How to Restore Deleted Partition in Windows?

Mistakenly deleting a partition that contains important files can be frustrating, but you’re not the only one it has happened to. Many people have mistakenly deleted their disk’s partition – even the bootable partition – and still restore partition (with the files intact) by using a Partition Recovery software.

Partition loss or data loss happens to everyone; even if you’re too careful not to delete the partitions yourself, the system may be attacked by a virus or malware, and you’d end up losing your files and partitions. Aside from malware and accidental deletion, OS crashes, power surges, software updates, and other scenarios/actions can lead to data/partition loss. How to restore partition?

The main thing is to have a reliable software tool you can fall back on when you need to restore partition. This article acts as a guide to restoring lost partitions on any hard drive using DiskInternals Partition Recovery to restore deleted partition.

What is the restore partition?

A restore partition, also known as a recovery partition, is a hidden partition on a hard drive that contains important files and tools that are used to restore a computer to its original factory state. The restore partition is typically created by the computer manufacturer and is used to recover the operating system, device drivers, and pre-installed software in case of a system failure or other issues.

The restore partition may contain a backup of the entire operating system, including system files, application software, and user data. This allows users to restore their system to a working state without the need for a separate backup or installation media.

To access the restore partition, users typically need to press a specific key or combination of keys during the computer's boot process. The exact key or combination of keys varies depending on the computer manufacturer and model.

To access the restore partition, users typically need to press a specific key or combination of keys during the computer's boot process. The exact key or combination of keys varies depending on the computer manufacturer and model.

Is it possible to restore a partition?

Yes, it is possible to restore a partition, but the success of the restoration depends on the reason for the partition loss and the actions taken after the partition was lost or damaged.

If the partition was lost due to accidental deletion or formatting, you may be able to recover the partition using data recovery software. There are many data recovery tools available, both free and paid, that can help you recover lost partitions and data. However, it is important to note that there is no guarantee that all data will be recovered, and some data may be permanently lost.

If the partition was lost due to hardware failure or other physical damage, such as a bad sector on the hard drive, data recovery software may not be able to restore the partition. In such cases, you may need to replace the damaged hardware or seek professional data recovery services.

To prevent data loss and ensure that partitions can be restored in case of an issue, it is recommended to create regular backups of important data and to keep a backup copy of the partition on an external drive or cloud storage. This way, if the partition is lost or damaged, you can easily restore it from the backup.

How to Restore Deleted Partition?

If you have accidentally deleted a partition and need to restore it, you can try the following steps:

Step 2: Select Dive and “Scan” to dearch and restore partition

When you have selected the hard drive that contains the partition you lost, simply choose “Recovery Mode.” This software supports three recovery modes: Full Recovery, Fast Recovery, and Reader mode. If the partition has been long deleted, which means it may have been overwritten with new data, use the Full Recovery mode.

In Full scanning mode, DiskInternals Partition Recovery searches every part of your disk and recovers every data that has been lost from the drive. This mode also automatically repairs file structures and bypasses Windows security options to ensure that you recover the partition/data you seek.

Fast recovery mode is also efficient, but it may not discover all your lost partitions and files. It is advisable to use this mode only if you’re in haste and the files/partition you want to recover haven’t been lost for a long time.

Reader mode is used to access and open drives that won’t naturally open on Windows File Explorer (e.g., EXT drives from Linux systems or macOS disks).

Common Instances of Partition Recovery on Windows 10/11

In Windows operating systems, sometimes partitions can "disappear" for various reasons, even though they haven't been deleted. This can be distressing, especially if the partition contains important data. Here's a common scenario where a partition might seem to vanish, and steps you can take to possibly recover or restore visibility to that partition.

Situation 1: The Partition Likely Just Disappeared but Isn't Deleted

Causes:

1. Drive letter missing or changed.
2. The partition is hidden.
3. Drive path is not assigned.
4. File system corruption.
5. Outdated or incompatible disk drivers.

1. Fix It Using Disk Management:

a. Press Windows + X and select Disk Management.

b. Look for the missing partition. If you see it listed (but perhaps without a drive letter), it hasn't been deleted.

c. If it's missing a drive letter, right-click on the partition and choose Change Drive Letter and Paths. Assign a new letter, and it should become visible in File Explorer.

d. If it’s showing as "Unallocated", this means the partition might have been deleted or corrupted.

2. Using Command Prompt:

a. Open Command Prompt as administrator.

b. Type diskpart and press Enter.

c. Type list disk and press Enter.

d. Identify the disk that had the missing partition and type select disk X (where X is the disk number).

e. Type list volume and see if the missing partition is listed.

f. If you find the missing partition, type select volume Y (where Y is the volume number of the missing partition).

g. Assign a letter by typing assign letter=Z (where Z is an available drive letter).

h. Exit diskpart and Command Prompt.

3. Checking for File System Corruption:

If the partition isn’t showing up due to file system corruption, you may need to run a check. Using Command Prompt as an administrator, type chkdsk X: /f (where X is the drive letter of the missing partition).

4. Update Disk Drivers:

Sometimes outdated or incompatible drivers might cause the partition to become invisible.

a. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.

b. Expand “Disk drives”, right-click on the drive in question, and select Update driver.

5. Use Third-party Software:

If none of the above methods work, consider using third-party DiskInternals Partition Recovery tool. This program scan and recover partitions that have been accidentally deleted or have become invisible due to various reasons.

Situation 3: Recovering of Partition Table

If the partition table of a disk gets corrupted or deleted, the partitions on that disk may seem to disappear, even if the data remains intact on the drive. The partition table is a crucial component since it contains information about the size, type, and location of partitions on a disk.

Here's how to attempt recovery:

1. Use TestDisk:

TestDisk is a powerful, open-source software designed specifically to recover lost partitions and repair partition tables.

a. Download and launch TestDisk.

b. Choose to create a new log file.

c. Select the affected drive and choose the partition table type (usually "Intel").

d. Select “Analyze” to let TestDisk scan the disk for lost partitions.

e. If TestDisk finds your lost partitions, it will list them. You can then choose to write the corrected partition table.

f. Restart your computer.

2. Backup Before Any Recovery:

Before attempting any recovery, if you can, make an image backup of the entire drive. This is to ensure you can restore to the current state if something goes wrong during recovery. You can use tools like dd (on Linux) or software like Clonezilla to create an exact image of the drive.

3. Manual Recovery with a Hex Editor:

This is an advanced technique and should only be attempted by those familiar with disk structures and hex editing.

a. Use a hex editor that can access disk sectors (like HxD for Windows).

b. Manually search for partition headers or known file headers to identify partition starts.

c. Using the identified starts and known sizes (if available), manually reconstruct the partition table.

4. Preventive Measures for the Future:

a. Regular Backups: Always maintain backups of your important data and, if possible, a clone of your entire drive.

b. Avoid Unsafe Ejection: Always safely eject external drives. Abrupt removal can lead to data corruption.

c. Use UPS: If you're in an area prone to power outages, use an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) to protect against sudden shutdowns which can lead to corruption.

d. Regular Check-ups: Occasionally run disk health checks and diagnostics to catch and fix errors before they become major issues.

Conclusion on how to restore partition

Partitions help segregate storage media, so you can store different file formats separately for easy access or specific reasons. Getting back deleted partitions is pretty easy and fast when you use an intuitive, professional software with up to 99 percent efficiency in partition recovery. So, partition loss isn’t something to throw you off balance; you can always get back everything and regain access to your important files.

FAQ