Can I get my hard drive back after install has trashed it

[buick1946]

I started installing PCLOS 2010.10 Gnome in my 500gb hard drive along side Vista.
There were 3 partitions in use on the disc named, Vista, Files and Extra space as well as 128GB of unformatted free space.

I hit the install button, chose use free space and hit next. The installer then said something like operation complete and said re-start installer to complete installation, then disapeared when I clicked OK.

I attempted to re-start the installer. I got the login screen for root password, entered the password and the installer sort of flashed something on the screen that looked like its border, then crashed. Simply disappeared. I tried starting the installer again with the same result.

I attempted a switch user but the thing wouldn't let me log in as root so I could have a look at GParted, so I logged out and re-booted.

Upon re-boot I logged on as root and looked at Gparted to find my whole disc is now un-allocated space.

Any suggestions?

[AS]

Hi,

Upon re-boot I logged on as root and looked at Gparted to find my whole disc is now un-allocated space.

Please clarify the context: your rebooted from liveCD ? (look like yes, but just to be sure ...)

Apparently your partition table is lost, if I remember correctly there should exist some utility to recover lost partition table,
right now I don't remember where I have seen such rescue-utility, may be SystemrescueCD ? .

Do you have any backup ?

Before to try any other install/restore operation, try to search for some partition rescue utility ...

Good Luck

AS

[Xero]

Try installing and using testdisk to recover things.

[AS]

Try installing and using testdisk to recover things.

+1

Exactly this one, didn't knew it was available on PCLinuxOS!

AS

[buick1946]

As - Yes, re-booted live CD
I have found testdisk. I will read the destructions and see if my old brain can work out how to drive it.

Will post back later when I have "done me some lernin"

Thanks

OldBuick

[buick1946]

Looks pretty simple, I'll download it and give it a go. In the mean time, (off topic) any body being following the price of silver lately? Might see you in the sandbox to jaw about that one!

[Bald Brick]

Looks pretty simple, I'll download it and give it a go. In the mean time, (off topic) any body being following the price of silver lately? Might see you in the sandbox to jaw about that one!

Welcome, buick1946.

(At the moment gold is about 40 times more valuable than silver if you disregard the rarity of an antique silver object. Why do you ask?)