Full HDD showing as unallocated

[Machina]

My HDD is in fine physical condition. What happened was my MBR got overwritten by a Slax Live CD and I suspect one of the MBR recovery programs I ran modified the partition information of my hard disk, and now Windows only detects the first partition on the drive which is supposed to have a total of 3 partitions. The remaining 300GB is shown as unallocated. I have copious amounts of critical data in that space. Does anyone have any suggestions on restoring the remaining two partitions?

[spacesurfer]

You'll need software that recovers partitions. I've never really tried partition recovery software, but try Active@ Partition Recovery (http://www.partition-recovery.com/). It $$. But I think you may be able to find free partition recovery software if you search. I'm sure there's a free one out there.

[lost_packet]

I had good results with Acronis Disk Director (http://www.acronis.com) earlier this year when I inadvertently hosed the MBR and partition table on my triple-boot drive. It recovered all of the OS partitions faultlessly, and fairly swiftly.

Unlike Active Partition Recovery (which has never done worked in any useful way for me), Disk Director is an application you'll find a space for after you get the partition information back.

[spacesurfer]

I didn't know Acronis could recover partitions. Good to know.

[Ponch]

You can also search for "testdisk", there are versions for (means running under) DOS and Windows. Excellent freeware.

[nitroshift]

You can also search for "testdisk", there are versions for (means running under) DOS and Windows. Excellent freeware.

Another vote for testdisk. Freeware a bonus