URGENT NEED HELP! New PC Build Turned Into A Nightmare

Urgent Assistance Needed: Recovering Data After a PC Build Mishap

Building a new PC can be an exciting experience, but sometimes unexpected issues arise that can cause significant stress, especially when important data is at stake. Recently, I undertook a complete upgrade of my desktop, replacing all the components except for two SSDs. Unfortunately, the process has taken a turn I wasn’t prepared for, and I’m seeking professional guidance and solutions.

The Context of My Build

My primary storage device is a Lexar NQ790 2TB NVMe SSD, which contains most of my files and applications. This drive was initially cloned from my older Crucial SSD using disk cloning software, though I am unsure if this process might have inadvertently reformatted or altered the drive.

After assembling my new system, everything booted normally. However, when entering the BIOS, the system indicated that no bootable drive was detected — despite recognizing the Lexar SSD in the NVMe configuration. To troubleshoot, I used a Windows 11 installation USB created by my brother. Upon booting from the installer, the setup recognized the drives, and I considered installing Windows on my Lexar SSD to leverage its speed.

The Problem Begins

During the installation process, I aimed to select the Lexar SSD as my boot drive. However, the installer indicated the drive was in a different format. While diagnosing, my brother took a drastic step: he deleted the partition on the Lexar SSD, apparently intending to prepare it for a fresh OS installation. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice this at first.

Once I realized the partition was gone, I became extremely anxious. It felt like all my data was lost. I immediately sought recovery solutions, using various data recovery tools such as Recuva, TestDisk, and PhotoRec. Despite these efforts, none succeeded in recovering the data.

TestDisk, which provided the closest chance, scanned the drive for eight hours but ultimately reported that the partition appeared too small and was unrecoverable. Understandably, I am overwhelmed and desperate for viable recovery options.

Current Options and Dilemmas

At this point, my options seem limited:

Purchase specialized data recovery software, like RStudio, at a cost of approximately $80 — with no guarantee of success.
Hire professional data recovery experts, which could cost significantly more but might offer better chances of retrieving my data.