Accidentally overwrote windows boot partition

[keen citrus]

Hello, while installing debian on my main desktop, i wrote the image onto my ssd, little did i know, the boot partition for windows was on there and now windows wont boot. Ive been troubleshooting multiple things for 2 days, but still got nothing.
Neither grub recognizes the windows partition, or bios, bootrec /scanos (using windows installation/repair tool), or os-prober can see it, but if I go to partition manager on my linux installation, its clearly filled with data.
There are around 3-5TB of apps and memories on this computer so I would really appreciate the help :(

Here is any extra info you might need including pictures, if thats not enough please ping me or ask:

os-prober:

ls: cannot open directory '/boot/efi': Permission denied
ls: cannot open directory '/boot/efi': Permission denied
ls: cannot open directory '/boot/efi': Permission denied
ls: cannot open directory '/boot/efi': Permission denied
mkdir: cannot create directory ‘/var/lib/os-prober/mount’: Permission denied
mkdir: cannot create directory ‘/var/lib/os-prober/mount’: Permission denied```

[jovial basin]

Have you tried repairing directly through Windows Recovery Environment?

[keen citrus]

I have

I plugged in the usb, went to repair computer, but it couldnt detect any backups, or windows installations

[jovial basin]

Have you tried using both of below commands in the Command Prompt (in Windows)?

[bronze current]

System File Checker / SFC

This utility scans the system for corruption in the system files which may be responsible for irregular operating system behaviour. For more information, check this page (written by Microsoft).

Use DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth if SFC fails to properly fix the problem.

[keen citrus]

i will try when i get home

[queen night]

You should have access to the windows partition from your ubuntu installation to backup your memories.
The image of the partition on the second drive seems to be mounted to /media/ch.... whatever. When you resize the column you should see the full mount point where you can access the data.
Can you mark the last drive in Partition Manager and check the mount points of the partitions? Maybe you can find the partition with your memories and before destroying some more try make a backup of that.
DISM and SFC will not bring back the boot partition for windows.

[keen citrus]

I was able to take a look at that and access some things, unfortunately I have a lot of files on the windows partition with lots of apps and other configurations I will need. Aswell as paid windows (I cant pay like 100$ for another one)

[queen night]

So please make screenshots of all your disks and partitions so we can see what you have.
As far as I understood the problem:

• Disk /dev/nvme0n1 is the boot drive that now contains Ubuntu. You have moved some partition from that to another drive. What have you moved?
• Disk /dev/sda is an NTFS partition. Does it contain the Windows installation (\Windows, \Programs, ...) ?
• Disk /dev/sdb is what?

[misty scroll]

Even OS-prober doesnt work?... I dont know what you did to install debian...
But first backup your important personal data!...then attempt to fix the boot partition..

Also which of the three storages you have...contains the windows?..

[keen citrus]

the 1tb sdb1 partition

[keen citrus]

apparently bt default it backed up to the ssd to the ssd

actually, maybe one drive has something, i only got rid of it a month ago

[keen citrus]

im not exactly sure what was on the ssd beforehand because i thought i cleared it all, but i told debian installer to use the entire disk to install it

[misty scroll]

Explore this drive....check whether you see the windows files to confirm that C: drive didnt get erased!..

if windows is intact!...then you can create efi partition which will enable you to boot into windows...

[keen citrus]

i was able to get something from the recycle bin... im not sure what it is tho

[keen citrus]

ty for the simple explanation tho

[misty scroll]

screenshot the file contents...inside the sdb..

[keen citrus]

ill try, i cant rly access it from a file manager

[misty scroll]

whats the update on this?

[keen citrus]

still in school, sry, ill be home soon

[keen citrus]

not much... im not sure if I did t something wrong or what but I cant find much...

[misty scroll]

Screenshot the data directory!...
Not the system volume information...
Just go back and screenshot...

[keen citrus]

just went back to try and see what I can do, I dont know what happened but I cant access the drive anymore...

I read online something about disabling fast boot in bios, should I give that a try?

[keen citrus]

ok

before you say anything

[keen citrus]

Im dumb

go on

what?

it just... does that?

that cant be

but like... I dont think I can even access the data

[keen citrus]

I tried

I think...

still gave me An error occurred while accessing 'DATA', the system responded: The requested operation has failed: Error mounting /dev/sdb1 at /media/charlotte/DATA: Unknown error when mounting /dev/sdb1

if i try to right click and mount it, it gives me that error

it shows that its ntfs

but I cant really read it or anything

it seems

it did last time lol

1 sec, I searched for efi

also sorry if Im kind of being dumb rn, I just woke up and things that dont make sense make sense to me

no odd thing... I already had it installed and I could read it yesterday, it just wont let me today for some reason

[misty scroll]

since we cant confirm ...then create bootable windows usb and try to repair from there!..

[keen citrus]

I tried that already

[misty scroll]

lets try again!... what attempts did you make using the USB?..

[keen citrus]

I tried to the repair computer option, I tried to see if i had any backups, I also tried to see if it could detect the windows partition, none worked

[misty scroll]

boot into usb again..and go to cmd..

[keen citrus]

ok, let me reflash it again

[misty scroll]

also ..try to disable..the other 2 drives...from uefi/bios..keep only the one with windows

[keen citrus]

sure I cant try

[keen citrus]

mk here

sorry i was designing something rq

[misty scroll]

its okay!... come back to your thread...when you have free time next time! it would be convenient to help you...in real time...

[keen citrus]

im free today, it just seems rhat were having trouble coming to the thread at the same time

[queen night]

Try to run "sudo ntfsfix /dev/sdb1" in a terminal window. This will check the NTFS file system for problems and fix it. If it can fix errors the partition should be mounted on next boot.

[queen night]

After thinking again about your issue some questions come to my head.
Was the NVMe disk their when you had Windows running or have you added the NVMe for Ubuntu.<

The partitions on the disk /dev/sda looks like partions from a Windows installation with MBR. Have you changed something in the BIOS boot order and EFI support?

Have you tried to remove the NVMe drive and boot the rig?

[keen citrus]

it was there, but all the system files where on the hdd, which i didnt change. the nvme was used to store steam games.
i did change the boot order, but even if i tryAdu other orders, it wont work, idk if i touched efi but i can reset to default settings.
no, but i should try.

also weird thing, file explorer says 931 gb of 1tb is full while partitioner says 32gb of 931gb is full...

[keen citrus]

@queen night ?

[queen night]

What I would try is remove the NVMe. Then Start the PC from a Windows installation media USB stick and enter repair console.

Within the comman prompt you should have access to your disks.
Run "diskpart" command and run following commands for all of your disk. This will show us the disk and partition information:
"list disk"
"select disk 0"
"detail disk"
"select disk 1"
"detail disk"
With "detail disk" you will see assigned driver letters to the volumns.
Navigate to all this drive letters and list the root content.
Ex:

Exit diskpart with the command "exit".
List content of drive C via command "dir c:" and "dir /AH c:" (this will show hidden files) and repeat it for all other drives.

then try to run "bcdedit /enum". This will show boot configuration entries if it can find some.
and run "bootrec /ScanOs" (I think, you have already tried this but show us the results)
And post screenshots of your results.
What motherboard and CPU are you using?

[misty scroll]

I understand you are busy... but If you can kindly...manage yourself some free time..and try to fix your boot issue in one-go!...

[keen citrus]

Im not 100% sure what motherboard I have because I got this prebuilt pc 5 years ago, but im using a Intel i7-10700F (16) @ 4.800GHz cpu
I also tried removing the nvme, not much changed
here are the screenshots

[queen night]

The outputs of the commands "dir c:", "dir d:" and "dir /AH d:" are missing. This is to know what is on every partition.

[keen citrus]

dir /AH c: is the 3rd image down, its the drive containing windows

Ill get the dir c: in a sec

[keen citrus]

all of them gave the exact same output

[keen citrus]

If I restore windows, is there a possibility it will give me a basic idea of what apps I had on my desktop? I recently switched to debian and imo its 100% better than windows 10, all I need back is some info on the tools I used in case I forget some, then I might clear the drive and just use that drive for other software and for a tiny windows partition for apps that cant be run using wine due to weird issues. I also really appreciate you taking youre time to all help me

[warm cove]

oh, you're using the dir command inside diskpart, since that is not a command specific to diskpart, it doesn't know what to do a prints out the help text. exit out of diskpart and try dir again

Have you tried using the bcdboot command? (I'm asking as this thread is quite long) [also this is not a suggestion to use it just yet, just a question]

[warm cove]

on which disk do you expect to see your windows?

tell me the size and the disk number as specified in the list disk command

[queen night]

Please run "dir d:" and "dir c:" outside diskpart. I have a bad feeling that you have also destroyed the windows partition containing the windows installation.

[warm cove]

do we have a screenshot of list part anywhere?

a quick search says no

I'd like to see list part on the disk # where windows has been / should be

[keen citrus]

Im not sure, both os prober, and testdisk cant detect it. maybe its just fully corrupt and Ill have to reinstall windows. Do you think theres a way I can find my windows activation key though? Im assuming its already in the firmware because the prebuilt came with windows but just in case want to know any other possible options. Im just going to drop it and reinstall windows, Ive recovered most of what I might need to my other drive

[warm cove]

if it's a prebuilt with windows then the key is in the firmware.

did you log in with a Microsoft account? if so, log in with the same account because sometimes it links the key to it

[keen citrus]

mk then, I think Ill close this post

[jovial basin]

Does the OP have BitLocker though?

[keen citrus]

not that ik of

yeah

[jovial basin]

wait, you can't see the disk files either?

[keen citrus]

no