Problems during partitions merge - possible data loss?

Another odd thing happend recently. Progress indicator jumped to 85% and then (a minute later) jumped back to 10% and is not moving again.
And now, few hours later, it barely ran to 15% and dropped back to 7%. What the hell is going on with Disk Director?

If it's still looks like it's doing anything I would recommend letting it continue. There is a very good chance of data loss if the process is stopped.

It is recommended to create an Entire Disk Image backup before making any partitioning changes. There is always the chance something may go wrong. Also, I don't recommend using the Merge and Split features -- they are too risky. Much better (and often faster) to do the procedures manually.

I used the merge option, during the process there was some kind of prolem and the program had to close. After I restarted the computer, the tweo partitions I wanted to merge, are inaccessible. As stupid as I am I didn't make a backup. I didn't think something like this ccould happen. What can I do to retrieve all the data?

You could try booting to a Live Linux CD (like Ubuntu) and seeing if Linux has any success accessing either partition. Depending on the corruption level, running chkdsk may help or it may make things much worse (basically, destroying any chance of recovery).

Is Windows Disk Management showing anything for the partition? Format, size, type, used/free space, etc.? Does Exploring with DD show anything on either partition?

Otherwise, you would have to try some data recovery programs and scan the area of the two partitions. You may have to delete the existing bad partitions first (for example, if the program will only scan unallocated space). Be sure not to wipe them when they are deleted.

In most cases, the partitions are left in a mangled/corrupted state and successful data recovery is difficult or impossible.

Is it possible for me to use Ubuntu? Which Ubuntu? I have never seen it before. Should I try to recover te lost data with a recovery program before using Ubuntu? I am using Recuva now, it's a lot of time scanning. It's a deep scan because he can't find any data on the partitions.

I hope I can recover important things

Ubuntu is one of the most popular Linux versions. You can find it here. You would try it before doing anything that would change anything on the drive (most recovery programs do not change anything on the problem drive). Boot to the Ubuntu CD and select to try it. When it gets loaded you can see if you can browse/mount the partitions. From what you describe it doesn't sound like there's a good chance of success, but it's still worth trying.

That's bad news, I hoped I could save some things. Yesterday I tried Recuva and I saved some things but it's taking hours to scan.

Is it save to install Ubuntu on an excisting harddisc or should I use an external one? I don't want to loose more.

You don't need to install Ubuntu. Just download the ISO and create a CD (burn the ISO to a CD using an ISO capable burning program). Then boot the CD and select to try Ubuntu.

I have installed it, waiting to reboot. Recuva is almost done

I have installed it and Ubuntu isn't working at all. If I choose Ubuntu at the start up, it says something abut grub and I can press tab, not working and I can't remove it!!