Time Machine have deleted all my files on External Drive

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Level 1

8 points

Time Machine have deleted all my files on External Drive

Hello everyone ! :-)

I have a big problem, today, I, for the first time plug my external hard disk in my Mac (at this point i was happy ... then problem come). After that my Mac ask me if i want to use my external drive to save Time Machine on it. I click Yes then it delete everything on my external hard disk .... Do you think there is a way to get back the file deleted ? There were some really important documents I'd like to find, 500gb of my entire life gone...

After that i tried to plug into my Windows and now i don't know why I'm not able to read it, it makes the sounds, but can't found in PC...

I'm so disappointed, I'd really like to find a solution.

If you need any more information just ask me, but please some help .... :(

MacBook Pro 16", macOS 10.15

Posted on Feb 9, 2020 8:44 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

leroydouglas

Level 10

199,458 points

Feb 9, 2020 9:32 AM in response to Josephni

If you used this to back up a Windows machine I suspect it was formatted as MBR.

Mac and Time machine to be bootable needs to be GUID (GPT). Sounds like the drive was re-formatted this indeed would erase all data.

If it is mission critical you can try yourself data recovery—

DataRescue5 https://www.prosofteng.com/mac-data-recovery/

drivesavers https://drivesaversdatarecovery.com/

or professional recovery service:

Ontrack data a Professional Data Recovery Service

https://www.ontrack.com/

Backup disks you can use with Time Machine - Apple Support https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202784

How to use Time Machine to back up or restore your Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201250

3-2-1 Backup Strategy: three copies of your data, two different methods, and one offsite.

Boot clone https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-10081

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Answer 2

Josephni Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 9, 2020 10:51 AM in response to leroydouglas

Yep, i think it was converted for Mac machine but do you think I can convert back my external drive to be used on Windows Again ? Not only windows but just being a normal hard disk lol

I have found a way to get back some files, using payed option of Disk Drill, which is the same as most of recovery tool ...

Thanks you for your respond ! :)

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Time Machine have deleted all my files on External Drive

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