When a partition disappears — showing as unallocated, RAW, or asking to be formatted — it's almost always the partition's map that is lost, not your files. We rebuild the partition and recover your data from any hard drive, SSD, USB stick or memory card, in-house.
$ bdr diagnose /dev/sdb → Device: Seagate HDD (2 TB) → Status: PARTITION LOST — drive reads as RAW → Client: Hayes, M. · Fishponds BS16 $ bdr engineer-working → Read-only image: taken · source untouched → Partition table: rebuilt + remounted → File system: structure intact · files visible $ bdr verify → ✓ documents — 14,210 files → ✓ photos — 21,540 files → ✓ partition recovered — files back
When Windows or your Mac says a drive needs formatting, or a partition tool offers to fix it, stop. Formatting the drive or writing a new partition table over it can overwrite the very data we need to recover. Don't run chkdsk or repair tools, don't create or resize partitions, and don't let anything write to the drive — disconnect it and talk to us. The longer the drive is left untouched, the better the recovery.
A missing partition almost always means the partition structure is damaged or gone — not the data itself, which usually sits untouched on the drive. These are the cases we see most often.
We rebuild lost and corrupted partitions on every kind of storage and every major brand. If it holds your files, we can almost certainly help.
Hard drives · SSDs · USB sticks · SD, microSD and CF cards · external and portable drives · the drives inside laptops, PCs and Macs.
Recovering a missing partition means rebuilding the structure that points to your data — never writing to the original drive. We image your device first, rebuild the partition from that copy, then recover and return your files.
Tell us what happened. We assess the partition damage — corrupted table, deleted partition, RAW drive — and send a written quote, usually within 48 hours.
We take a forensic, read-only image of your drive and work only on that copy, so nothing can ever overwrite your data.
We rebuild the partition table and locate the file system, re-establishing where your partition and files actually live on the drive.
Where the boot sector or file system is corrupt, we repair the structures needed to mount the partition and read your files.
We recover your files from the rebuilt partition, including anything that was sitting in the lost or unallocated space.
We check the recovered files open correctly and the folder structure is intact, then return them on fresh media.
We backup your data to either an external drive and ship it back to you, or we also offer a free download service for your data up to 75GB.
We rebuild lost and corrupted partitions on hard drives, SSDs, USB sticks, memory cards and external drives — working from a read-only image and recovering your files intact.
Tell us what happened and we will get back to you, usually within one working day.
We will be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
No hidden fees and no pressure — just a free diagnostic and a written quote before any work starts.
A snapshot of recent missing-partition recoveries across different drives. Names redacted, results verified.
The file system was corrupt but the data was intact. We imaged the drive read-only, rebuilt the partition and recovered everything.
The partition had been removed and the space showed as unallocated. We located and rebuilt it, recovering the files in full.
Power was lost mid-write and the partition vanished. We rebuilt the table from a forensic image and returned the files.
Reviews from real clients whose drives lost a partition and were recovered.
My external drive suddenly wanted to be formatted and I thought years of work were gone. They rebuilt the partition and got everything back. Absolutely brilliant.
A partition disappeared off my drive after a failed resize and showed as unallocated. They recovered all of it. Honest and reassuring throughout.
My USB stick lost its partition after a power cut and read as RAW. They got every file back for me. Quick, honest and professional.
Send us your device for a free diagnostic, and tell us a little about what happened — an engineer will review it and confirm your exact quote in writing before any work begins.
Recovering your data starts with getting the device to us. Pack it safely, add your contact details, and send it over — after we run a free diagnostic, we’ll confirm your exact price in writing before any work begins.
Posting it in? We recommend a tracked, insured service. Prefer to drop it off? You’re welcome Monday–Friday, 9am–5:30pm — please still package the device as above.
If you need more information on our data recovery service, fill out the form with more detail about your issue and an engineer will review it and give you a custom quote.
We’ll be in touch shortly. For anything urgent, call 0117 332 1137.
The questions we are asked most about recovering a lost or missing partition.
Usually, yes. A missing partition almost always means the partition table or file system is damaged, not that your data is gone. We rebuild the partition from a read-only image of the drive and recover your files.
No, not usually. A RAW drive, or a message asking you to format the disk, almost always means a damaged file system while your data underneath is intact. Don't format it — we can rebuild the partition and recover the files.
Often, yes. A deleted partition leaves the space showing as unallocated, but the data is usually still there until it is overwritten. Stop using the drive and contact us as soon as you can so we can recover it.
No. Tools like chkdsk, or partition repair utilities, write to the drive and can overwrite the data we need or make the partition harder to recover. Disconnect the drive and talk to us before running anything.
You might. Formatting, initialising or writing a new partition table over the drive can overwrite your files. If a partition is missing, the safest thing is to stop and let us image the drive first.
Missing partition recovery starts from £250 + VAT for a logical recovery, with a free diagnostic first and no fix, no fee on most jobs. If the drive is also physically failing, we will confirm any higher price in writing before any work begins.
Hard drives, SSDs, USB sticks, SD, microSD and CF cards, external and portable drives, and the drives inside laptops, PCs and Macs. If it holds your files, we can usually help.
Yes. Lost and corrupted partitions on external drives, USB sticks and memory cards are some of the most common cases we see, and they are usually very recoverable.
Most missing partition recoveries are completed within 1 to 3 working days, and often sooner. The initial diagnostic is usually finished within 48 hours. Urgent cases can often be prioritised — just let us know.
You can drop it off at our Bristol location Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, or post it to us fully insured. Ensure the device is packaged and sealed, include your full contact details inside the package including Name, Address, Phone Number and Email Address so we can fully book it in. Once we have it, we will run the free diagnostic and send you a written quote before any work begins.
Free diagnostic, no fix no fee on most jobs, and lost-partition recovery from any drive, stick or card — files recovered intact. Start your recovery today.