Brand New to UE2.3 (Intro, First Impressions, and Questions)

[Driver]

The hard drive is seen. It is just seen as not having ANY partitions any more.

Looking in Ultimate Edition's menus, while I couldn't find a "Fix Driver's Wreck" option, I did see gparted. And while it also shows a drive with no partitions on it and doesn't appear to have a fix-it option, In the help I saw mention that if you accidentally screw up your file system and/or delete your MBR, that you might be able to recover using TestDisk (there's a handy link).

TestDisk is a powerful free data recovery software! It was primarily designed to help recover lost partitions and/or make non-booting disks bootable again when these symptoms are caused by faulty software, certain types of viruses or human error (such as accidentally deleting a Partition Table). Partition table recovery using TestDisk is really easy.

TestDisk can

* Fix partition table, recover deleted partition
* Recover FAT32 boot sector from its backup
* Rebuild FAT12/FAT16/FAT32 boot sector
* Fix FAT tables
* Rebuild NTFS boot sector
* Recover NTFS boot sector from its backup
* Fix MFT using MFT mirror

Have you any experience with this software? Being referenced in gparted's help file I am guessing that it's on the level.

I can make my little USB stick bootable with the HP USB utility and the DOS files I've downloaded - I know that works. I just downloaded the DOS version of TestDisk. I am about to put them together and see if there's a spark.

[Cell]

The only other thing I can think of is when you reboot the machine you should be able to hit a key combo to get into the recovery partition,and use it.At least most laptops have that option.This might be too late in your situation tho.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm? ... 139&page=3


But theres one thing itching me.Now I understand that the live usb boots,and your able to log in right?Able to use the os,but not go on the net due to the wifi driver.

[Driver]

Recovery partition was on the drive that I hosed the partition table on lol.

Yes, I can use my Live UE2.3 on a stick. And I can get on the 'net just not wirelessly - can't figure out why Hardware Installer has been hanging at 100% download of the Broadcom driver. Wish there was a way (ok, a big red button) to have it just grab the driver from my windows par... Oh. Nevermind lol.

I'm getting ready to try the TestDisk recovery step-by-step.

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http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step

[Cell]

So if you boot into the live usb,and use gparted it doesn't see your ntfs partition?Gparted is under system>administration.It might be called partition editor also.If it sees the ntfs partition the should be flagged for boot.If not then edit it.

Keep in mind that if you have a usable live usb...you have a powerful tool.


But if you cant see the ntfs partition,then you need to go into a windows recovery console,and fix the mbr.You need the window mbr files.Keep in mind that a dos fdisk won't fix an nt mbr ...at least thats what I always thought.If you happen to get into a windows recovery console then you can try this.

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C:\WINDOWS
CD ..
FIXBOOT C:
FIXMBR
BOOTCFG /rebuild

edit:of course you can try the test disk.might be a lot easer

[Driver]

Our posts crossed again. Yours looks technical. I'll read it as soon as I submit. BtW, I got to the next screen and it lists my primary bootable NTFS partition, the Linux one I created to install Ultimate Edition on, my HP recovery(lol) partition, and TWO linux swap partitions (there should only be one). I'll copy the data after I read your post . If you loaded that link for TestDisk that I mentioned at the end of the last or next to last post I made it takes you directly to the step-by-step and you can understand where I'm at in the process (probably far better than I).
**********

Everything seemed like the step-by-step until I did the scan. Instead of getting to then DO stuff (fix it), I am presented with:
Disk 81 - 120 GB / 111 GiB - CHS 14594 255 63

The harddisk (120 GB / 111 GiB) seems to small! (< 127 GB / 118 GiB)
Check the harddisk size: HD jumpers settings, BIOS detection...

The following partition can't be recovered:
Partition__________________Start_______End___Size in sectors
HPFS - NTFS 14592 254 63 15448 254 61 13751639

Uhh... That's the big Vista NTFS partition that I'm trying to save, isn't it?

[Admin-Amir]

Hello Driver.

well cell point the right things for you.
and here is some more for you:

to fixmbr:



for the vista issue:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

good luck.

[Driver]

I found a "deep" scan option and started it on the main (Vista) partition. It's SLOW - only at 50%. The laptop will be busy for probably 15 more minutes.

That recovery console thing looks like it would possibly work for me, only...

...how do I get to it? I assume it must be part of the Vista thing and I can't even read files from it from Ultimate Edition because apparently I no longer have a valid MBR/partition table.

Or is it something small enough that I can bring onto the Ultimate Edition live environment and run from there?

I can't even figure out how to get the laptop to see the HP "recovery" NTFS partition or I would at least have the option of getting Vista back at the cost of wiping all the data/programs that I had on it.

[Driver]

Oh, I see now (read the link you provided). I can't go buy a Vista installation disc.

I missed the deadline for downloading the Windows7 OS by about an hour the other night or it would probably have what I need.

I wonder if downloading a Vista disc through... grey-market for this purpose would be considered legal? I have the official sticker and activation code on the bottom of the laptop.

Anyway, scan is up to 80% and slowly climbing. It'll probably not help.

EDIT: It did help in that after playing around, Ultimate Edition can now see the Vista partition again. I just still can't boot.

[Admin-Amir]

Driver,

you can use "super Grub"disc to help you out here.
you can use widows xp=>fixmbr.
you can use rescue disc.

and here is the FIX to work on the vista:

/FixMbr=>Re-writing the options at the Vista (MBR) of the partition. This is not Imhok the existing partition.

/FixBoot=>Author Bot sector on the system partition to start the Vista.

/ScanOs=>Checking all of the hard disks to install Vista and after scanning them.

/RebuildBcd=>Scans all disks for the installation of Vista and you choose the one you want to add to the BCD.

windows 7/vista way:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
That's how I fixed my MBR for Vista when I had GRUB, so I'm pretty sure it'll work.

[Driver]

TestDisk still told me that that partition was unrecoverable. I saw in the Advanced menu options for fixing the MFT, restoring the MBR from backup, something else. I tried them all but no joy. It at one point said something about needing a MBR or MFT or partition table "even if it wasn't valid"

I exited, rebooted, and now it is giving me a grub error 22 (or 12?).

I rebooted with the Ultimate Edition flash drive in. It came up but there were a couple boxes that told me there was a problem loading something and would I like to delete it from my configuration.

I said no.

I then clicked on Places - and there's my Vista partition! WtF? IT's 113 gig now but its there. Think it might have gained a gig.

It is now remounted on my desktop and I am able to browse the files.

I ran Songbird and was able to browse to my Vista music folder, import my music, and am now listening to April Wine without having to go upstairs and grab the original CD -- IOW the data is still there!!! And is again accessable.