Arch Linux

Ranguvar

Member

Registered: 2008-08-12

Posts: 2,549

Deleted an LVM partition and need help fast :P

If you're reading this, please help; I'm desparate

My setup is an ext2 partition on the first primary volume of the hard disk which I use as the /boot partition, a swap partition on the first logical volume, and an LVM2 primary volume on the second primary partition. On this LVM2 partition is a logical volume for my main OS, and a logical volume for all my data. Each has an ext4 partition. I was reinstalling, so I backed up all my data into a folder called "backup" on the data partition, and rebooted into the Arch install CD. After that, I decided to be an idiot and repartitioned. I made a new ext2 on the boot partition outside of the LVM, and a new ext4 on each of the logical volumes, the OS one and the data one. Then I realize what I've just done.

So far I've been trying to use Testdisk, to no avail. If I run it on my hard drive, it picks up the boot partition, the swap, and the LVM volume. I can't "go into" the LVM volume though. If I run it on my LVM logical volumes, I have to choose "None" for partition table type, and then I can see the ext4 partition... but it's like I'm seeing the new partition. I can list files, but there's no data there besides "lost+found".

Again, any help would be _much_ appreciated

Ranguvar

Member

Registered: 2008-08-12

Posts: 2,549

Re: Deleted an LVM partition and need help fast :P

Lost all my data. Ah well... lesson learned. No more LVM for me.

litemotiv

Forum Fellow

Registered: 2008-08-01

Posts: 5,026

Re: Deleted an LVM partition and need help fast :P

too many people losing data these days

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MoonSwan

Member

From: Great White North

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 881

Re: Deleted an LVM partition and need help fast :P

Testdisk can still recover them, assuming you didn't write to them between then & now.

Ranguvar

Member

Registered: 2008-08-12

Posts: 2,549

Re: Deleted an LVM partition and need help fast :P

I did write to the disk (extensively), but I'd love to know what I could have done if you know

Stitch

Member

Registered: 2009-06-10

Posts: 23

Re: Deleted an LVM partition and need help fast :P

I am tempted to say the obvious - backups. This is a good way to avoid losing your data.
Also, did you backup  the LVM cfg? I keep mine on a USB stick together with mdadm.conf

Ranguvar

Member

Registered: 2008-08-12

Posts: 2,549

Re: Deleted an LVM partition and need help fast :P

My LVM cfg was _on_ the LVM xD How's that for idiotic? I didn't know its importance until now.

And as for backups, yes, I agree. I'm getting a 1TB hard drive soon, already was planning on getting one. Still, a simple partition delete was always 100% recoverable without LVM; I'm dismayed that with LVM it could not be recovered at all. I didn't even remove the LV, just repartitioned it.

MoonSwan

Member

From: Great White North

Registered: 2008-01-23

Posts: 881

Re: Deleted an LVM partition and need help fast :P

hm Don't know if testdisk would deal with your issue, after thinking on it a bit.  I'd thought you had deleted the entire LV, in which case it may work but if you didn't delete the PV or LV, I have doubts testdisk would help at all.

tkdfighter

Member

From: Switzerland

Registered: 2009-01-28

Posts: 126

Re: Deleted an LVM partition and need help fast :P

I share your pain. Happend to me once, too. My backups were over three months old at the time. That's precisely the reason I don't use LVM anymore, just regular partitions. You could also have tried ext3grep or foremost, although I don't know if they would have worked in your situtation.