3TB External Drive Recognized as 800GB, No Partitions
MBRnotpresent
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Hello,
Configuration:
- motherboard: Asus P7P55D LE (driver up to date, version: 2101, from 2012) => BIOS (not UEFI)
- OS : Windows 7 (32 bits)
- SATA config : IDE (not ACPI)
- the drive is connected to the PC via an external enclosure Storeva FlatDock U3 (USB 3.0 and eSATA)
I am seeking your help to attempt to recover data from a 3TB hard drive (Western Digital Green Desktop WD30EZRX - 3.5'' SATA III internal hard drive), purchased at the beginning of the year.
I lost access to the partitions some time ago, apparently due to a mishandling during the ejection of the drive under Windows.
I had managed to format this disk into a single 3TB partition, I no longer remember how (see known limitations/problems: http://www.aidewindows.net/materiel_stockage-3to.php#limitations).
Probably from my laptop running Windows 8 64 bits.
Today, when I connect the drive, it is recognized by Windows (but also Linux) as a 746 GB drive. And no MBR, no GPT.
The disk management invites me to initialize the disk :
Here is what the Linux gdisk command returns to me:
>gdisk -l /dev/sdf :
GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 0.8.10
Partition table scan:
MBR: not present
BSD: not present
APM: not present
GPT: not present
Creating new GPT entries.
Disk /dev/sdf: 1565565872 sectors, 746.5 GiB
Logical sector size: 512 bytes
Disk identifier (GUID): 94AE7D17-76FE-414A-9C43-4F24BB7DA9B6
Partition table holds up to 128 entries
First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 1565565838
Partitions will be aligned on 2048-sector boundaries
Total free space is 1565565805 sectors (746.5 GiB)
Number Start (sector) End (sector) Size Code Name
Here is the log-file from smartmontools which recognizes the disk in its correct size:
=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family: Western Digital Caviar Green (AF, SATA 6Gb/s)
Device Model: WDC WD30EZRX-00SPEB0
Serial Number: WD-WCC4E7LTXAC2
LU WWN Device Id: 5 0014ee 2b5caaf44
Firmware Version: 80.00A80
User Capacity: 3 000 592 982 016 bytes [3,00 TB]
Sector Sizes: 512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Rotation Rate: 5400 rpm
Device is: In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is: ACS-2 (minor revision not indicated)
SATA Version is: SATA 3.0, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 1.5 Gb/s)
Local Time is: Wed Jul 22 12:16:23 2015 CEST
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled
The BOOTICE software (https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=jotspot&passive=1209600&continue=https://sites.google.com/site/sites/system/errors/WebspaceNotFound?path%3D/gbrtools/home/software/bootice-portable&followup=https://sites.google.com/site/sites/system/errors/WebspaceNotFound?path%3D/gbrtools/home/software/bootice-portable allowed me to back up the PBR (first 64 sectors), but the "Process MBR" tab is not accessible :
Here is also a screenshot of the PBR :
Ideally, I would like to recover the data or at worst, manage to list the files that I had placed there (I no longer remember which ones, they are videos).
I imagine that we should start by making the necessary adjustments for the disk to be recognized as a 3TB disk.
But how can we achieve that? Should I start by generating a clean GPT?
Is it possible to recover the secondary GPT which is theoretically located at the end of the disk (cf. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table ?
Configuration:
- motherboard: Asus P7P55D LE (driver up to date, version: 2101, from 2012) => BIOS (not UEFI)
- OS : Windows 7 (32 bits)
- SATA config : IDE (not ACPI)
- the drive is connected to the PC via an external enclosure Storeva FlatDock U3 (USB 3.0 and eSATA)
I am seeking your help to attempt to recover data from a 3TB hard drive (Western Digital Green Desktop WD30EZRX - 3.5'' SATA III internal hard drive), purchased at the beginning of the year.
I lost access to the partitions some time ago, apparently due to a mishandling during the ejection of the drive under Windows.
I had managed to format this disk into a single 3TB partition, I no longer remember how (see known limitations/problems: http://www.aidewindows.net/materiel_stockage-3to.php#limitations).
Probably from my laptop running Windows 8 64 bits.
Today, when I connect the drive, it is recognized by Windows (but also Linux) as a 746 GB drive. And no MBR, no GPT.
The disk management invites me to initialize the disk :
Here is what the Linux gdisk command returns to me:
>gdisk -l /dev/sdf :
GPT fdisk (gdisk) version 0.8.10
Partition table scan:
MBR: not present
BSD: not present
APM: not present
GPT: not present
Creating new GPT entries.
Disk /dev/sdf: 1565565872 sectors, 746.5 GiB
Logical sector size: 512 bytes
Disk identifier (GUID): 94AE7D17-76FE-414A-9C43-4F24BB7DA9B6
Partition table holds up to 128 entries
First usable sector is 34, last usable sector is 1565565838
Partitions will be aligned on 2048-sector boundaries
Total free space is 1565565805 sectors (746.5 GiB)
Number Start (sector) End (sector) Size Code Name
Here is the log-file from smartmontools which recognizes the disk in its correct size:
=== START OF INFORMATION SECTION ===
Model Family: Western Digital Caviar Green (AF, SATA 6Gb/s)
Device Model: WDC WD30EZRX-00SPEB0
Serial Number: WD-WCC4E7LTXAC2
LU WWN Device Id: 5 0014ee 2b5caaf44
Firmware Version: 80.00A80
User Capacity: 3 000 592 982 016 bytes [3,00 TB]
Sector Sizes: 512 bytes logical, 4096 bytes physical
Rotation Rate: 5400 rpm
Device is: In smartctl database [for details use: -P show]
ATA Version is: ACS-2 (minor revision not indicated)
SATA Version is: SATA 3.0, 6.0 Gb/s (current: 1.5 Gb/s)
Local Time is: Wed Jul 22 12:16:23 2015 CEST
SMART support is: Available - device has SMART capability.
SMART support is: Enabled
The BOOTICE software (https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=jotspot&passive=1209600&continue=https://sites.google.com/site/sites/system/errors/WebspaceNotFound?path%3D/gbrtools/home/software/bootice-portable&followup=https://sites.google.com/site/sites/system/errors/WebspaceNotFound?path%3D/gbrtools/home/software/bootice-portable allowed me to back up the PBR (first 64 sectors), but the "Process MBR" tab is not accessible :
Here is also a screenshot of the PBR :
Ideally, I would like to recover the data or at worst, manage to list the files that I had placed there (I no longer remember which ones, they are videos).
I imagine that we should start by making the necessary adjustments for the disk to be recognized as a 3TB disk.
But how can we achieve that? Should I start by generating a clean GPT?
Is it possible to recover the secondary GPT which is theoretically located at the end of the disk (cf. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table ?
3 réponses
Hi,
I advise you to perform a low-level format with this software https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/utilitaires/11641-hdd-wipe-tool/
but by doing this your data will be lost, your problem is very strange and it wouldn't be surprising if your hard drive is dead.
If you have the option to install it internally for the low-level format, it could save you some time.
I advise you to perform a low-level format with this software https://www.commentcamarche.net/telecharger/utilitaires/11641-hdd-wipe-tool/
but by doing this your data will be lost, your problem is very strange and it wouldn't be surprising if your hard drive is dead.
If you have the option to install it internally for the low-level format, it could save you some time.
Hello there :)
If I understand your message correctly, you are only testing the hard drive via the external enclosure and not internally... Do you think it would be possible for you to connect it internally in a tower (or PC with enough slots on the motherboard)? It seems important to compare the results and possibly recover the data... As for data recovery, don't hesitate to test alternative methods like these https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37640569-recuperer-des-donnees-sur-disque-dur-et-cle-usb.
I suggest you not hesitate to also diagnose the hard drive using the manufacturer's tool, WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostics http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=tvzAlc to check the health status of the hard drive and ensure its integrity.
WaterBlazer25's suggestion is timely: once the data is recovered, you could perform a zero-write on the hard drive (low-level formatting) to reallocating bad sectors. I would recommend using WD's utility, Data Lifeguard, which enables that: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=1mbPOV
Come back with good news :)
See you later
-----
If you found the answer to your question, please click on Resolved to help other members with the same issue ;)
If I understand your message correctly, you are only testing the hard drive via the external enclosure and not internally... Do you think it would be possible for you to connect it internally in a tower (or PC with enough slots on the motherboard)? It seems important to compare the results and possibly recover the data... As for data recovery, don't hesitate to test alternative methods like these https://forums.commentcamarche.net/forum/affich-37640569-recuperer-des-donnees-sur-disque-dur-et-cle-usb.
I suggest you not hesitate to also diagnose the hard drive using the manufacturer's tool, WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostics http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=tvzAlc to check the health status of the hard drive and ensure its integrity.
WaterBlazer25's suggestion is timely: once the data is recovered, you could perform a zero-write on the hard drive (low-level formatting) to reallocating bad sectors. I would recommend using WD's utility, Data Lifeguard, which enables that: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=1mbPOV
Come back with good news :)
See you later
-----
If you found the answer to your question, please click on Resolved to help other members with the same issue ;)
Hello,
Thank you for your help.
I had already tested my drive with WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostics and it is "healthy."
I finally connected and tested my HDD internally and it paid off: the drive was properly recognized this time at the correct size (3 TB).
Even though I still didn't have access to the data, the gdisk command indicated this time:
MBR: not present
BSD: not present
APM: not present
GPT: damaged
I was therefore able to replace the primary GTP with the backup one. However, since that one was also not "correct," I could not recover my HDD as I would have liked: The drive is recognized with a drive letter in the disk management (see image below), but I can't access it from the file explorer (error message "The volume does not contain a known file system.").
That said, thanks to the PhotoRec software (QPhotoRec / TestDisk 7.0), I was able to extract the files from the drive and save them onto another blank drive. It took 48 hours non-stop to recover everything!
The catch is that I recovered thousands of mixed files, without their real names and without the original hierarchy.
Do you know of a tool that could help recover the hierarchy and names from the MFT (Master File Table)?
I had already tested the CBL Pro-V software for this, but that was before I connected the HDD internally, so it wasn't conclusive. I will make another attempt; you never know...
Thank you for your help.
I had already tested my drive with WD Data Lifeguard Diagnostics and it is "healthy."
I finally connected and tested my HDD internally and it paid off: the drive was properly recognized this time at the correct size (3 TB).
Even though I still didn't have access to the data, the gdisk command indicated this time:
MBR: not present
BSD: not present
APM: not present
GPT: damaged
I was therefore able to replace the primary GTP with the backup one. However, since that one was also not "correct," I could not recover my HDD as I would have liked: The drive is recognized with a drive letter in the disk management (see image below), but I can't access it from the file explorer (error message "The volume does not contain a known file system.").
That said, thanks to the PhotoRec software (QPhotoRec / TestDisk 7.0), I was able to extract the files from the drive and save them onto another blank drive. It took 48 hours non-stop to recover everything!
The catch is that I recovered thousands of mixed files, without their real names and without the original hierarchy.
Do you know of a tool that could help recover the hierarchy and names from the MFT (Master File Table)?
I had already tested the CBL Pro-V software for this, but that was before I connected the HDD internally, so it wasn't conclusive. I will make another attempt; you never know...