Grub(2) Problem. Linux partition "suddenly" unallocated. Can't mount it.

[refle]

I used WIN7 (preinstalled on my Acer Timeline X) and installed Ubuntu 12.04 64bit. Used it about 1 year. I had the Grub boot menu where I could chose between Win7, Ubuntu, other stuff and a "Windows in Secure Mode". Unfortunately today, I chose "Windows in Secure Mode" by accident. Following the Acer Backup Manager asked me, if I like to Reset my Windows to Default or if I would like to cancel. Of course I canceled. Right after this, the system rebooted (definately there was no time for a formation or deletion of my datas, because the reboot came fast).
However I got the a black screen that said:

>>no such partition
>>grub rescue

and i could do nothing. it always said things like "no filesystem detected"

I used SuperGrubDisk2 to get acces to my windows, downloaded the ubuntu live usb (12.04) and entered it.
I tried this one: http://itsfoss.com/solve-error-parti...-ubuntu-linux/
but i couldn't say which of the partition is my linux partition. I thought it was in sda4 but i couldnt mount it, says that i need to assign a filesystem.
So I started gparted and found this sh***:


It actually seems that this acer backup thing (which popped up only 30 sec.) unallocated my beloved linux partition.

Now my question is: Do I have any chances to repair this all? [I have a backup of my datas, but its 2 weeks old - and i really won't miss the files of last week...]
Can I assign a filesystem without reboot?

Do you need more information? Please help....

thank you!

[fantab]

Testdisk should help you recover your Lost partition.

[refle]

Thank you, i will give it a try. Unfortunately i can only find tutorials for recovering NTFS or FAT32. But what was actually the type of my linux partition? (Which is the default filesystem ubuntu 12.04 uses?)
What exactly does recover mean? Will datas be lost or will it just assign a filesystem?

thank you!

[oldfred]

Windows & Windows recovery tools often rewrite a partition table and leave out the Linux logical partition in the extended partition. Your extended partition is now sda4, it may not have been that before.
But the 365GB unallocated in the extended partition could be your Linux partition. Format probably was ext4. Do not just recreate it, but use testdisk to recover the missing partition.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Da...Lost_Partition

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DataRecovery
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk


Instructions
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step
http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/Menu_Analyse

[refle]

Hi, well I got to point: "Partition is still Missing Deeper Search" (in: http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step) and now i get this: the white marked partition has the following entries:

i know this partition inclueds all me beloved files (pics, music, ...) but i don't know if its the boot partition...

And actually, i don't understand what to do now:
1. Which of the partition do i have to declare as *, E, D, L or leave blank?!

Thank you so much!
2. And is it reasonable to save the files that i need (now that i can see them) an a external drive? and how is this possible?

[oldfred]

Just select L as we know partition was logical inside the extended. Testdisk does find multiple versions of partition tables. You do have to chose partitions that do not overlap with existing or would conflict. I think testdisk will not let you create issues, but you need to select the correct combination. In your case you only want one Linux partition.

You never can have enough backups. I have not used testdisk to copy files, but many have posted it works if it can find them. I would try the commands at bottom of screen to select files can copy them.

[refle]

Thanks. But acutally I don't really understand all of your advices.
1. How do I know how to chose partitions that do not overlapt with exiswitng or would conflict? What are the correct ones?
2. What do you mean with "i want only one linux partition"? How do I do this, becaues I can see 2 but I can access only one.
3. Could someone tell me how I have do declare each of the 8 partitions that I see (*, L, P, D, blank, ...)

Thanks alot guys!

[oldfred]

You show two linux partitions that could be recovered, one is smaller & the other larger. Do you know if the entire appox 360GB was your Linux partition?
Also if it shows all your files then that should be the correct partition to recover.

You want to keep all the partitions gparted shows above and add one Linux partition.

[refle]

Jep the bigger one seems to be my linux partition. but how do I acutally recover it without destroying the others. What label do i have to give them all (*,L,D,...)?
And i dont understand your last sentence... -could you repeat what you mean?

thanks!

[oldfred]

We know it was logical or L as it has to be inside the extended partition.

Your gparted post above showed all your other partitions, not sure if you just add the missing one or have to include all those that you showed with gparted.