Mediacreation tool picked old HDD for creating bootable USB win 11 installer

Dujith · February 25

So my little brother is getting a new pc, and to prepare i told him to use the mediacreation tool to make the W11 USB.

Now for some reason the tool picked out a HDD he prob had as a removal device in windows. Problem is thats a 2TB HDD with alot of pictures and stuff he wants to keep.

I already scolded him about his backup practices (lack thereoff) so lets not go there

Is this something easily solvable with a software tool (he might lose the data that the W11 install files occupy)? I know he could send it somewhere, but thats gonna be hella expensive.

Any experience with using tools designed for this?

GuiltySpark_ · February 25

So that tool formatted the drive thinking it was a USB stick. You can try free tools like Recuva. https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva

https://www.lifewire.com/free-data-recovery-software-tools-2622893

Otherwise if it was that important the safer bet is to send it to a professional as you may end up just causing more harm.

ThePCNerd129 · February 25

Had to do this a few weeks ago to some guys laptop, step 1: download clonezilla and put it on a usb drive via rufus

Step 2: plug the old hdd into a usb drive useing an external connecter( about 30 usd i belive)

Step 3: clone the os over and you should be good

Dujith · February 25

1 hour ago, GuiltySpark_ said:

So that tool formatted the drive thinking it was a USB stick. You can try free tools like Recuva. https://www.ccleaner.com/recuva

https://www.lifewire.com/free-data-recovery-software-tools-2622893

Otherwise if it was that important the safer bet is to send it to a professional as you may end up just causing more harm.

He is running the tools now to see if any data can be recovered. Gonna take a while.

He might have to dish out for a professional recovery tho, anyway lesson learned

22 minutes ago, ThePCNerd129 said:

Had to do this a few weeks ago to some guys laptop, step 1: download clonezilla and put it on a usb drive via rufus

Step 2: plug the old hdd into a usb drive useing an external connecter( about 30 usd i belive)

Step 3: clone the os over and you should be good

This was not about installing W11, but the mediacreation tool picking his HDD with foto's and such to use as USB drive

ThePCNerd129 · February 25

1 hour ago, Dujith said:

He is running the tools now to see if any data can be recovered. Gonna take a while.

He might have to dish out for a professional recovery tho, anyway lesson learned

This was not about installing W11, but the mediacreation tool picking his HDD with foto's and such to use as USB drive

Woops my bad.... sry