Bonehead mistake, can I recover my data?

[DDuck]

I am setting up a server with two RAID 1 arrays. One of the arrays is two new SATA drives. The other, two older PATA drives that still have data on them. My plan was to build the machine except for the PATA RAID and just temporarily stick them on IDE2 to copy the data to the new RAID array.

Well, I had a long day and was messing around with arranging all the cables and I forgot to take the two drives with data off the RAID port. I know, I can't believe it either. Most of the data had been backed up, but I also forgot to back up a couple key folders (with about 40GB of data). Aack!

This is how far I got before I realized my mistake. I set up the RAID 1 array in bios but did NOT ask bios to copy the drive 1 data. I then started the XP install and loaded the RAID drivers (F6). I created a single partition on the array in XP setup. Now, I am at the prompt for the RAID driver disc in setup (C: drive just formatted, but NOT the array).

Should I:

-Just power down and hook the drives to to IDE2 and start over?

-Restart the XP install and delete the RAID partition before moving the drives off the array?

-Do something else?

-Or am I totally screwed and need to learn to live without the data?

[hafa]

Originally posted by DDuck
I am setting up a server with two RAID 1 arrays. One of the arrays is two new SATA drives. The other, two older PATA drives that still have data on them.

As I read this, you have two RAID controllers on this machine; one PATA and one SATA, yes? If this is the case and you created your RAID array on the SATA drives, your PATA drives should theoretically be untouched. Are both controllers onoard (SATA RAID and PATA RAID)?

My plan was to build the machine except for the PATA RAID and just temporarily stick them on IDE2 to copy the data to the new RAID array.


OK, wait a minute here. You cannot just plug a drive from an array into an IDE port. You'll need to connect the drives to the PATA RAID controller on which they were originally configured to access them.

Anything you've done in terms of formatting and file transfer, as long as it was done on the SATA drives and not the PATA drives is no problem. If, however, you've formatted your PATA drives, kiss your data goodbye.

If you've not actually changed anything on the PATA drives, you should be able to plug them into the original controller, rebuild the array and backup the data.

[DDuck]

Thanks, let me clarify.

As I read this, you have two RAID controllers on this machine; one PATA and one SATA, yes? If this is the case and you created your RAID array on the SATA drives, your PATA drives should theoretically be untouched. Are both controllers onoard (SATA RAID and PATA RAID)?

Yes, two onboard RAID controllers. But, I created the array on both the SATA and the PATA controllers. It is the two drives on the PATA controller I am trying to salvage.

OK, wait a minute here. You cannot just plug a drive from an array into an IDE port. You'll need to connect the drives to the PATA RAID controller on which they were originally configured to access them.

The drives were harvested from IDE controllers on older computers. The data I need is from those computers. My problem is that I have partitioned them in the new RAID array, but want to get that data off before i proceed. They have not been formatted, just placed on the RAID controller and set up as RAID 1 with a new partition.

[hafa]

Originally posted by DDuck
...They have...been...placed on the RAID controller and set up as RAID 1 with a new partition.

Hmmm...Not good, my friend. That means you've overwritten the original partition information on these drives. Short of a data recovery company ($$$) I'd say your data is irretrievable. :(

[DDuck]

Could I repartition on a IDE controller to get the data?

[crazythunder]

get data back for ntfs, or encase, or easy recovery pro might get your data back. i formatted a partition once that had 20 gigs of mp3's on it. get data back got EVERY single file back, uncorrupted. or try this, trial-- http://www.ontrack.com/easyrecoverylite/

[Carnil]

Originally posted by hafa
OK, wait a minute here. You cannot just plug a drive from an array into an IDE port. You'll need to connect the drives to the PATA RAID controller on which they were originally configured to access them.

Am I missing something? The drives are in a RAID-1 array. That means mirroring, and so you should be able to take a drive out of the array and use it directly by connecting it to an IDE or SATA connector.

[DDuck]

You are right, but so are the other guys. Repartitioning the drives hosed me.

I am currently trying to extract the data with testdisk 5.2, a free data extraction utility. So far I have found the original partition information but haven't been able to get the data yet.

By the way, I love the crazythunder avatar.

[Xaotic]

Try this one:

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/welcome.htm


Also freeware and runs within Windows. It's come in handy before.

[DDuck]

Thanks guys. I messed around with TestDisk freeware and could get the partition information from the backup but could not get the files.

I got tired of messing around with that (two days) and forked out the 80.00 for GetDataBack. The money was well spent, I had all of my files (79 GB) within a couple hours.

As easy as that was, I wonder why windows doesn't include some basic file salvage functions?

[coin]

I wonder why windows doesn't include some basic file salvage functions?

You expect basic useful functionality to be packaged as standard, foolish child :D