TestDisk is a free data recovery tool designed to recover deleted partitions. It can also make disks that no longer boot bootable again.
If the data cannot be lost, talk to people who do this every day: see how Bot’s lab data recovery works.
However, TestDisk only deals with logical problems — software crashes, some types of virus or human error, such as accidentally deleting a partition table. It can’t help when the disk has a physical fault.
In this post, we give you an overview of TestDisk and explain how to use it to recover your files.
TestDisk at a glance
Let’s start with its looks: although TestDisk is a great recovery tool, it has a rather dated, unfriendly interface.
It runs in a text-mode window that looks a lot like the old MS-DOS command prompt.
Even so, TestDisk is very useful: it can restore a boot sector from its backup copy, undelete files from FAT and NTFS file systems and much more.
Its advantages are that it’s free, it has a wide range of features and it’s very effective.
The big drawback is that it needs someone with technical knowledge to use it properly.
How to recover lost partitions with TestDisk
As mentioned above, if you’re not comfortable working on the command line or don’t have the technical knowledge to use TestDisk, it’s best to take your device to a data recovery company that can do it safely.
That’s the most reliable way to get your data back without making things worse.
If you still want to give it a try, follow the steps below. Don’t install TestDisk on, or save anything to, the disk you’re trying to recover.
Create a log file
- First, open TestDisk on your laptop or desktop computer;
- Select “[ Create ] Create a new log file” and press Enter. TestDisk will then scan the connected disks.
Select the disk
- TestDisk will list the disks it found. Use the arrow keys to select the disk you want to analyze, then select “[Proceed ]” and press Enter.
Select the partition table type
- TestDisk will then ask for the partition table type. It usually detects it automatically: choose “[Intel ]” for MBR disks or “[EFI GPT]” for GPT disks, and press Enter.
Search for lost partitions
- A menu of options will appear. Using the arrow keys again, select “[ Analyse ] Analyse current partition structure and search for lost partitions”;
- Then select “[Quick Search]” to scan the disk;
- TestDisk will display the partitions it found. Select the one you want and press P to list its files, go to the folder or file you want to recover and press C to copy it;
- Finally, choose where to save the recovered files — always on a different disk from the one you’re recovering — and press C to confirm the destination. When the copy finishes, TestDisk displays a “Copy done!” message.
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Conclusion
Despite its unfriendly look, TestDisk is a useful tool for recovering deleted files, restoring partition tables and much more.
However, it requires technical knowledge and confidence with commands, so it isn’t recommended for non-specialists.
So if you need to recover lost files or a deleted partition but have no experience with tools like TestDisk, leave the recovery to professionals.
At Bot, we can help you recover your files safely.
We used a laboratory equipped with clean room – means that your device is examined in a closed environment with total particle control to guarantee the integrity of your laptop/computer.
You can also request free collection of your device (islands not included). Our team will carry out a free standard diagnosis within 48 hours, or within 24 or 12 hours if it’s urgent.
Fill in this form to start your data recovery now.
