So I came up to a point as to which hard drive I should install Kali Linux onto. I chose one hard drive that was in, keep in mind, "NTFS" format, Kali Linux installed with no Prompt message or error. I then log back onto Windows 7 and go to, File Explorer. Now I don't see my hard drive that I was trying to prevent installing linux onto that had all my personal information on it, like movies, pictures, documents.

So my question to you guys is is there any possible way to recover this information?

That should have been the "red flag" for you, yet you choose to continue...


Luckily, like all documentation warns, you made backups before you installed the OS? If you didn't now you know why backups are essential. In laymans terms try to see a file system structure like some kind of "mesh" (like a fish net) and the actual files roughly sitting in the mazes. By copying (installing) files over something else without regard for the existing file system you've destroyed the structure and consequently exisitng files aren't anchored or connected to the structure any more. This means the only way to salvage stuff is to use a brute force header / footer carver like Photorec. Use a Live CD and ensure you recover file remnants to a separate partion or disk. Know that due to overwriting files there's no guarantee you will recover any files nor that what you recover will actually be usable.

What is the attraction newbies see in Kali? Is it a good choice for new users?

I have often wondered about that myself and, no, it is not a good choice for new users. It is an awful terrible not very good choice.

Linux Voice had a tutorial on it recently and I mucked about with it a bit in VirtualBox; the purpose of the tutorial was to give persons a chance to understand vulnerabilities more fully.

It's highly specialized, designed for pen testing, and is most definitely not designed for new users. Most of the applications on the menus are specialized command line applications for pen testing functions. The Kali website itself says that it is designed to be run from a Live CD, not to be installed (though it can be). It defaults to the root user, though you can create a user using standard Linux commands.

If you know what you are doing and you want to learn about pen testing or to understand what vulnerabilities are and how they work, it's a great choice. For general purpose computing for new users, though, Gentoo would be a better choice.

I obviously knew what I was putting myself into when I had to pick which hard drive,and so I guessed non chalantly, basically shot myself in the foot from a careless mistake. I am familiar with data recovery and thought there was a possible soulution for issues like this.

Now on the other hand, I see that you guys are concerned for new users or curious as to why we join linux. I however joined because I am familiarizing myself in different parts of the IT industry. So I want to have this renaissance mindset when I decide to make a career I will pursue. There is much to learn about linux and I am excited to learn.

One of my inspirations for ethical hacking comes from the new TV show that came out recently is: Mr.Robot

The question wasn't "why linux ?" (we all welcome more users), but "why kali ?" which is a specialist (think narrowly focused) distro.
As you seem interested in "ethical hacking", this positions you perfectly to begin developing your data recovery skills. Kali will have most of the tools you'll need, but I might add photorec to the mix in your case.

Deletion of files, and even the MFT in NFTS is reasonably easy to recover from. Over-written data is gone.

if you installed Kali where Windows files were on a NTFS partition
kali reformatted ( might be recoverable ??? )
then installed it's self ON TOP / OVER your files (100 UNRECOVERABLE - you DID use full drive encryption RIGHT during the install )

you DID make a back up as EVERY guide / tutorial states
step 1
back up
step2
see step 1
step 3
see step 1 and 2

reinstall your microsoft files from the back up


WHY " kali" !!!!!
linux in general is COOL and GREAT - go for it
but KALI is a single use OS -- think of it as something Q would give Jame Bond to break into SPECTER's computers



the "script kiddy " on 4chan
the pre teen / young teen 4chan "cool factor"
maybe the " Bond , James Bond" factor


I play around with it and will be looking at the new version 2

but if you ARE NOT a very experienced Linux user
and a VERY experienced Linux user that ALSO is learning "pen testing" and things in that area ( expanding your knowledge and LEARNING )

it is of ZERO USE TO YOU

basically if you can PASS the Offensive security qualifications to START taking there classes
( as in testing IN ) then Kali is for you

Would it not make more sense to start at the beginning than at the end? (The old proverb about learning to walk before trying to run.) Starting the learning process with a specialised system designed for professional security people is probably not the best idea.

Proof of the above. 1) You make unwise mistakes during installation, and 2) you are trying to install a system that is not supposed to be installed.

Install a regular distribution, read and experiment. Contrary to a popular internet version of urban legend, installing Kali will not instantly make you a hacker.

i think you meant a partition.Kali Linux is supposed to be run as a live environment, straight from the usb stick. not installed.
this implies that kali linux is not a general purpose distro.

try distrowatch .

Chalk it up to experience & learn from it.

I think we have all made that kind of mistake at some time.

As others have said, learn with a general distro, (such as AntiX MX).
http://antix.mepis.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

I have seen a few references to that show, so I decided to download a few episodes and see what all the fuss is about. And there it was! Episode five has a scene where the hackers are breaking into a data centre and the camera shows the laptop screen for three or four seconds. A Kali Linux screen backdrop!

That is seriously your motivation to use Linux? I hope this is not a rhetorical question, but you do realise movies and television shows are not reality?