What to do right now
- Do not create, initialise or format anything in the unallocated space.
- Note the disk's size and what the partition used to be (letter, size, file system).
- Search for the lost partition read-only and copy its files to another disk.
Step by step
Leave the unallocated space alone
Creating a new volume writes a new file system exactly where the old one starts. Initialising a disk writes a new partition table. Both make recovery harder.
Write down what you know
The approximate size of the lost partition, its file system and what was on it help you recognise it among candidates.
Open the disk in FileFix Ultimate
Run the app as administrator, choose Deleted file recovery and select the whole physical disk rather than a drive letter. It reads the MBR or GPT and searches for partitions that are no longer listed.
Check the partition candidates
Candidates show their start, size and file system. A candidate whose NTFS backup boot sector matches is a strong sign. Scan the one that fits.
Copy the files to another disk
Recover the folders you need to a different physical disk. Once your files are safe, you can decide whether to recreate the partition with a partitioning tool or start fresh.
Why partitions disappear
The partition table, MBR on older disks or GPT on newer ones, is a small list at the start of the disk. Delete one entry and the partition vanishes from Windows, but the file system and files behind it remain. Resizing that was interrupted, conversion between MBR and GPT, and installers that repartition a disk are other common causes.
Each file system leaves clues. NTFS keeps a copy of its boot sector at the end of the partition, and FAT32 and exFAT have recognisable boot sectors at their start. Searching the disk for these clues reveals where lost partitions were.
Recover files first, restore the partition later
Tools that write a new partition table can bring a partition back in one step, but if they pick a wrong candidate they can cause new damage. Copying the files off first means a mistake later costs nothing.
When it won't work
- A new partition was created and formatted over the old one; parts of the old file system are then overwritten.
- Windows was reinstalled onto the space, which writes many gigabytes over the old data.
- ReFS, ext4, APFS and RAID volumes are not analysed; only signature search is available for them.
How FileFix Ultimate helps
- Parses MBR and GPT and searches for partitions missing from the table, including via the NTFS backup boot sector.
- Never writes a partition table or boot sector; the disk is opened read-only.
- Scans the candidate partition like a normal drive and recovers names and folders where possible.
- Can image the whole disk first if it shows read errors.
FileFix Ultimate is free, works offline and never writes to the drive you are recovering from. Check the signature before you run it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lost partition the same as a RAW drive?
No. A RAW drive still has its partition entry but the file system is unreadable. A lost partition has no entry at all and appears as Unallocated.
Can I undo deleting a partition in Disk Management?
There is no undo button. If nothing has been written since, the partition can usually be found again by searching the disk.
Will Windows see the partition again after recovery?
FileFix Ultimate copies the files; it does not change the disk. To make the partition visible again, you would use a partitioning tool after your files are safe.