to ensure they’re intact) before recovering.

Pros and Cons of Disk Drill:

Pros:

  • Ease of Use: The UI is straightforward, great for non-techies.
  • Multiple File Systems: Supports a wide array of file systems, so it’s handy if you’re dealing with something quirky.
  • Preview Files Before Recovery: Useful to check whether the data you’re about to recover is intact.
  • Recovery Vault: Prevents future data loss by keeping a hidden copy of deleted files.

Cons:

  • Pricey: The free version has limitations. You’ll need the Pro version for unrestricted recovery.
  • No Absolute Guarantee: As with any recovery software, there’s no 100% certainty all data will be recovered, especially if it’s been severely corrupted.

Alternatives:

If Disk Drill doesn’t suit you, there are other alternatives like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, or R-Studio. Recuva is a cheaper option but doesn’t dig as deep as Disk Drill does. EaseUS is comparable but some find it a bit more complex to use.

Finally, keep in mind the golden rule of data recovery - the more you use the RAW drive, the less likely you are to recover data intact. The sooner you initiate the recovery, the better. Good luck!

3

Hey, so dealing with a RAW partition can be a real pain. Definitely don’t mess with formatting or writing any new data to the drive—that could make things way worse.

Aside from Disk Drill, which techchizkid mentioned, I’d suggest giving TestDisk a shot. It’s an open-source tool that can recover lost partitions and make non-booting disks bootable again. Plus, it’s completely free.

Here’s a quick and dirty guide to using TestDisk:

  1. Download and Install TestDisk: Since you’re dealing with sensitive data, grab it from the official website.

  2. Run TestDisk: Fire it up, and you’ll be working in a command-line interface. I know, it’s not as pretty or user-friendly as something like Disk Drill, but it’s powerful.

  3. Select your Drive: You’ll see a list of drives. Choose the one with your RAW partition.

  4. Quick Search: It’ll ask you to select a partition table type. Usually, the default is fine. Perform a Quick Search, and it should list recoverable partitions.

  5. Write the Partition: If TestDisk finds your lost partition, you can select it and write it back. Make sure you double-check everything before you proceed.

Pros and Cons of TestDisk:

Pros:

  • Free: No cost involved, which is great.
  • Powerful: It can recover partitions and repair non-booting disks.
  • Support for Multiple Filesystems: Works well with many systems, like NTFS, FAT32, ext2/3/4.

Cons:

  • Not User-Friendly: The command-line interface can be intimidating if you’re not tech-savvy.
  • No Data Preview: Unlike Disk Drill, you can’t preview files before recovering them.

Another worth mentioning is EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, a solid pick if you want both user-friendliness and robust recovery options. Install it on a different drive to avoid data overwriting and follow a similar procedure like Disk Drill: scan, preview, and recover.

Of course, nothing is 100% guaranteed. If your data was critically important and these solutions don’t cut it, contacting a professional data recovery service might be your last resort. They’re expensive but could be a necessary investment.

Just remember, no matter which tool you pick—time is crucial. The longer the partition stays RAW, and the more you fiddle with it, the higher the risk of losing data permanently. Happy hunting and may the data recovery gods be in your favor!

4

Dealing with a RAW partition can be pretty nerve-wracking, especially when you’ve got important data locked up in there. While Disk Drill and TestDisk are solid recommendations from techchizkid and byteguru, there are actually a few more angles you could explore. And yeah, just make sure not to panic and start formatting or writing new data to the drive, that’s always a big no-no.

Switching gears a bit, you might want to consider something like MiniTool Power Data Recovery. It’s another advanced recovery tool that can help with RAW partitions.

Steps with MiniTool Power Data Recovery:

  1. Download and Install: Like the other tools mentioned, get this installed on a different drive to avoid data overwriting. You can find it on the official site.

  2. Launch the Software: Open the application and look for your RAW partition in the list of detected drives.

  3. Choose the Recovery Module: Select the module “Damaged Partition Recovery.” It’s tailored for situations like this.

  4. Scan the Partition: Start the scan, which will try to detect all recoverable files and folders in the RAW partition. It might take some time, so be patient.

  5. Recover Files: Preview the files if possible and then recover them to a different drive.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • Ease of Use: Straightforward interface, even for beginners.
  • Versatile: Works well for various data loss situations.
  • File Previews: Helps you verify the recovered files’ integrity before saving them.

Cons:

  • Price: Though it has a free tier, you’ll need to pony up for the full suite.
  • Performance: Sometimes, it’s slower than other options like Disk Drill for extensive scans.

Another direction you can take is using PhotoRec, a companion tool to TestDisk but more focused on file recovery than partition repair. It’s also open-source and works on multiple platforms.

Using PhotoRec:

  1. Download PhotoRec: You can find it bundled with TestDisk on the cgsecurity website.

  2. Launch PhotoRec: It also has a command-line interface, but it’s pretty intuitive once you get the hang of it.

  3. Select Drive: You’ll have to choose your drive and partition (the RAW one).

  4. File Formats Selection: Choose what types of files you want to recover, for instance, documents, images, etc.

  5. Destination Folder: Select a destination folder on a different drive to store recovered files.

  6. Run the Recovery: Start the process and let PhotoRec do its thing.

Pros and Cons of PhotoRec:

Pros:

  • Free: No cost involved, so it’s budget-friendly.
  • Thorough: It thoroughly scans and can recover a wide array of file types.
  • Cross-Platform: Works on Mac, Windows, and Linux.

Cons:

  • User Interface: Not as user-friendly as some commercial software.
  • No File Preview: You won’t be able to preview files until they’re recovered.

As mentioned, saving and recovering your data quickly is crucial. But keep in mind that with these DIY methods, there’s always a possibility that you might not recover everything, especially if the drive is physically damaged. You also run the risk of causing further data loss if you misuse the software.

Professional Help

Therefore, if your data is exceedingly critical, you might need to think about professional data recovery services. These services are pricey but have higher success rates because they use specialized equipment and clean rooms to recover data from damaged or corrupted drives.

Final Considerations

So, while Disk Drill (more info here: Disk Drill) is a fantastic tool, it’s definitely not your only option. Sometimes going with an open-source or different commercial tool can yield better results depending on your specific scenario.

Remember, the key is to act quickly but carefully. Good luck, and may you recover all your precious data!