Deleted & overwrote partitions, Windows still can read/write files on the partitions?

[House101]

I used to have several partitions with media files on them, but when I reinstalled ubuntu I had to overwrite them. Windows was hibernated during the process (grub was broken and I couldn't get in to shut it off). I've already logged in and out of ubuntu several times and the only partitions it sees are the Windows partition and itself, but when I logged back into Windows it still sees the 2 overwritten partitions (it could never see the ubuntu partition because its an ext3 or 4) and all the files on it are still intact and readable (even itunes can play them). The only way I can explain this is that Windows created a copy of the partitions and files and is now redirecting the OS there. How can this happen? And if that is what happened where would it be stored? This is freaking me out... did my hard drive grow an imagination? o_O

thanks

[sikander3786]

Not sure about how that is possible.

From Ubuntu, can you please post the output of


sudo fdisk -l

[Rubi1200]

I recommend you follow the instructions in the link at the bottom of my post.

Post the results back here so we can have a better overview of your current setup.

Thanks.

[House101]

sikander3786:

Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40007761920 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4864 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x3834066b

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 29 2415 19173577+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 4758 4864 852993 5 Extended
/dev/sda3 2416 4758 18817024 83 Linux
/dev/sda5 4758 4864 852992 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order

Rubi1200:

Boot Info Script 0.55 dated February 15th, 2010

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

=> Grub 2 is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks on the same drive in
partition #3 for (,msdos3)/boot/grub.

sda1: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files/dirs: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sda2: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda5: __________________________________________________ _______________________

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

sda3: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 10.10
Boot files/dirs: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

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

Drive: sda ___________________ __________________________________________________ ___

Disk /dev/sda: 40.0 GB, 40007761920 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4864 cylinders, total 78140160 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start End Size Id System

/dev/sda1 * 449,820 38,796,974 38,347,155 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 76,433,406 78,139,391 1,705,986 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 76,433,408 78,139,391 1,705,984 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 38,797,312 76,431,359 37,634,048 83 Linux


blkid -c /dev/null: __________________________________________________ __________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 5290343090341CC3 ntfs SQ004203P01
/dev/sda2: PTTYPE="dos"
/dev/sda3 80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057 ext4
/dev/sda5 c2fbab08-3838-4492-b497-2628b1a2b625 swap
/dev/sda: PTTYPE="dos"

============================ "mount | grep ^/dev output: ===========================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda3 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=0)


================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

[boot loader]
timeout=30
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 Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=========================== sda3/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="0"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=640x480
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-23-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-23-generic root=UUID=80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-23-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-23-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-23-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-23-generic root=UUID=80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-23-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.35-22-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.35-22-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic root=UUID=80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057 ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(hd0,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (on /dev/sda1)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(hd0,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set 5290343090341cc3
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###

=============================== sda3/etc/fstab: ===============================

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda3 during installation
UUID=80051196-83e6-4bbe-aa4d-0a7e1702e057 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
UUID=c2fbab08-3838-4492-b497-2628b1a2b625 none swap sw 0 0

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


24.4GB: boot/grub/core.img
31.2GB: boot/grub/grub.cfg
21.2GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-22-generic
23.6GB: boot/initrd.img-2.6.35-23-generic
24.4GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-22-generic
24.6GB: boot/vmlinuz-2.6.35-23-generic
23.6GB: initrd.img
21.2GB: initrd.img.old
24.6GB: vmlinuz
24.4GB: vmlinuz.old
=========================== Unknown MBRs/Boot Sectors/etc =======================

Unknown BootLoader on sda2

00000000 fe 12 0e 01 30 ef fc 00 00 00 00 00 04 04 04 04 |....0...........|
00000010 10 13 0e 01 b0 d3 fc 00 00 00 00 00 04 04 04 04 |................|
00000020 32 13 0e 01 20 be fc 00 00 00 00 00 04 04 01 06 |2... ...........|
00000030 42 13 0e 01 f0 af fc 00 e0 a1 fc 00 01 06 04 04 |B...............|
00000040 62 13 0e 01 50 aa fc 00 00 00 00 00 02 02 04 04 |b...P...........|
00000050 72 13 0e 01 00 a2 fc 00 00 00 00 00 04 04 02 02 |r...............|
00000060 93 13 0e 01 60 d0 fc 00 e0 a1 fc 00 04 04 01 01 |....`...........|
00000070 a4 13 0e 01 d0 c8 fc 00 00 00 00 00 04 04 01 01 |................|
00000080 c2 13 0e 01 b0 e0 fc 00 00 00 00 00 02 02 04 04 |................|
00000090 d9 13 0e 01 60 d8 fc 00 00 00 00 00 04 04 02 02 |....`...........|
000000a0 20 35 fd 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 | 5..............|
000000b0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
*
000000e0 3e 30 0e 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |>0..............|
000000f0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ff ff ff ff 01 00 00 00 |................|
00000100 56 00 00 00 60 e3 0c 01 60 ea 0c 01 00 00 00 00 |V...`...`.......|
00000110 60 f0 0c 01 00 00 00 00 60 e6 0c 01 00 00 00 00 |`.......`.......|
00000120 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 bc fc 0c 01 |................|
00000130 06 fd 0c 01 60 fc 0c 01 01 00 00 00 05 19 0e 01 |....`...........|
00000140 60 ec 0c 01 60 f2 0c 01 48 00 00 00 54 00 00 00 |`...`...H...T...|
00000150 01 00 00 00 1c 3a 0e 01 8b 49 0e 01 a9 35 0e 01 |.....:...I...5..|
00000160 63 2c 0e 01 34 1b 0e 01 c6 17 0e 01 a9 3d 0e 01 |c,..4........=..|
00000170 94 14 0e 01 e0 35 0e 01 c8 17 0e 01 01 00 00 00 |.....5..........|
00000180 10 95 0e 01 4c 9a 0e 01 18 95 0e 01 20 95 0e 01 |....L....... ...|
00000190 28 95 0e 01 30 95 0e 01 38 95 0e 01 40 95 0e 01 |(...0...8...@...|
000001a0 48 95 0e 01 50 95 0e 01 1c 3a 0e 01 8b 49 0e 01 |H...P....:...I..|
000001b0 a9 35 0e 01 63 2c 0e 01 34 1b 0e 01 c6 17 00 fe |.5..c,..4.......|
000001c0 ff ff 82 fe ff ff 02 00 00 00 00 08 1a 00 00 00 |................|
000001d0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 |................|
*
000001f0 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 55 aa |..............U.|
00000200

[oldfred]

A guess & why you should not hibernate if dual booting.

Windows has the old partition table and file index in memory. The Ubuntu install did not overwrite much data as it is not very large. So windows is overlapping the hard drive sectors with Ubuntu.

If you write anything into the media partitions, you will corrupt Ubuntu. You may actually be able to read much of the data but you are working like testdisk or photorec do in trying to recover data from absolute sectors.

[House101]

thanks!