External harddrive partitioned...HELP!

[JK_du_Toit]

We have an external harddrive which was backed up 3 times and each time it formed a new partition. So now i have 3 partitions on my drive and I cant seem to get into the first one to retrieve some of my work!

Can anybody help me get back into the first partition...please!!??

[easy]

What software were you using that created the partitions?

And what operating system are you using?

[JK_du_Toit]

It is called flip-back. It copies the contents of a hard drive, so in the event of a crash you can boot the system from the external hard drive.

Any help would be appreciated!

[JK_du_Toit]

Oh, forgot to include my Operatins System. It is Windows XP Pro.

[The_JinJ]

Can you see the first partition but can't get in or is it not visible at all?

[easy]

As I understand it, Flip-Back is meant to mirror a boot disk onto a separate hard drive, so it the first one fails, you can carry on as normal by attaching the second disk.

From the sound of things, you have used it to back up a disk on to itself, so it has had to create a new partition - but this should not have deleted anything in the original partition.

Go to Control Panel and, in Classic View, open Administrative Tools and then Computer Management. Open Disk Management from the left hand side, and this should show you all the partitions and drives available. Have a look to see if the missing partition is there, and if so, see what it says about it. You can right click on the partition for Properties.

But tread carefully - dont change anything you dont understand 'cos this could lose your data permanently. Let me know what you find.

[JK_du_Toit]

But what do we look for? We see the partitions, but we cant seem to open them...???]

[easy]

It's very hard to do this without being able to see what you can see - if you want I'll call you and perhaps you could be my eyes over the phone.

[JK_du_Toit]

Thank you so much!

You can speak to my associate, his name is Dudley.

His nr is:01344 487 378.

That would really be appreciated!

[easy]

Sorry - tried and failed. :oops:

Suggested downloading Partition Doctor.

If I have any ideas I'll call again.

[JK_du_Toit]

Hehehe, but thanks for the call, I really appreciate it! You sure do know your stuff with pc's and the fact that you wanted to help really tells me a lot about your company.

I will definately refer you to anybody who may ever ask me for a computer expert.

regards,

jk

[easy]

No problem - 'twas only a phone call.

But if the worst comes to the worst, take the harddrive out and send it to me. We have specialised data recovery hardware and software and should atleast be able to recover all your data quickly.

[JK_du_Toit]

thank you for all the help!

Really good to know that there are still people out there who want to help.
We have a firm of over 40 consultants, if you ever need any marketing or any other advice, you have our nr!

Regards,

JK du Toit