NTFS won't mount, corrupted?

greeklegend · 08-18-2006, 06:18 PM

This is semi-linux related i hope...
I was running out of space on my ext3 root partition, so i shrank an NTFS partition with partition magic. Unfortunatly, it is now, as read by windows, an empty, unformatted 70gb partition.
I tried mounting it under linux...

Code:

[17179806.128000] NTFS-fs warning (device hda5): is_boot_sector_ntfs(): Invalid boot sector checksum.
[17179806.128000] NTFS-fs error (device hda5): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Primary boot sector is invalid.
[17179806.148000] NTFS-fs warning (device hda5): is_boot_sector_ntfs(): Invalid boot sector checksum.
[17179806.168000] NTFS-fs warning (device hda5): is_boot_sector_ntfs(): Invalid boot sector checksum.
[17179806.168000] NTFS-fs error (device hda5): read_ntfs_boot_sector(): Could not find a valid backup boot sector.
[17179806.168000] NTFS-fs error (device hda5): ntfs_fill_super(): Not an NTFS volume.

Windows is on another partiton, so it is still bootable, as is my ubuntu linux distro. I'd really like to recover some data at least off that partition. Any ideas?
If i quick format it to NTFS, will an undelete utility then be able to get something mabye?

Brian1 · 08-18-2006, 07:03 PM

Check over at partition magic site and see if the version you have an revision level has had similiar issues and what can be done to fix. Contact Partition Magic devlopers for help as well. Worst thing they will say is did you backup before using the software.

Brian1

syg00 · 08-18-2006, 09:40 PM

Sensible advice - certainly the place to start.
Shrinking a partition involves resizing the filesystem, then adjusting the actual partition to suit. NTFS is particularly sensitive to data at the end of the partition.
PM should be aware of this - hope you had a (at least semi-) current version.

Another caveat is that the start of the partition is critical - shrink the end, not the start. Again PM should handle this o.k.

Don't like your idea of a reformat - you have enough problems already.
For future reference, I'd suggest linux-ntfs; the resizer works wonderfully, and they have a ntfsclone as well so you can ensure you have a backup before starting to "play".

greeklegend · 08-18-2006, 11:20 PM

Well no. I didn't do a backup before using the software. I guess that makes me somewhat of an idiot.
Actually if i could delete this topic, i would; I've realised what i've done. I started partition magic with the /IPE flag, because it was claiming it couldn't find a drive letter for one of my partitions (I assumed this was because my ext3 partition doesn't have a drive letter). Obviously i was wrong. *sigh* pulls out instillation media...

syg00 · 08-18-2006, 11:31 PM

Bummer - live and learn I guess.