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Update triggered fromat, full data loss - Backup and data partition gone - I need help

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The latest update triggered a message saying I needed to update the bootable rescue disk partition. It then said it needed to format that disk. I did not see this as a warning that the entire disk, incl. data partition, backup partition, and rescue disk partition would be completely formatted, without any safeguard to all existing data on it.

I now find myself in a full data loss situation and can't seem to recover any of what was stored on my disk.

I tried to contact support, only to get referred to a chat agent that doesn't get me anywhere, since nobody seems to be around. As you can understand, I am somewhat frustrated with the situation, and with myself for routinely clicking OK without paying attention to what should have been a blaring big red warning sign. Desperation is knocking on my door.

The details of it:

  • Acronis True Image 2021 v25.8.39229
  • macOS Catalina v10.15.7 (19H524) - 500GB HD
  • Seagate 2TB Backup Plus

The disk was set up as follows:

  • Data partition: contained surplus data files as accessible backup
  • Backup partition: contained bi-weekly TIB backup
  • Rescue disk partition: created at initial Acronis set-up

Faintly hoping that there is some magical trick or tool that lets me go back in time...

Maybe I totally missed the warning signs, maybe I was in a hurry, but shouldn't a backup solution such as Acronis True Image at least have a second warning ("Are you sure you really want to format the entire disk?"), or give the option to temporarily save existing TIB data somewhere else, before it starts to format a disk?

 

1 Users found this helpful

Roland, welcome to these public User Forums.

Caveat: I am a Windows user with no direct experience of using ATI on any Mac.

I can only recommend raising this question in the dedicated ATI for Mac Forum where other experienced Mac users should be able to provide better answers and suggestions for any drive / partition recovery tools that might be available for your OS.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the quick response. I appreciate it. I didn't notice the dedicated Mac forum, but I think you are right that that would be the better place to post this topic. I will copy my original post in there.

Thanks again.