11-18-2007, 12:43 PM

Hello

I was running boot camp with a Windows install (NTFS?) and my Mac install - everything was fine. Then I re-partitioned to just a Mac partion ( ready to use VMWare fusion instead ) - everything is still fine.

Now two weeks later, I realise that my photo collection was on my Windows partition not the Mac partition. Duh!

Since some time has passed, and I have done other work on the mac, I realise I may have already overwritten the freed space, but I want to take my best shot at recovering the files on the NTFS partition.

What is the best approach in your experience. I have tried using FileSalvage (in trial mode) but I don't see any of my lost files.

Any recommendations appreciated.

-- Andrew

-- 2 GHz Intel Core Duo - Mac OS X 10.4.10

11-27-2007, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by AndrewBayly

Hello

I was running boot camp with a Windows install (NTFS?) and my Mac install - everything was fine. Then I re-partitioned to just a Mac partion ( ready to use VMWare fusion instead ) - everything is still fine.

Now two weeks later, I realise that my photo collection was on my Windows partition not the Mac partition. Duh!

Since some time has passed, and I have done other work on the mac, I realise I may have already overwritten the freed space, but I want to take my best shot at recovering the files on the NTFS partition.

What is the best approach in your experience. I have tried using FileSalvage (in trial mode) but I don't see any of my lost files.

Any recommendations appreciated.

-- Andrew

Sorry Andrew, but the Windows partition was NTFS format and is now HFS+ format. By definition that's reformatting. I don't think there are any files left to salvage. I've heard good things about SpinRight (didn't work for me); it's $60. Anyone else know of some miracle software?

Ironically, you didn't need to get rid of your Windows partition to run Fusion. You could have just run your BootCamp machine with Fusion. Sorry again, I hope you didn't have pictures of Sasquatch on your machine.

11-27-2007, 10:21 AM

You are out of luck - if the new Mac partition was formatted then any leftover data from the Windows partition that was underneath it is gone.