A deleted or lost partition is one of the most common problems faced by desktop and laptop users.
Deleted files can stay recoverable until they are overwritten: stop using the device. If software does not solve it, see Bot’s hard drive recovery, which starts with a free diagnosis.
If it has happened to you, let’s start with the good news: in many cases, a deleted partition can be recovered.
Read on to find out what causes partitions to disappear, how to recover them and how to keep it from happening again.
What is a partition?
On a personal computer, a partition is a logical division of a hard drive. Partitions are usually created to install different operating systems on the same drive or to make one drive behave like several separate drives.
Splitting a drive this way can make it easier to organize files, for example, or to separate the data of different people who share the same computer.
Partitions are created when the drive is partitioned (and then formatted with a file system), and in Windows each one usually gets its own drive letter, such as C:, D: and so on.
How can a partition be deleted or lost?
When Windows tells you a partition is missing, the first question that comes to mind is, naturally, “what happened?”
Several factors can cause a partition to be deleted or lost, including:
Accidental deletion
Even experts slip up from time to time when managing their drives. It’s not unusual to delete a partition by mistake or to wipe an entire disk when you only meant to wipe one partition.
Data corruption
The partition table can be damaged by a virus or by a faulty disk operation, which can make the partition disappear.
Power outages
A sudden power surge or outage can interrupt the drive in a way that leaves a partition inaccessible.
Bad sectors
Bad sectors can prevent the operating system from recognizing a partition.
Can a deleted partition be recovered?
Now that we’ve seen some of the reasons partitions get lost, here’s the good news: a deleted partition can often be recovered.
But act quickly. When a partition is deleted, the system only removes its entry from the partition table; the data stays on the drive, but that area is now treated as free space and can be overwritten at any time.
As long as that area of the drive hasn’t been overwritten, you can still recover the deleted partition with recovery software.
The problem is that the more you use the computer, the more likely it is that new data will be written over that area of the drive.
So the sooner you attempt the recovery, and the less you write to the drive in the meantime, the better your chances.
How to recover a deleted partition in 4 steps
There are several tools designed to recover deleted partitions on the main operating systems (Windows, macOS and Linux).
One example is the Partition Recovery Wizard, a free feature of EaseUS Partition Master (from the makers of EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard) that helps you recover deleted or lost partitions on Windows PCs.
To use it, follow these 4 steps:
- Open the program, select the disk that lost the partition and click “Scan”
- The scan starts straight away. Wait while it searches for the deleted partition
- Double-click the deleted partition to check its contents (it should show the status “Lost” and recoverability “Good”). Click “Yes” and then “Next” to recover it
- Click “Recover Now” to finish. If you want to look for more lost data, click “Continue scanning”.
Tools like Partition Recovery Wizard can be very useful for recovering a deleted partition.
However, their free versions usually have limitations, so you may need to buy the full version to do the job properly.
They also require some technical knowledge. Used carelessly, recovery tools can cause irreversible data loss, for example if you write to the wrong drive or keep scanning a drive that is physically failing.
How to recover data from the partition and create a new partition
If you use EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard instead, keep in mind that it recovers the files and folders from the deleted partition, but it does not restore the partition itself.
So, once the files from the lost partition are safe, you need to create a new partition in the unallocated space.
To recover the data from the partition:
- In EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, select the lost partition and click “Scan” to search for lost data. If you’ve lost more than one partition, you can tell them apart by size
- Double-click the lost partition to view its files (Deleted Files/Lost Files). Everything found is listed under the lost partition
- Select the data and click “Recover”, saving it to a different drive, never to the disk you are recovering.
To create a new partition (only after the data is safe):
- Right-click “This PC” and select “Manage”
- Go to “Disk Management”
- Right-click the unallocated space on the drive and select “New Simple Volume…”
- Follow the New Simple Volume Wizard to set the volume size, choose a drive letter, format the partition and so on.
You can then copy the recovered data back to the new partition.
How can I keep a partition from being deleted?
A few habits help protect your partitions from damage:
Use an antivirus
It’s the best way to protect your partitions from viruses, Trojans and other malware.
Keep it up to date, too. An outdated antivirus leaves you exposed to attacks that can delete or alter your data.
Protect against power outages
To keep power outages from damaging your partitions, use a backup power source such as a UPS (uninterruptible power supply).
A UPS gives your computer enough time to save your work and shut down properly, preventing damage to the hardware and to your data.
Make a backup
A good option is to create a full system image backup regularly and store it on an external hard drive.
It is the fastest and safest way to restore your system without losing your most recent content, because it captures everything: partitions, operating system, settings, applications, documents, photos and other files.
Unlike a recovery partition, a full image backup saves you from having to reinstall programs, update them and recreate all your files.
Keeping it on an external drive also means you can move your system to new hardware if the original drive fails, which would take any recovery partition stored on it down with it.
Protect the hardware from dust, sun and humidity
Avoid exposing your computer to direct sunlight or humidity, which can damage the hardware and corrode its components.
Also keep it free of dust, which builds up between components, holds moisture that speeds up corrosion and can cause overheating and poor electrical contacts, damaging the hardware.
Read next
Conclusion
A partition can be lost or deleted by accident, through data corruption, power outages or bad sectors.
The good news is that a deleted partition can often be recovered, either with specialized software, as shown here, or with professional help.
To keep it from happening again, use an antivirus, protect your computer from power outages, keep it free of dust and back up your data.
Bear in mind, though, that trying to recover a deleted partition on your own without the right technical knowledge can lead to permanent data loss, especially if the drive is physically damaged.
That’s why it’s best to turn to specialists when the data on the partition matters.
At Bot, we are experts in secure data recovery, and we can help.
Our standard diagnosis and quote are free, and we collect your device free of charge (islands not included).
