Linux Mint 19.3 Deleted Drivers. How To Recover Deleted Data?

Hi, I had Windows 7 partitioned with four drivers but decided to replace it with Linux Mint 19.3. I made a mistake errasing all the data as I assumed the new OS will only format driver C and leave the other drivers intact. I am now le ft with Linux with no access to all my data with no backup. The question I have is whether I could recover any of my data (400 to 600 GB) with a data recovery software.

 

I had Windows 7 with four drives (C, D, E and F). I then decided to get rid of Windows OS and replace it with Linux Mint 19.3. During the installation, I went for a clean installation and erased all data. I mistakenly assumed my data on drives D, E and F would remain intact. Some data recovery software suggest that I might still be able to recover some data but I am not sure how. I just don’t want to do anything that makes it harder to recover the formatted data.

Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated as I badly need to recover my lost data.

 

I am a Windows user... Now that you've gone over to Linux, maybe google reviews of Linux undelete apps. My one advice is to use a different computer to make a bootable Linux OS disk (or USB) and download the undelete app onto it. By booting off a disk and running the undelete app from there, you minimize (if not eliminate) any disturbance to your own Linux hard drive - which maximizes your chance of successful data recovery. And, of course, going forward, you will start backing up your data files, right?

 

C is your primary 'physical' drive, D, E and F are merely partitions to the physical.
If you format C, you naturally displace data on all, but Im guessing you know that now.

Its possible, but it comes at a price!
Below is a link to software I have used on client machines with somewhat success in the past!
You may get all, or fractured data recovery.

Hard drive recovery software: recover deleted, formatted or lost data from hard drive (easeus.com)

 

OP now has a Linux computer. I don't think EaseUS - which runs on Windows - will work.

 

Hi,

Thanks so much for taking the time reading through my not-so-clear notes and thanks for your help so far. I’d like to add a few points below as it may clarify things a bit and also help me decide the best course of action going forward.

My laptop:

- HP Pavilion g series = Intel i3 = Toshiba HDD drive (750GB) was made in 2011

- Previous OS: Windows 7 Pro 64-bit partitioned with four drives (C, D, E and F)

- The new or current operating system was installed mid-January 2022: Linux Mint 19.3 Cinnamon 64-bit installed with "Erase disk and install Linux Mint":

748GB Block Device dev/mint-vg/root = Filesystem 748 GB Ext4 – Free 730GB

Device: dev/sda1

Partitioning: Master Boot Record

Volumes Partition 1 767MB Ext4 = Extended Partition 2 749GB = Partition 5 749GB LUKS = 749GB LVM2 PV



What I am going to do:

I have already taken the HDD disk or drive out. I’m in the process of purchasing two USB to SATA converter cables and a SATA HD/SSD drive to back up my current data. I also need a cloning software that does a sector by sector clone. I also need a data recovery software. And most importantly, I’ll need a lot of time and patience!



- I include links to other forums where I have been offered tips and advice on the matter:

https://www.ifixit.com/Answers/View...eted+drives+-+how+to+recover+drive+partitions



https://forums.majorgeeks.com/threa...d-drivers-how-to-recover-deleted-data.324579/



https://www.techrepublic.com/forums...-deleted-drivers-how-to-recover-deleted-data/



https://forums.tomsguide.com/thread...d-drivers-how-to-recover-deleted-data.504119/



I also came across a thread on another website with similar issue: https://unix.stackexchange.com/ques...r-selecting-erase-disk-and-install-linux-mint


I totally understand the complexity of the issue. Considering my limited IT knowledge, I am fully aware that my chance of success is very low. I also know the status of my finance and that I cannot afford the cost of someone else doing the job with me. No need to say that there is no guarantee they would be able to recover all my data and the privacy and data security risk of entrusting my data with someone else.

I would be eternally grateful if you could offer further advice.

Many thanks,
Privacy concerned Mona Lisa!

 

Well its not rocket science, one would think a Linux alternative is obvious then!

 

Hello good friends!!! I Am back after many.. months???
Just my 5 cents.
I love Windows 7, but did not like crashes, software sometimes not working, etc. So I started playing with Linux Mint (easier) and now it is the main OS in my computer, but (always a but) my wife and in occasions, my kids do not like and that is when things started going sour. Big solution, dual boot, and that later became tri - boot! Why? kids stuff, so now I have Linux Mint, W7 and W10 plus Archives, all in separate SSD and thanks to Linux I have access to all my data. To avoid the loss of any data I did the fresh installations physically disconnecting the HDDs, more work but my old computer is working with no issues. Thaks for the patience to read this.

 

Way to go....you did a good job.

These days the cloud serves me well, tech has improved fundamentally in this domain along with faster upload speeds thanks to Elon.
Whatever is local, is also remotely available to ensure zero data loss.