hi
I could really appreciate some tech advice as I have a big problem i ruined my entire media collection, i have a usb maxtor 350gb external hd which i had created 2 partitions both NTFS with partition magic 8 as it supports creation of large partitions. 1 partition i have put my audio on the other my video. i then converted both partitions to FAT32 with partition magic as it allows u to do this windows xp pro doesnt.
Now even though i see directory’s and files, files are inaccessible and error say files and directory’s are corrupted.
ok so i have now 2 Fat32 partitions, was 2 NTFS but converted them 1 by 1 using PM 8.0.(note conversion from NTFS to FAT32 is not possible in windows xp pro but is vise-versa).
Situation now is both drives appear to the eye to be ok, directory structures are readable and files are visible. Despite this the files cannot be read or moved neither can directory be moved, in attempt i receive corrupt file and directory error.
what i would like to know in order to recover my data as efficiently as possible should i:
a) Convert back to NTFS and attempt recovery of files, instead of using methed (b) because different partition types (FAT32) have different ‘file allocation unit size’ and think this may affect retrieval success rate.
b) Leave converted partition in current state (FAT32) and attempt recovery methods like RAW data recovery as data is recovered without assistance from Partition tables.
c) Use Windows System Restore, as the drive is being monitored by windows, to revert partition conversion. (i also wish to say the drive in question is not bootable just an externel USB MAXTOR HD 350GB split to into 2 partition via pmagic which supports large partition creation.)
Which method would be considered the better without compromising any more dataloss/curruption as the drive stands, method A, B or C.
I would prefer method ‘C’ but am not sure if System Restore can restore for this kind of scenario involving a partition conversion, on restore to be reverted to previous partition state as NTFS.
