Quick Fix: How to Recover Data from NTFS Partition

Why do we need to recover data from an NTFS partition?

The NTFS (New Technology File System) partition is the default file system for modern Windows systems. It is mainly used to manage the data on storage devices, allowing the operating system to efficiently access and organize files. Compared to older file systems, NTFS offers superior security, reliability, and functionality, making it a preferred choice for many users.

However, unexpected errors happen on your NTFS partition occasionally, causing your data to be lost. For instance, files, folders, or even whole partitions can be accidentally deleted, corrupted, or lost due to incorrect operations. Don’t panic! This post will show you how to recover data from an NTFS partition effectively. Keep reading if you have the same issue.  

Common Reasons for Data Loss from NTFS Partitions

► Hardware failures often cause the most serious data loss. Hard drives, SSDs, and other storage devices can fail due to physical damage, wear, or defects in the manufacturing.

► Software problems like file system errors can happen due to improper shutdowns, malware attacks, or system crashes.

► Another common issue is accidental deletion of files or entire partitions, which can happen while using the system or during disk operations.

► Power surges or outages can damage open files and the file system. How much data can be recovered depends on how badly the file system was affected.

How can I recover data from an NTFS partition?

Losing data from an NTFS partition can be a frustrating and stressful experience, especially when your essential files are involved. Fortunately, even when files are deleted or seemingly lost from an NTFS partition, they often remain physically on the storage device until they are overwritten by new data. This means that data recovery is possible if you act promptly.

So, how can you effectively recover data from an NTFS partition? Don’t worry! We’d like to introduce AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery, is a powerful, professional data recovery software that can help you recover data from an NTFS hard drive or partition.

AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery stands out with its advanced technology and user-friendly interface, making the process of recovering lost or deleted data as simple and efficient as possible. Whether the data is lost due to accidental deletion, formatting, or partition corruption, this software can handle it with ease.

Why choose this tool?

Highly effective in addressing a wide range of data loss scenarios, such as recovering files from formatted drive, or restoring accidentally deleted files.

Supports data recovery from HDD, SSD, USB flash drives, SD cards, and other common storage devices.  

Compatible with almost all Windows versions, including Windows 11/10/8/7 and Windows Server.  

Provides a file preview function before recovery to ensure that you are recovering the right files.  

Free Download
Windows PCs & Servers

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Here’s how to recover data from an NTFS partition using AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery:

Step 1: If you find your files are lost or the NTFS partition encounters any issues, please immediately stop using the drive. This can avoid using the affected partition after data loss, in case of unexpected overwriting.

Step 2: Install AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery on your PC and then launch it. It is advised to install it on a different drive instead of the recovered one.

Step 3: After launching this tool, choose the partition or disk you want to handle to scan.

Step 4: AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery will scan your disk to find all lost files. It offers two scanning modes: Quick Scan for a faster search and Deep Scan for a more thorough examination of your device. The time required for the scan depends on the size of the drive.

Step 5: Once the scan is complete, all the missing files will be displayed on the interface. Select the files you want to retrieve and click the Recover option.

Step 6: To save the recovered files, select a recovery location different from the original drive. This avoids the risk of data overwriting. Then wait for the process to finish.

How to recover a faulty NTFS partition?

Now that you know how to recover data from an NTFS partition, let’s shift our focus to recovering an NTFS partition. In some cases, your data becomes inaccessible because the partition is corrupted or encounters other issues that prevent it from being properly recognized by the system.

Fortunately, you can often recover NTFS data as long as the partition is restored to a functional state. This section outlines several methods to restore an NTFS partition, ensuring that your data becomes accessible again.

Method 1. Repair Logical Errors on NTFS Partitions

Sometimes, you fail to access your NTFS partition because there are some logical errors on it. These errors typically affect how data is organized and accessed. In such a case, you can use CHKDSK to repair the errors and recover NTFS data.

Step 1: Press Win + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type the command chkdsk [Drive Letter]: /f /r /x and hit the Enter key.

• /f: Fixes errors on the disk.
• /r: Locates bad sectors and recovers readable data.
• /x: Forces the volume to dismount before checking.

Step 3: Exit this CMD window and check if your data is recovered.

Method 2. Reassign a Drive Letter

Sometimes, a drive may not appear in File Explorer or become inaccessible due to the absence of a drive letter. If you’ve confirmed that the NTFS partition is healthy, you can assign a drive letter using command-line tools to access your data.

Step 1: Press Win + S, type cmd, and select Run as administrator.

Step 2: Type the following commands and hit the Enter key after each.

diskpart

list disk

select disk x ( Replace x with your disk number.)

list volume

select volume x (Replace x with the disk volume number.)

assign letter = m (If a drive letter has been assigned, replace m with any available drive letter.) 

Step 3: Exit this CMD window and check if you can access the NTFS partition.

Method 3. Use TestDisk to Recover NTFS Partitions

In addition to using various commands, TestDisk is also a good tool to recover lost partitions and repair damaged file systems. It is an open-source software that is widely used by professionals and individuals for recovery tasks.

Step 1: Download TestDisk from its official website, extract the package, and run the program.

Step 2: Select the Create option to generate a new log file and press the Enter key. Enter your admin password when prompted.

Step 3: Choose the disk containing the NTFS partition and press Enter.

Step 4: Then TestDisk will detect the correct partition type automatically.

Step 5: Next, select Analyze to start the scanning. If the partition is missing, choose Quick Search to look for it. If the partition is not found, choose Deeper Search for a more thorough scan.

Step 6: Once the search is complete, TestDisk will show a list of recovered partitions. Highlight the NTFS partition and press Enter. 

Step 7: Once you’ve found the lost partition, select Write to save the partition table changes to the disk. This step will restore the partition structure on the disk, making it accessible again. 

Step 8: Finally, quit the program and restart your PC. After that, check if the partition is now accessible. If it is successful, you can access the data on the partition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What are the common reasons for data loss on an NTFS partition?

Data loss on NTFS partitions can occur for various reasons, such as accidental formatting, file system corruption, virus or malware attacks, power outages, or hardware failure.

Q2: Can I recover data from a formatted NTFS partition?

Yes, you can recover data from a formatted NTFS partition using professional recovery software. For example, tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery are designed to restore lost data from different scenarios, including accidental formatting.

Q3: Is it possible to recover data from a RAW NTFS drive?

Absolutely. You can use tools like CHKDSK or TestDisk to repair RAW partitions and recover lost data. If repairing the file system is not possible, consider using data recovery software to do that.

Conclusion

Losing essential data from your Windows NTFS partition can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, there are several ways to recover it. This guide will show you how to recover data from an NTFS partition and how to restore a faulty NTFS partition. By following these steps, you can effortlessly recover lost data.