I crashed a hard drive. It used to have an NTFS partition, now that
partition is labeled "unknown" partition by windowsXP install CD.

How can I force the partition back to NTFS, so that I can recover some
files?

I googled this topic and found lots of hits, many with elaborate
discussions. But I have yet to find a simple solution -- something that
writes the NTFS id back into the unknown partition.

peter wrote:

> I crashed a hard drive. It used to have an NTFS partition, now that
> partition is labeled "unknown" partition by windowsXP install CD.

> How can I force the partition back to NTFS, so that I can recover some files?

Try a Linux Live CD, that usually can see the partition because it isnt as fussy as XP.

> I googled this topic and found lots of hits, many with elaborate
> discussions. But I have yet to find a simple solution -- something
> that writes the NTFS id back into the unknown partition.

There's more involved than the id.

peter wrote:
> I crashed a hard drive. It used to have an NTFS partition, now that
> partition is labeled "unknown" partition by windowsXP install CD.
>
> How can I force the partition back to NTFS, so that I can recover some
> files?

I hope you backed up your important files. For now, you could re-Format
it. Use Disk Management in Computer Management in Control Panel.

--
@~@ Might, Courage, Vision, SINCERITY.
/ v \ Simplicity is Beauty! May the Force and Farce be with you!
/( _ )\ (Xubuntu 8.04.1) Linux 2.6.26.2
^ ^ 15:55:01 up 16 days 7 min 4 users load average: 1.00 1.02 1.00
? ? (CSSA):
http://www.swd.gov.hk/tc/index/site_...ub_addressesa/

On Aug 23, 3:39*am, "Rod Speed" wrote:
> peter wrote:
> > I crashed a hard drive. It used to have an NTFS partition, now that
> > partition is labeled "unknown" partition by windowsXP install CD.
> > How can I force the partition back to NTFS, so that I can recover some files?
>
> Try a Linux Live CD, that usually can see the partition because it isnt as fussy as XP.
>
> > I googled this topic and found lots of hits, many with elaborate
> > discussions. But I have yet to find a simple solution -- something
> > that writes the NTFS id back into the unknown partition.
>
> There's more involved than the id.

If is just the Master Boot Record (sector 0) then updating the
partition table may help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_boot_record
http://www.cnwrecovery.com/manual/in...TableStructure
http://www.win.tue.nl/~aeb/partition...n_types-1.html

You will need to set the ID as 7 and point to the BIOS Parameter
Block. If the BPB is not there, it is much more complex and you will
need a specialised program, or data recovery company

Michael

"peter" schreef in bericht
news:mmJrk.584$5C.466@trnddc02...
>I crashed a hard drive. It used to have an NTFS partition, now that
>partition is labeled "unknown" partition by windowsXP install CD.
>
> How can I force the partition back to NTFS, so that I can recover some
> files?
>
> I googled this topic and found lots of hits, many with elaborate
> discussions. But I have yet to find a simple solution -- something that
> writes the NTFS id back into the unknown partition.

However possible, it is unlikely that editing the 'partition type ID' in the
partition table will fix this:

1. Either partition table is wrong and points to sector that's not an NTFS
boot sector. This often can be fixed.
2. Or, partition boot sector is corrupt. This often can be fixed
3. None of the above, file system itself is corrupt. Can't be fixed (or
unpractical), instead extract data with some file recovery software.

With our DiskPatch demo you can create a logfile. If you post that logfile
in our forum we can estimate if this can be fixed with our tools or maybe
even free 3rd party tools. We can have a look, no hard feelings if you then
decide to use other tools.

--

Kind regards,
Joep - DIY DataRecovery.nl

http://www.diydatarecovery.nl

Important: When replying to this mail, please include previous
correspondence!