Hard drive partition corrupt.

[blockers]

Hi.

I have been running a fileserver for the last 6 months, with 20gb windows 2000 install, and a 160gb maxtor drive, which is partitioned into 100gb for media, and 60gb for important documents. It is all accessed through a nework - without a screen.

Quickly had to turn the computer off that the wall because of a thunderstorm yesterday, turned it back on today to find that the 60gb partition now says (in windows) that it isnt formatted and do i want to format it. However the 100gb partition is fine.

Are there some programs or stuff that will recover the 60gb partition? Or can i just do something in windows to make it see the partition as 60gb formatted with data on it?

Thanks very much
Will.

[0iD]

Similar prob to yours here
http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=52115

[peterb]

You could try inspecting the disk with something like Knoppix (Linux operating system that runs off a CD) to see if the data is intact - then you stand a chance of recovering it by copying it elsewhere. Partition Magic (or another non destructive partitioning tool) MIGHT be able to fix the partition table if that was damaged by the rapid shutdown. Yopu could use FDISK to examine the partition trtable, but read up on it first as incorrect use will trash any data. This is true for any tool that tampers with the hard drive directly - use any very carefully and at your own risk!

As to the future, running the PC off a small UPS will protect against spikes, and give enough time (you only need a couple of minutes) to disconnect the UPS from the wall and do a controlled shutdown while running from the UPS.