[Solved] Overwritten backup drive with Raspberry Pi OS

[bluetooth]

While trying to set up a Raspberry Pi, I inadvertently wrote the Raspbian OS image to my external hard drive which I use for backups. The drive is 500Mb but now shows as 55.9Mb and contains 11 PI related files and all backups are missing.

 

When I look in backup or restore it says Expansion Drive (F:) disconnected.

 

Do I just reformat the drive (F.) or is there more to it?

 

I am running Windows 7 Home Premium.

 

Any advice welcome

 

Thanks

[KenB]

Hi and welcome to ExTS

 

I am not familiar with Raspberry Pi - but I assume that if you have written the image to your external drive this is just a file or files and not an installation.

 

Do I just reformat the drive (F.) or is there more to it?

 

You can format it to put it back to an empty drive - this will wipe all files and folders.

 

If you want to see if the original backups are still on the drive you can do the following :

 

With the drive connected ...........and assuming the allocated drive letter is F:

 

Start .....type in .....cmd .........right click on .....cmd.exe ....that appears top left > Run as Administrator

At the prompt type in ..... F: .......ENTER

You will see F:\>

Now type in ..... ATTRIB /s /d ........ ENTER [ there is a space after each section ]

 

This will list all files and folders on the drive.

 

If it lists your original folders they may well be hidden.

If they are not listed you can assume that they have been overwritten / deleted.

[bluetooth]

Thanks Ken

 

I have resolved the problem. The F drive had been repartioned with 2 small volumes and a huge amount of unalocated space, I reset it to have one large (500Gb) volume and it is now O.K.

Thanks for your help.

Phil

[KenB]

Thanks for the feedback - glad that you have a usable drive :)