Somehow deleted the partition with all my data! :(

dan03

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I really don't know how this has happened but somehow while reinstalling windows I managed to delete the partition with all my personal data on it! I never ever clicked to have it deleted but its gone, and when I look at the harddrive it says I have 200gbs unallocated space! I never ever told it to do this, so I really don't know if it also formatted or not but if it hasn't been formatted how can I retrieve my data??? One other problem is, this all happened because my windows 7 got screwy and I was trying (and failing) to install ubuntu. So right now I have no OS, I guess I have to reinstall windows 7 to an existing partition first before I can try get my data back?

Any advice at all is much appreciated!!
 
Not to be an ass about it but when you delete a partition, you're screwed.
You always do a backup of any important data when installing an OS. Different logical drives on the same physical drive has its inherent dangers, as you found out.
 
ok dan03 do not do anything else with the hard drive if you have any chance what so ever of getting back your data put that hard drive aside.

I take it you did not back up by what you wrote am I right?

ok

First things first why did you not run Ubuntu from the disk as a trial run first before installing on to your pc as a main operating system.
You should of brought a separate hard drive and installed Ubuntu properly to trial it as a OS before making a decision then you would have had windows 7 and you data safe and sound it is always also wise to back up to an external hard drive as well.
Link here for the future.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_2/279-1574356-7131722?url=search-alias%3Dcomputers&field-keywords=external+hard+drive&sprefix=Ex%2Ccomputers%2C0
Take your pick and you will never lose your data again.
My advice would be to by a new hard drive
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_2/279-1574356-7131722?url=search-alias%3Dcomputers&field-keywords=external+hard+drive&sprefix=Ex%2Ccomputers%2C0#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_18?url=search-alias%3Dcomputers&field-keywords=hard+disk+drive+internal&sprefix=Hard+disk+drive+in%2Ccomputers%2C0&rh=n%3A340831031%2Ck%3Ahard+disk+drive+internal
Take you pick and install a operating system on to it whether it be Ubuntu or windows
And finally
Get yourself the following to recover you data
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SATA-Adapter-Cable-Hard-DIsk/dp/B004JO1Z52/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1351358805&sr=1-3
File recovery program
http://www.piriform.com/recuva
also
file recovery program
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o7aCH50LCg
These are partially good recovery programs that have got peoples data back.
Also make sure that you back up in future before doing anything
Last option would be to take it to a data recovery specialist to recover your data within a clean room and they open up the disk drive and recover its content. Using advanced technology techniques and tools to recover you much wanted and loved data.
But at a very large cost may I add.
Hope this helps you make up your mind
Kind Regards
Fujitsu Technician
 
"I really don't know how this has happened but somehow while reinstalling windows I managed to delete the partition with all my personal data on it! I never ever clicked to have it deleted but its gone"

Crap it all, that happened to me while installed Windows XP, maaany years ago... and I absolutely did not choose for it to be removed... I blamed it on a random and unfortunate computer error. This whole thing, is why I NEVER have personal stuff on the same HDD as the OS.
 
Thx to the people who tried to help, and I will choose to ignore those who didnt.

I did backup MOST of my data, but there are still some things i would loose if I can not restore the partition.

So far I managed to reinstall windows 7 on the c:, hopefully without affecting any of the unalocated space where I assume my old d: is still stored. Now I will start to google my balls off to find a way to restore the d:. If anyone knows how I can do this please post and let me know.
 
Ok Im going to answer my own question for anyone who might also need to know. I just found a program called partition table doctor, ran it, ticked the name of the partition that had been lost and now its back! Haven't checked everything but seems to be 100% recovery also. Very happy :)
 
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