Consider what happens when you initialize a disk as creating \u201ca map\u201d, known as the partition table, that tells the OS where to store data.<\/p>\r\n
![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Management-Prompting-To-Initialize-Disk.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n
You can choose between two types of such \u201cmaps\u201d:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- MBR<\/a> for old-style small-capacity drives and simple demands.<\/li>\r\n\t
- GPT<\/a> for newer multi-terabyte disks with potentially dozens of partitions.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
<\/span>Can You Initialize a Disk Without Losing Data?<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
If you\u2019re asking \u201cdoes initializing a disk erase data?\u201d, the honest answer is: it depends on what you do after it.<\/p>\r\n
Initializing a disk is like resetting the disk and makes it look empty. Previously existing data is lost only after a complete format, when newer files overwrite it, or when TRIM runs on an SSD or NVMe drive.<\/p>\r\n
The safest way to initialize a disk without losing data on Windows is to:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Ideally,<\/b> take a full byte-to-byte backup image<\/b> of the disk.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Recover<\/b> all data (preferably from a full byte-to-byte image, or directly from the disk) to another drive. If that fails, or for more information on the topic, check out our guide to recovering data from uninitialized disks<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Make sure you can find all your data at the new secondary location. If so, initialize<\/b> the disk using the Disk Management app.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Create one or more volumes<\/b> on the re-initialized disk, and format<\/b> them.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Move<\/b> the recovered files back to the disk.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
Are you more of a visual person and would prefer a video to written text? Check our video guide on how to initialize a disk without losing data;<\/a> it covers all bases in around 5 minutes and shows the steps you\u2019ll need to take.<\/div>\r\n<\/span>How to Initialize a Disk Without Losing Data on Windows<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
You might wonder: why does initializing a disk in Disk Management erase data, when the process doesn\u2019t actually delete or overwrite files, and only writes a new partition table? Actually, no data is erased, although it looks that way. That\u2019s because a disk\u2019s partition table also works as the index that tells the OS where to find each file. Re-initializing the disk replaces the existing index, so the OS \u201cdoesn\u2019t know where to find each file\u201d and presents the disk as empty, even if all past data remains intact.<\/p>\r\n
Thus, to safelyinitialize a hard drive without losing data:<\/b><\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Choose backup software that can create a pristine clone of your disk and all the data on it even<\/b> if it currently looks inaccessible. Typical file backup\/copying solutions are useless in this scenario, since, like the OS itself, they \u201ccan\u2019t see\u201d your data on the disk as files and folders.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Work with an advanced data recovery app<\/a> that can locate and recover files even from backup images of disks that lack \u201cproper logical data structures\u201d, like a working partition table and, by extension, usable file systems. Such an app should also know about all the types of files you had stored on your disk, to recover them successfully.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
That\u2019s why we recommend Disk Drill as the optimal choice for such cases: it\u2019s not only a widely-used and trusted data recovery app that \u201cknows about\u201d almost 400 file formats, but it also comes with a complete byte-to-byte imaging solution. So, instead of having to use two separate apps, you can get the best of both worlds in a single user-friendly interface. With Disk Drill, creating disk images, scanning them, and recovering files from them, takes just a few clicks on both Windows 11 and Windows 10.<\/p>\r\n
Disk Drill unifies the separate processes we described into a seamless, user-friendly whole, but it can\u2019t perform wonders. If your disk appears normally in the Disk Management app with the correct size, you shouldn\u2019t run into any issues. If, though, Disk Management shows the wrong size for your disk, the disk sometimes disappears, becomes unresponsive or \u201cfreezes\u201d your whole OS for a few seconds, or, even worse, makes \u201cunusual\u201d whirring and clicking noises, stop any attempts at DIY recovery and repair. Those are warning signs of serious hardware issues that end-users can\u2019t fix. In such cases, it\u2019s safer to contact a professional data recovery service in your city<\/a>.<\/div>\r\n<\/span>Step 1:<\/span> Create a Byte-to-Byte Disk Image<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Disk Drill can scan your problematic disk directly. For such cases, though, we recommend you first use the app\u2019s byte-to-byte backup functionality to clone the drive into a disk image.<\/p>\r\n
A Windows call to initialize the disk could be caused by a software glitch after, for example, a driver update. However, it may also stem from more significant issues, like partition table damage, bad sectors, or even the disk\u2019s controller failing.<\/p>\r\n
Prolonged use of a disk in such scenarios could worsen the problem. Cloning the disk into a backup image and then scanning that copy will preserve your data\u2019s current state and minimize the stress on the disk.<\/p>\r\n
Before starting, make sure the secondary disk you will use as the backup destination has more free space than the total capacity<\/b> of the \u201csource\u201d drive (not just its contents).<\/div>\r\nTo create a byte-to-byte backup of your disk using Disk Drill:<\/b><\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Download<\/b> Disk Drill from its official site<\/a>, install it, and run it. Select Byte-to-byte Backup<\/b> under Extra Tools<\/b> on the left.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Byte-to-Byte-Backup-Menu-Entry.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Read the information Disk Drill shows about the byte-to-byte backup process, then click OK, let\u2019s do it<\/b>.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Byte-to-Byte-Welcome-Page.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Make sure you also read, understand, and take into account the warnings and info Disk Drill presents in hovering windows before closing them.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Byte-to-Byte-Backup-Warning.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Select the problematic disk from the Device\/Disk list (1) and click Create backup<\/b> (2).
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Byte-to-Byte-Backup-Select-Disk-and-Create-Backup.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- You can safely skip most of the options Disk Drill shows next, apart from Path<\/b>. Click on the button with the three dots<\/b> on its right (1), and choose where you want the app to create the backup image. Then, click OK<\/b> (2).
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Byte-to-Byte-Backup-Choose-Image-Destination-Path.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Allow the process to finish: an incomplete image means some data hasn\u2019t been copied, which could then turn to data loss.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Byte-to-Byte-Backup-Started-Disk-Surface-Map.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- When the process completes, click Show in Explorer<\/b> to view the generated backup image in the operating system\u2019s default file browser, or click the home icon<\/b> to return to the app\u2019s initial page.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Byte-to-Byte-Backup-Disk-Image-Created.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/span>Step 2:<\/span> Recover Data From the Disk Image to Another Drive<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
After creating the byte-to-byte image, you should scan it instead of the original disk. Thankfully, with Disk Drill, the process is as easy as working with actual storage devices.<\/p>\r\n
To recover your data from a byte-to-byte backup image using Disk Drill:<\/b><\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Visit the app\u2019s Storage Devices<\/b> page (under Data Recovery<\/b> on the left). Click Attach disk image<\/b> at the bottom of the Device\/Disk<\/b> list, and select<\/b> your disk\u2019s byte-to-byte backup image.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attach-Disk-Image.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Select<\/b> the attached image from the Device\/Disk<\/b> list (1), and click Search for lost data<\/b> (2).
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attached-Image-Device-and-Search-For-Lost-Data.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Disk Drill may ask you to choose its scanning mode. Advanced Camera Recovery<\/b> specializes in media from cameras or drones. For recovering more types of files, go for the more versatile Universal Scan<\/b> instead.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Storage-Device-Camera-or-Drone-Prompt.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- You can safely close<\/b> any tips Disk Drill presents during its scan, but it\u2019s worth reading them first.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Scanning-Attached-Disk-Image-and-Floating-Tip-for-Previews.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- When the process finishes, Disk Drill will change its state to \u201cScan completed successfully<\/b>\u201d, and show a new info window with the message \u201cAll recovery methods complete<\/b>\u201d. Close it<\/b> and proceed to the next step.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attached-Disk-Image-All-Recovery-Methods-Complete.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Click Review found items<\/b> on the top right to see everything Disk Drill found (1). If Disk Drill locates one or more lost partitions<\/b>, you can see their files by clicking on them<\/b> (2).
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attached-Disk-Image-Review-Found-Items-or-Select-Lost-Partition.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Disk Drill organizes its findings into three groups: \u201cDeleted or lost<\/b>\u201d contains all data that cannot be accessed normally. \u201cReconstructed<\/b>\u201d presents all the files Disk Drill reassembled from scattered pieces. A third group (missing from our screenshot and scenarios like the one we\u2019re tackling), \u201cExisting<\/b>\u201d, includes all files that remain normally accessible on a device.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attached-Disk-Image-Deleted-or-Lost-and-Reconstructed-Groups.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- You can use Disk Drill\u2019s Categories<\/b> (on the left) (1) and filters<\/b> (above the results) (2) to have the app only show files based on their type, size, last date of modification, etc.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attached-Disk-Image-Results-Categories-and-Filters.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Hover over a file and click on the eye icon<\/b>, or right-click on it and select Preview<\/b>, to enable the preview pane if it\u2019s hidden. The app can show previews of many types of files it knows about or for which viewers are installed. If such a preview looks \u201cglitched\u201d, and especially if its Recovery chances<\/b> are Average<\/b> or lower<\/b>, it\u2019s probably best to prioritize other files.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attached-Disk-Image-Previewing-Problematic-File.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- When you find the files you want to recover, mark them with a checkmark<\/b> (1). When done, click Recover<\/b> (2).
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attached-Disk-Image-Selected-Files-For-Recovery-and-Recover-Button.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Disk Drill will ask you to choose where to store the recovered files, presenting a mix of suggested destination folders and ones it remembers from previous scans (1). If the one you want isn\u2019t among them, click Choose destination<\/b> (2) and select it. Then click Next<\/b> (3).
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attached-Disk-Image-Choose-Recovery-Destination-Folder.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- After a while, depending on the size of the data you are recovering, the state of the image and the disk where it\u2019s stored, and your computer\u2019s CPU speed, Disk Drill will show its Data recovery complete<\/b> page. Click Show recovered data in Explorer<\/b> to check out your files using the operating system\u2019s default file manager, the home icon<\/b> to return to the app\u2019s main screen, or close its window to exit it.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-Attached-Disk-Image-Data-Recovery-Complete-Show-Recovered-Data-in-Explorer.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nTo minimize the risk of data loss, don\u2019t save recovered files back to the original problematic disk; save them to another healthy drive. However, you can use the same drive where your backup image is saved if you don\u2019t mind a drop in performance and a longer scanning process.<\/div>\r\n<\/span>Step 3:<\/span> Open Disk Management and Initialize the Original Disk<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Did you finish recovering all your important files from your disk and checked them out to make sure everything\u2019s OK? Then, you can initialize the disk to render it usable again. For most Windows users, the safest and easiest way to do it is using the Disk Management<\/a> app.<\/p>\r\n
To initialize your disk using Disk Management:<\/b><\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Press Windows Key<\/kbd> + X<\/kbd> to open the Quick Access (Power User) menu, then launch Disk Management<\/b>. From Disk Management\u2019s window, locate your \u201cUnknown<\/b>\u201d\/\u201cNot Initialized<\/b>\u201d disk, right-click<\/b> on it, and choose Initialize Disk<\/b>.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Management-Manually-Choosing-To-Initialize-Disk.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Choose whether to use a Master Boot Record<\/b> or a GUID Partition Table<\/b> on the disk.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Management-Choosing-MBR-or-GPT.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nRemember that MBR is usually best for older or lower-capacity drives, where you prioritize compatibility and don\u2019t mind some limitations (like the number of allowed partitions). GPT is the newer option designed for more advanced use cases and larger-capacity multi-terabyte drives, but can prove incompatible with older versions of Windows.<\/div>\r\nWindows offers an alternative, albeit somewhat more complicated, keyboard-friendly way to do the above: DiskPart<\/a>. To initialize your disk using DiskPart, run PowerShell as an administrator<\/b>. There, type \u201c
diskpart<\/code>\u201d followed by \u201clist disk<\/code>\u201d to see all detected drives. Choose your problematic disk with \u201cselect disk NUMBER<\/code>\u201d, and initialize it with either \u201cconvert mbr<\/code>\u201d or \u201cconvert gpt<\/code>\u201d.
\r\n![\"Diskpart](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Diskpart-Convert-MBR.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n<\/span>Step 4:<\/span> Create and Format a New Volume<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
Initialization creates the partition table, but you also have to create volumes on it and format them, \u201cinside\u201d which Windows can write and read data. That process is a logical continuation of what we saw in the previous section, and can be performed with the same tools.<\/p>\r\n
There are various reasons one might want to create more than a single partition, but those setups also end up more complicated. Thus, for simplicity, in this guide we will create a single partition that occupies all available disk space.<\/div>\r\nTo create and format a new volume using Disk Management:<\/b><\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- If Disk Management<\/b> isn\u2019t running, launch it as we saw in the previous section. Locate your initialized but currently \u201cUnallocated<\/b>\u201d disk among the available storage devices, right-click on its space<\/b>, and choose New Simple Volume<\/b>.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Management-Choosing-to-Create-New-Simple-Volume-in-Unallocated-Space.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- The New Simple Volume Wizard\u2019s first screen will explain its purpose. Click Next<\/b> to proceed to the next step.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Management-New-Simple-Volume-Wizard.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- In the next step, you can change the created volume\u2019s size to a lower value if you want to create more than one partition. Leave it as is<\/b> if you want to create only a single volume occupying all of your disk\u2019s space.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Management-New-Simple-Volume-Wizard-Size.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Continue by selecting the letter<\/b> you want to assign to the created volume. You also have the somewhat more convoluted option of mapping it to a folder (which Linux fans may like more). The third option, \u201cDo not assign a drive letter or drive path<\/b>\u201d, will create a volume but leave it inaccessible until you choose one of the other two options.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Management-New-Simple-Volume-Wizard-Letter-Assignment.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- You can customize the Format Partition<\/b> options to suit your disk\u2019s characteristics and your preferences. Most users will probably want to leave \u201cFormat this volume with the following settings<\/b>\u201d enabled, and go for an \u201cNTFS<\/b>\u201d File system<\/b>, a \u201cDefault<\/b>\u201d Allocation unit size<\/b>, and \u201cPerform a quick format<\/b>\u201d, only changing the Volume label<\/b> to reflect the disk\u2019s \u201cidentity\u201d or contents. When ready, click Next<\/b>.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Management-New-Simple-Volume-Wizard-Format-Options.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- When the New Simple Volume Wizard completes, it will display the details of the newly created volume. Click Finish<\/b> to close it, and exit Disk Management.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Management-Completing-the-New-Simple-Volume-Wizard.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nWhen setting up the format\u2019s parameters, turn off<\/b> \u201cPerform a quick format<\/b>\u201d if you want to perform an extensive, complete format that also serves as an indirect test of the disk\u2019s condition, but keep in mind it can push failing disks over the brink. We also suggest you don\u2019t<\/b> \u201cEnable file and folder compression<\/b>\u201d, unless you know what you are doing, and the created partition will only contain compressible data files accessed by Windows.<\/div>\r\nAlternatively, for a more hands-on approach with DiskPart<\/b>, and continuing from where we left in the previous section<\/a>, with DiskPart running and the disk selected and initialized, use the following sequence of commands<\/b>: \u201c
create partition primary<\/code>\u201d, \u201cactive<\/code>\u201d, \u201cformat fs=FILE_FORMAT quick<\/code>\u201d (where FILE_FORMAT<\/b> can be NTFS or FAT32<\/a>), and \u201cassign letter=LETTER<\/code>\u201d (where \u201cLETTER<\/b>\u201d can be any letter of the alphabet not already mapped to another drive).
\r\n![\"Diskpart](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Diskpart-Assign-Letter-W.jpg\")
<\/p>\r\n<\/span>Step 5:<\/span> Move the Recovered Files Back to the Disk<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\r\n
If the reason Windows asked you to initialize your disk stems from serious underlying issues, you could face similar scenarios in the future. To eliminate that chance and make sure you won\u2019t find yourself trying to recover your files from a corrupted drive<\/a>, you can check its health. You can use standalone S.M.A.R.T. monitoring apps for that, but thankfully Disk Drill also includes such functionality in its S.M.A.R.T. monitoring tool<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n
We must emphasize that if Disk Drill detects any health problems with a disk\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. readings, you shouldn\u2019t use it for storing important files or critical data. Based on the severity of those values, you should plan to replace it and use it only for storing temporary files and other easily replaceable data.<\/div>\r\nTo check a disk\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. values using Disk Drill and bring back its contents:<\/b><\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- With Disk Drill running, select S.M.A.R.T. Monitoring<\/b> (under Extra Tools<\/b> on the left) (1). Disk Drill also highlights<\/b> all problematic disks in a different color<\/b> on both its Device\/Disk list (2) and the informational panel on the right. Clicking the little red icon next to the disk\u2019s ID<\/b> on the informational panel shows more information about the detected issues (3).
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-SMART-Monitoring.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Disk Drill\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. monitoring page enables you to check out more details about a disk\u2019s status by revealing its most important S.M.A.R.T. values. Go through them and check for any warnings<\/b>.
\r\n![\"Disk](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Disk-Drill-SMART-Monitoring-Disk-Details.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n\t- Does your reinitialized, partitioned, and formatted disk seem to work OK, and its S.M.A.R.T. monitoring values aren\u2019t worth worrying over? Then you can copy your recovered files back to it<\/b> using a typical file manager, such as Windows File Explorer (Windows Key<\/kbd> + E<\/kbd>), to restore everything to the way it was.
\r\n![\"Copy](\"\/howto\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Copy-Recovered-Files-to-ReInitialized-Disk.jpg\")
<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/span>Wrapping Up<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
In this guide, we saw the best way to initialize a disk, which, counter-intuitively, isn\u2019t to rush and initialize it as soon as the OS prompts you to do so. Instead, you should\u2026:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Discard any prompts to initialize the disk and instead take a complete byte-for-byte backup image of it.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Use a compatible data recovery app to scan the backup image and recover its contents to a secondary storage location.<\/li>\r\n\t
- After making sure all your files have been recovered and are accessible, initialize the disk.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Create at least one volume on your disk, format it, and assign it a letter.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Check the disk\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. status, and if everything\u2019s OK, move the recovered files back to their original location.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
If you already initialized your disk before reading this guide, Disk Drill can still scan it and recover files using the exact workflow we saw. However, the recovery chances depend heavily on everything that happened after the disk was initialized:<\/p>\r\n
- \r\n\t
- Did you keep using the disk?<\/li>\r\n\t
- Were one or more volumes created on it, were they formatted, and if so, was the formatting quick or complete?<\/li>\r\n\t
- Was new data written to it? And if yes, how much?<\/li>\r\n\t
- If it\u2019s not an HDD, but an SSD or NVMe drive, when was it initialized, and has TRIM run since then?<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Those factors can reduce the chances of a successful recovery. Still, instead of immediately giving up, it\u2019s worth scanning the disk with an app like Disk Drill to at least check what it can find and recover.<\/p>\r\n
Finally, the following FAQ provides answers to some common follow-up questions that might be lingering in your mind.<\/p>\r\n
<\/span>FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\r\n
- Disk Drill\u2019s S.M.A.R.T. monitoring page enables you to check out more details about a disk\u2019s status by revealing its most important S.M.A.R.T. values. Go through them and check for any warnings<\/b>.
- The New Simple Volume Wizard\u2019s first screen will explain its purpose. Click Next<\/b> to proceed to the next step.
- Choose whether to use a Master Boot Record<\/b> or a GUID Partition Table<\/b> on the disk.
- Select<\/b> the attached image from the Device\/Disk<\/b> list (1), and click Search for lost data<\/b> (2).
- Read the information Disk Drill shows about the byte-to-byte backup process, then click OK, let\u2019s do it<\/b>.
- Work with an advanced data recovery app<\/a> that can locate and recover files even from backup images of disks that lack \u201cproper logical data structures\u201d, like a working partition table and, by extension, usable file systems. Such an app should also know about all the types of files you had stored on your disk, to recover them successfully.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n
- Recover<\/b> all data (preferably from a full byte-to-byte image, or directly from the disk) to another drive. If that fails, or for more information on the topic, check out our guide to recovering data from uninitialized disks<\/a>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- GPT<\/a> for newer multi-terabyte disks with potentially dozens of partitions.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n