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Deleted My Mac Partition On Accident - PLEASE HELP!!!!

You have people here that are much smarter in terms of these kind of things as opposed to apple geniuses. I'd listen to them before you take it into Apple where they will likely make it worse than it already is. Be patient, listen and there's a good chance you can get your data back.
 
Isn't it easier to get an external hard drive, install OS X from CD to that external hard drive, boot from newly installed external hard drive, and see if you can mount/access files?

Edit: Don't touch the original hard drive, if you want to recover any files from it, while doing this process.
 
I'm not saying this to be mean, but generally speaking if you don't know enough about hard drives to prevent yourself from erasing the wrong partition, there's a good chance you will only dig yourself a deeper hole by trying to self-repair the thing.

If you value the data that may be left on your drive AT ALL, stop posting here, quit downloading and trying things and go find a competent tech guru who can help you. This usually isn't to be found at the Apple store. Ask around your IT friends at work or wherever to get a referral to someone.

I'm only saying this for your own good. If you've got years of un-archived pictures on that hard drive that you ever want to see again, quit playing Dr. Fixit and go find yourself an expert.
 
go to the apple store.

its better to let someone who knows what their doing fix it then someone who doesn't.
 
First, calm down and try to work with the people here, who are unpaid, and are trying to help you. Many have gone through this exact scenario before. Their wizdom will save your behind after you messed up.

Next, stop futzing around with the drive. Don't mess with your windows partition, don't even touch your computer, not until you figure out a game plan.

Now, i'd give a call to the people over at ProSoft who make Data Rescue 3. Tell them what you did, tell them what you see, and see if they think they're solution can help you (then be prepared to cough up the dough for a license...lol).

And in the future, keep backups of your data! Especially if you are doing partition level work!
 
atticus18244fsa said:
You have people here that are much smarter in terms of these kind of things as opposed to apple geniuses. I'd listen to them before you take it into Apple where they will likely make it worse than it already is. Be patient, listen and there's a good chance you can get your data back.
Click to expand...

Speaking of Apple "geniuses"..... I was an an Apple Store today, looking at the new 11" MacBook Air. Another customer was there, asking questions of the sales guy (he BETTER not have been a "genius".) Specifically, I overheard "does it have FireWire?" to which the sales guy replied "I don't know." and proceeded to turn it every which way looking. The sales guy pointed to the mini DisplayPort and asked the customer "is that it?" Really? REALLY!?!?!

I let that one slide. Then the customer asked how he would install software with no optical drive. "Well, most software now is available for purchase and download online." I grind my teeth. Customer "Well, what if I have to reinstall the operating system? Or upgrade the operating system?" Sales guy: "We sell an external drive, it's only...." At that point, I have to butt in, mentioning both "DVD or CD Sharing" in System Preferences as well as the "Remote Install Mac OS X" that is in the "Utilities" folder of all current OS X installations, to allow you to "stream" install OS X over the network.
 
Anonymous Freak said:
Speaking of Apple "geniuses"..... I was an an Apple Store today, looking at the new 11" MacBook Air. Another customer was there, asking questions of the sales guy (he BETTER not have been a "genius".) Specifically, I overheard "does it have FireWire?" to which the sales guy replied "I don't know." and proceeded to turn it every which way looking. The sales guy pointed to the mini DisplayPort and asked the customer "is that it?" Really? REALLY!?!?!

I let that one slide. Then the customer asked how he would install software with no optical drive. "Well, most software now is available for purchase and download online." I grind my teeth. Customer "Well, what if I have to reinstall the operating system? Or upgrade the operating system?" Sales guy: "We sell an external drive, it's only...." At that point, I have to butt in, mentioning both "DVD or CD Sharing" in System Preferences as well as the "Remote Install Mac OS X" that is in the "Utilities" folder of all current OS X installations, to allow you to "stream" install OS X over the network.
Click to expand...

Oh snap! I'm going to HAVE to butt in at this point and mention that you forgot to mention that the macbook air comes with a USB thumbdrive with OSX and iLife preloaded on it. Gosh, speaking of geniuses indeed :rolleyes:.

anyways OP, you're kinda screwed, perhaps try pulling out the harddrive and maybe seeing if you can access the files form a different computer with your internal drive set up as an external drive, pull what you need and then doing a reinstall of the software?

I didn't read the rest of the thread, so iuno if this is impossible given the situation that the OP is in. Sounds plausible to me?
 
Install OS X on an external drive and then boot. Then read up on how to partition your hard drive without formatting it. I believe Snow Leapord can do this.

edit: If the data is not important, then just format the internal drive again ( not the external drive )
 
Last edited:
Anonymous Freak said:
So to verify, you see something like this?
partitions.png


If so, FIRST try the repair utilities mentioned before.

If they fail, you can just click in the space I have marked [Former Mac OS X], choose a format (Mac OS Extended Journaled is best,) and click Apply. That will create a brand-new partition you can install OS X in. Your 10 GB partition is the Windows partition, and trying to install there would just break your Windows installation.

Note: If you can't recover the OS X partition, and the Windows partition is broken as well (and you don't have anything worth saving,) then you would be better off just reformatting and starting over. To do that, choose "1 Partition", make it Mac OS Extended Journaled, install OS X, then run Boot Camp to install Windows.

When installing Windows through Boot Camp follow the directions about which partition to install on!
Click to expand...

That worked! thanks!:)
 
There could have been a chance. If it happens again, try this it worked for me, and saved me from losing almost 10 years work (from previous computers as well).
 
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