Downgrading from Windows 11 to 10: A Cautionary Tale of Lost Data

Hello, fellow tech enthusiasts,

I recently faced a perplexing situation when I decided to downgrade my operating system from Windows 11 to Windows 10. This decision was not made lightly; I encountered some technical issues that prompted this change. Prior to initiating the downgrade, I took precautionary measures and transferred all my essential files—Documents, Downloads, Pictures—onto an external drive.

In hindsight, however, I realize that removing that external drive before conducting the installation would have been a wise decision.

Upon completing the installation of Windows 10, I was met with an unexpected complication: my external drive, which I believed to be safe, did not show up in File Explorer. Attempting to troubleshoot, I accessed Disk Management, where the drive was listed as “Disk 1” under the label “Storage Pool – Healthy (Storage Spaces Protective Partition).” Unfortunately, I found that all options to interact with the drive were grayed out, leaving me unable to manage or access my files.

I also ran a full scan using DMDE, but the results were minimal, leading me to wonder if the protective partition status is the cause of my problems or if I simply executed the scan incorrectly.

Now, I seek the wisdom of this community and have a few pressing questions:

1. How can I verify whether my files are still intact on the external drive, or have they been lost due to the downgrade?
2. What steps can I take to regain access to these files if they are still recoverable?
3. Is there a possible way to revert back to Windows 11 and restore my previous setup?

I appreciate any insights or recommendations from those who have faced similar challenges. Thank you in advance for your help!