Testdisk removed my windows partitions

[Abubaker]

After having nightmares with Dell Media direct button writing the MBR and the grub error 17, I used testdisk utility and recovered all the partitions.
It successfully recovered all my linux partitions and when I rebooted, the grub was fine but 'NTLDR missing' error for booting windows Vista.

Booting into Ubuntu works fine but I dont see my windows partitions in my fdisk or Computer. It doesnt show the Windows partitions at all.

any way to recover the data?

[caljohnsmith]

You might have recovered the wrong partitions with testdisk, because testdisk can find lost/deleted partitions that previously existed. In order to get a better idea of which of your present partition setup, how about downloading the Boot Info Script (https://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/) to your Ubuntu desktop, open a terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and do:
sudo bash ~/Desktop/boot_info_script*.sh
That will create a "RESULTS.txt" file in the same directory from where the script is run, namely your desktop; please copy/paste the contents of the RESULTS.txt file to your next post, highlight the copied text, and click the pound/hash sign # graphic in the Ubuntu forum message box so that the text will get "code" tags put around it.

Also, how about running testdisk again so we can see all the partitions that it finds. I would recommend using the latest 6.10 version instead of what comes in the repositories, so how about downloading the testdisk-6.10.linux26.tar.bz2 (http://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk-6.10.linux26.tar.bz2) package to your desktop, and then do:

cd ~/Desktop
tar xvf testdisk-6.10.linux26.tar.bz2
sudo testdisk-6.10/linux/testdisk_static
After starting testdisk with the above command, choose "No Log", select HDD and "Proceed", "Intel", "Analyze", "Quick search", "Y" to search for Vista partitions, hit enter to continue, select "Deeper Search" so it does a deeper search, which could take a while. Please post the output of the screen that has the deep search results. Also, use your up/down arrow keys to select each partition listed in the deep search results, and press "p" to get a directory listing; please let me know exactly which partitions give you a directory listing, and also let me know if any of the partitions that give a directory listing look like your Windows partition. We can work from there if you want.

[Abubaker]

Here is my RESULTS.txt file

============================= Boot Info Summary: ==============================

=> Grub0.97 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive
in partition #3 for /grub/stage2 and /grub/menu.lst.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Dell Utility: Fat16
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Windows XP: Fat32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs: /grub/menu.lst

sda4: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System:
Boot files/dirs:

sda6: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext3
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 8.04.2
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/menu.lst /etc/fstab

sda7: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda8: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: vfat
Boot sector type: Vista: Fat 32
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /bootmgr /BOOTMGR /boot/bcd /BOOT/bcd
/Boot/bcd /boot/BCD /BOOT/BCD /Boot/BCD /ntldr /NTLDR
/NTDETECT.COM /ntdetect.com

=========================== Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive sda: __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xd0000000

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 63 144,584 144,522 6 FAT16
/dev/sda2 * 144,585 67,264,154 67,119,570 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/sda3 222,243,210 224,187,073 1,943,864 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 224,187,075 312,592,769 88,405,695 f W95 Ext d (LBA)
/dev/sda5 224,187,138 243,722,113 19,534,976 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 243,722,178 292,543,649 48,821,472 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 292,543,713 296,447,424 3,903,712 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda8 307,337,216 312,578,047 5,240,832 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)

/dev/sda4 ends after the last sector of /dev/sda
/dev/sda8 ends after the last cylinder of /dev/sda

blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

/dev/sda1: SEC_TYPE="msdos" LABEL="DellUtility" UUID="07D7-0711" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sda2: UUID="07D7-0711" TYPE="vfat"
/dev/sda3: UUID="ddfe480b-664e-419d-af4f-6496234350da" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda5: UUID="019270ff-3977-4820-8e8e-6ee14c541684" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda6: UUID="f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670" TYPE="ext3"
/dev/sda7: TYPE="swap" UUID="755681cc-5735-402d-b59a-a7994bb0f852"
/dev/sda8: LABEL="MEDIADIRECT" UUID="DE54-1889" TYPE="vfat"

=============================== "mount" output: ===============================

/dev/sda6 on / type ext3 (rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
/sys on /sys type sysfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun on /var/run type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=0755)
varlock on /var/lock type tmpfs (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev on /dev type tmpfs (rw,mode=0755)
devshm on /dev/shm type tmpfs (rw)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
lrm on /lib/modules/2.6.24-23-generic/volatile type tmpfs (rw)
/dev/sda3 on /boot type ext3 (rw,relatime)
/dev/sda5 on /home type ext3 (rw,relatime)
securityfs on /sys/kernel/security type securityfs (rw)
gvfs-fuse-daemon on /home/abubaker/.gvfs type fuse.gvfs-fuse-daemon (rw,nosuid,nodev,user=abubaker)
/dev/sda2 on /media/disk type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=hal,shortname=mixed,uid=1 000,utf8,umask=077,flush)
/dev/sda8 on /media/MEDIADIRECT type vfat (rw,nosuid,nodev,uhelper=hal,shortname=mixed,uid=1 000,utf8,umask=077,flush)

============================= sda3/grub/menu.lst: =============================

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,2)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, memtest86+
root (hd0,2)
kernel /memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title Windows Vista
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=================== sda3: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


113.9GB: grub/menu.lst
113.9GB: grub/stage2
113.8GB: initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
113.8GB: initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic.bak
113.8GB: initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
113.9GB: initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic.bak
113.8GB: vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic
113.9GB: vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic

=========================== sda6/boot/grub/menu.lst: ===========================

# menu.lst - See: grub(8), info grub, update-grub(8)
# grub-install(8), grub-floppy(8),
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not use 'savedefault' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,2)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## should update-grub add savedefault to the default options
## can be true or false
# savedefault=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-23-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro quiet splash
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
quiet

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, kernel 2.6.24-19-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic root=UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 ro single
initrd /initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic

title Ubuntu 8.04.2, memtest86+
root (hd0,2)
kernel /memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda2
title Windows Vista
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


=============================== sda6/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/sda6
UUID=f21c4235-217c-4194-8a1f-b9e790447670 / ext3 relatime,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/sda3
UUID=ddfe480b-664e-419d-af4f-6496234350da /boot ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda5
UUID=019270ff-3977-4820-8e8e-6ee14c541684 /home ext3 relatime 0 2
# /dev/sda7
UUID=755681cc-5735-402d-b59a-a7994bb0f852 none swap sw 0 0
/dev/scd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto,exec,utf8 0 0

=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ===================


124.9GB: boot/grub/menu.lst
124.9GB: boot/grub/stage2
124.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic
124.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-19-generic.bak
124.8GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic
124.9GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.24-23-generic.bak
124.8GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-19-generic
124.9GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.24-23-generic
124.8GB: initrd.img
124.8GB: initrd.img.old
124.9GB: vmlinuz
124.8GB: vmlinuz.old

================================ sda8/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]

timeout=0

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Embedded" /fastdetect /KERNEL=NTOSBOOT.EXE /maxmem=768



And here is my output of testdisk:

Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19458 255 63
Partition Start End Size in sectors
* FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 8 254 63 144522 [DellUtility]
D FAT32 LBA 9 0 1 4186 254 63 67119570 [NO NAME]
D HPFS - NTFS 9 13 5 1314 119 21 20971520 [RECOVERY]
D HPFS - NTFS 1314 119 22 13833 53 21 201113577 [OS]
P Linux 13834 0 1 13954 254 62 1943864
D Linux 13955 1 1 15170 254 62 19534976
D Linux 13958 1 1 15824 254 59 29993288
D Linux 13962 0 1 15177 253 62 19534976
D Linux 15171 1 1 18209 254 63 48821472
P Linux Swap 18210 1 1 18452 254 43 3903712
L FAT32 LBA 19130 218 33 19457 21 20 5240832 [MEDIADIRECT]



The partition named "OS" is my Windows Partition with all my data. I can see my files when I list out the files in that partition. Can I go ahead and write this partition table with testdisk?

PS: I have been using Testdisk 6.10 only.

Thanks for your help.

[caljohnsmith]

Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19458 255 63
Partition Start End Size in sectors
P FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 8 254 63 144522 [DellUtility]
D FAT32 LBA 9 0 1 4186 254 63 67119570 [NO NAME]
P HPFS - NTFS 9 13 5 1314 119 21 20971520 [RECOVERY]
* HPFS - NTFS 1314 119 22 13833 53 21 201113577 [OS]
L Linux 13834 0 1 13954 254 62 1943864
L Linux 13955 1 1 15170 254 62 19534976
D Linux 13958 1 1 15824 254 59 29993288
D Linux 13962 0 1 15177 253 62 19534976
L Linux 15171 1 1 18209 254 63 48821472
L Linux Swap 18210 1 1 18452 254 43 3903712
L FAT32 LBA 19130 218 33 19457 21 20 5240832 [MEDIADIRECT]


OK, using your right/left arrow keys, how about marking the partitions as I've shown above highlighted in blue. Once you are sure the partitions are marked exactly as shown above, press enter to get to the next screen, and then choose "write" so the new partition table will be written. Then please post the output of:
sudo fdisk -lu
sudo mount /dev/sda3 /mnt && ls -l /mnt
And we can work from there.

[Abubaker]

I just continued with my first deepsearch and chose 'write' and it asked for a reboot. After reboot, it again went back to Grub loading error. 17.

I booted through live cd and again ran testdisk.

Here is the output with partitions changed as per your instructions. When I change the partition type of the one marked in bold to anything other than 'D', it shows 'Structure:Bad'. And there is no option to set it to 'L'

Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19458 255 63
Partition Start End Size in sectors
P FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 8 254 63 144522 [DellUtility]
D FAT32 LBA 9 0 1 4186 254 63 67119570 [NO NAME]
P HPFS - NTFS 9 13 5 1314 119 21 20971520 [RECOVERY]
* HPFS - NTFS 1314 119 22 13833 53 21 201113577 [OS]
D Linux 13834 0 1 13954 254 62 1943864
D Linux 13955 1 1 15170 254 62 19534976
L Linux 15171 1 1 18209 254 63 48821472
L Linux Swap 18210 1 1 18452 254 43 3903712
L FAT32 LBA 19130 218 33 19457 21 20 5240832 [MEDIADIRECT]


Can I go ahead and 'write'?

Thanks.

[caljohnsmith]

Disk /dev/sda - 160 GB / 149 GiB - CHS 19458 255 63
Partition Start End Size in sectors
P FAT16 >32M 0 1 1 8 254 63 144522 [DellUtility]
D FAT32 LBA 9 0 1 4186 254 63 67119570 [NO NAME]
P HPFS - NTFS 9 13 5 1314 119 21 20971520 [RECOVERY]
* HPFS - NTFS 1314 119 22 13833 53 21 201113577 [OS]
D Linux 13834 0 1 13954 254 62 1943864
D Linux 13955 1 1 15170 254 62 19534976
L Linux 15171 1 1 18209 254 63 48821472
L Linux Swap 18210 1 1 18452 254 43 3903712
L FAT32 LBA 19130 218 33 19457 21 20 5240832 [MEDIADIRECT]


I think you could keep the linux partition marked in bold if you want to delete either your RECOVERY or DellUtility partition; then I think testdisk will allow you to mark the bold linux partition as "P". But if you want to keep your DellUtility and RECOVERY partitions, it looks like you will have to delete your linux partition. If you really want to keep all three partitions, i.e. the linux partition, DellUtility, and the RECOVERY partition, what you could do is temporarily delete DellUtility or RECOVERY so that you can make the linux partition "P", write the partition table, and then afterwards you could shrink that partition just a little in order to allow that linux partition to become a logical partition instead of a primary partition. Then you could run testdisk again and recover all your partitions, including both the DellUtility and RECOVERY partitions. It's up to you if you want to go through the trouble.

[Abubaker]

I can delete the Dell Utility partition. I dont need it. But making the other linux partition (below the bold one) to 'D', deletes the partition? why is that?

[caljohnsmith]

Won't testdisk let you keep that linux partition by marking it as "L"? That's what I originally recommended in post #4.

[Abubaker]

I got my Windows partitions after writing the partition table. I will have to check to see if Linux is fine now. Anyways, thanks for your help.

Now I will have to find a way to disable my Dell Media Direct button in Linux.

[caljohnsmith]

Glad to hear the partition recovery effort was a success. Good luck and hope things go smoother for you now in Ubuntu.