Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!wrdis01!gatech!purdue!haven!mimsy!rlgvax!ccicpg!mendip!mhr From: mhr@mendip.UUCP (MHR {who?}) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc Subject: Re: Recovering from FDISK Message-ID: <15728@mendip.UUCP> Date: 20 Mar 91 00:53:44 GMT References: <2697.27e2ce06@exocet.mentec.ie> Organization: ICL North America Lines: 44 In <2697.27e2ce06@exocet.mentec.ie>, richard@exocet.mentec.ie writes: > > > Does anyone know an effective way of recovering from an FDISK disaster - > I "Fdisked" the wrong device ! > I know PC-Tools and the Norton Utilities will recover DELETED > files but can they be used in my situation ? > I need to restore 2/3 un-backed-up directories. > > I usually consider myself much of an expert on PCs and DOS systems, but here I am in unfamiliar territory, so proceed with caution. I've never actually tried this, but I doubt it can hurt any worse than what you already did. Basically, FDISK under most MS-DOS versions doesn't actually do anything except rewrite the partition table on your disk. While this is extremely dangerous, it _should_ leave the actual disk contents alone. So, the first move would be to re-FDISK the disk and reset the partitions back to where they were. In case I'm wrong about how much actual damage FDISK does, even if the FAT's of your partitions have been destroyed (which is what FORMAT does, not FDISK, as far as I know), you should be able to recover most of your small or contiguous files using either PC-TOOLS or Norton. If you're using DR-DOS, I think you're lost because their FDISK also formats the partition, clobbering the FAT and (I think) the file data as well. Also, the Compaq version of FORMAT actually rewrites every sector in the file system being formatted, thus also wiping out your data (now _that_ I have done, much to my regret - lost two months of work because my backup also failed to restore - different versions or something). The only other way would be to go buy a book which talks about these particular subjects (I don't know the names of any, sorry) and do it by hand with a sector editor (a la PC Tools, among others). Good luck! Make sure you check with a true expert on FDISK before doing what I suggested - you may regret it if you don't. -- Mark A. Hull-Richter UUCP: ccicpg!mhr In all things, restraint, ICL North America especially with respect 9801 Muirlands Blvd to posting articles and Irvine, CA 92713 (714)458-7282x4539 doubly so for flames.