save important data with a linux-live system

joethegeek · 09-15-2006, 10:38 AM

Hi!
I wanted to Install Windows on a computer where debian was already installed.
after istalling windows (no error messages), I didn't see any boot manager, just
"NTLDR is missing"*
I installed windows again. I saw my partitions, but then the same
error happened again. I tried to install debian. I didn't see my
partitions(!)
I ran knoppix 4.0.2 DVD and grml 0.8.
I saw my partitions, but they seemed to be emty.

maybe I've a corrupt partition table.

(how) can I save my important data? is there any special tool wich is able to see it??

g johannes

i_grok · 09-15-2006, 12:35 PM

We'll need some more information about how things are configured.

First off, run this from Knoppix:

Code:

fdisk -l

This will show the disks and partitions. Please post the output.

Usually the way this is done is that the Linux boot loader (GRUB or LILO) will be reloaded after Windows is installed. But you need to know how the partitions are layed out to reinstall the boot loader.

joethegeek · 09-16-2006, 02:31 PM

I was as free as using grml 0.8 ( grml.org ), it's newer than my knoppix

here's the output:

root@grml ~ # fdisk -l

Disk /dev/hda: 40.0 GB, 40060403712 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4870 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 1 4151 33342876 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda2 * 2809 4151 10787616 b W95 FAT32
/dev/hda3 4152 4869 5767335 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda5 1 1459 11719354+ b W95 FAT32
/dev/hda6 1460 2096 5116671 b W95 FAT32

i_grok · 09-17-2006, 12:42 PM

Ok, you should be able to try mounting each of them to see if there is anything there. Partition 1 is extended, so it doesn't actually have files in it.

Code:

mkdir -p /mnt/windows

mount /dev/hda2 /mnt/windows
ls /mnt/windows
umount /mnt/windows

mount /dev/hda3 /mnt/windows
ls /mnt/windows
umount /mnt/windows

... etc ...

If there are things in them that you want to keep, you can copy them somewhere else, or make note of them so that further installations don't overwrite them.

If there aren't files on any of the partitions, I fear your data is gone.

joethegeek · 09-18-2006, 03:54 AM

i_grok wrote:

Quote:

If there aren't files on any of the partitions, I fear your data is gone.

I wrote:

Quote:

I ran knoppix 4.0.2 DVD and grml 0.8.
I saw my partitions, but they seemed to be emty.

are you shure?
isn't there any recovery-tool wich is able to see them?
for example, under windows are tools wich are able to recover deleted files...

I think the files aren't deleted, there's just an error anywhere wich must be fixed

but what is it and how can I fix it....

regards
johannes

i_grok · 09-18-2006, 09:51 AM

It depends how the installer deleted the files.

If the installer completely reformatted each partition (which is usually how it happens), then even the EXPENSIVE data recovery companies may not be able to get the data.

If the installer simply deleted each file in each partition, you might be able to use a tool to find them. I have not had to do this on a Windows FAT32 filesystem, but a quick search did not reveal any free utilities.

It might be best to get a second opinion from someone who can actually sit down at the computer.

If Linux doesn't report any errors when mounting the partitions, there probably isn't anything awfully wrong with the filesystem.