I have a Ubuntu 11.10 and had an unbootable (due to a virus) Windows XP partition on my 160 GB hard drive. The Ubuntu was allocated 40GB and the Windows was allocated 120GB. But the data I wanted to save from the Windows XP amounted to more than 40GB so I was forced to choose what to save. I moved everything I could to Ubuntu and then deleted the Windows partition so that I could reinstall another Windows OS in its place. But before installing the new Windows XP, I learned that I could recover the partition using Testdisk so I baught a huge 16GB USB flashdrive and had plans to back up more from the Windows partition.

But in the recovery process, I think I might have picked the wrong partition to recover. I just didnt know how to read the interface so I went for it (bad idea, I know). Now when I boot my computer, I get a black screen with "Grub Rescue" at the top lefthand corner. Is this some sort of recovery terminal? Or am I screwed, because when I try to boot from a Ubuntu 11.10 CD I burned (thankfully) it doesn't boot automatically, is that a bad sign? Can't I boot from a "previous state"?


I really need some of those document files from the hard drive. Please help,

Michael

Hi, Michael!

It is very hard to catch what did you exactly done with your disk. If data haven't been overridden there is ever high chance to recover although the partition table is damaged. Please try again describe your doing step by step.