This is not so much an answer but rather a possible pathway to try. Data recovery can be very complex. The "RAW" problem can be corrupted partitions and/or filesystems.
You will most likely need a professional data recover program. I've mainly used freeware Testdisk, which you mentioned, and Active, which will cost you. It is your choice. Here is Active's url: https://www.lsoft.net/bootdisk/
That’s the full package partitions and file recovery. You can try the freeware evaluation version. They also have a freeware program which could initially help you get a better idea of what's what:https://www.lsoft.net/ntfs-recovery/
Sorry but I don't think there is a simple solution here. It looks like the Dell website SupportAssist really mangled things. For myself, for sport, I try all kinds of little tweaks but for clients I just do the data file recovery. After files are recovered you can always fiddle around with the partitions, etc. if you are curious. I once used EaseUS to convert GPT to MBR partition and then back again and it fixed! Booted.
The extra partitions are for the Windows Recovery programs, boot strap, etc. They do like to make things complicated.
Good luck.
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Again I have re-read your questions.
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Regarding “During this process, before trying the BIOS update solution, I noticed it said I was on A03, I know I did a BIOS update last year, the newest BIOS is A20 - how in the world did that happen? “ Have you reflashed to A20, of course ensuring that this is the correct BIOS/UEFI for your system?
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The following may or may not help. The thing to remember is that the files are all still physically sitting on the HDD/SSD it is just the access to them that is corrupted. This involves just assigning a drive letter to the ESP partition which is already FAST 32.
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Regarding Diskpart here is a possible path, again after backing drive up. Most of this you already know but have put it all in for others who may be reading this.
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Using the Windows 10 Installation Media :
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1. Insert the Media (DVD/USB) in your PC and '''restart'''.
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2. Boot from the media.
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3. Select '''Repair Your Computer'''.
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4. Select '''Troubleshoot'''.
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5. Select '''Advanced Options'''.
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6. Choose '''Command Prompt''' from the menu :
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i. Type and run the command : diskpart
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ii. Type and run the command : sel disk 0
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iii. Type and run the command : list vol
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7. Verify that the EFI partition (EPS - EFI System Partition) is using the FAT32 file system and assign a drive letter to it (Assign a letter that isn't already in use.):
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i. Type and run the command : sel vol <number of volume>
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ii. Type and run the command : assign letter=<drive letter>:
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iii. Type and run the command : exit
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8. In order to repair the boot record :
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i. Type and run the command : cd /d <drive letter>:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\
This is not so much an answer but rather a pathway to try. Data recovery can be very complex. The "RAW" problem can be corrupted partitions and/or filesystems.
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This is not so much an answer but rather a possible pathway to try. Data recovery can be very complex. The "RAW" problem can be corrupted partitions and/or filesystems.
You will most likely need a professional data recover program. I've mainly used freeware Testdisk, which you mentioned, and Active, which will cost you. It is your choice. Here is Active's url: https://www.lsoft.net/bootdisk/
That’s the full package partitions and file recovery. You can try the freeware evaluation version. They also have a freeware program which could initially help you get a better idea of what's what:https://www.lsoft.net/ntfs-recovery/
Sorry but I don't think there is a simple solution here. It looks like the Dell website SupportAssist really mangled things. For myself, for sport, I try all kinds of little tweaks but for clients I just do the data file recovery. After files are recovered you can always fiddle around with the partitions, etc. if you are curious. I once used EaseUS to convert GPT to MBR partition and then back again and it fixed! Booted.
The extra partitions are for the Windows Recovery programs, boot strap, etc. They do like to make things complicated.
This is not so much an answer but rather a pathway to try. Data recovery can be very complex. The "RAW" problem can be corrupted partitions and/or filesystems.
You will most likely need a professional data recover program. I've mainly used freeware Testdisk, which you mentioned, and Active, which will cost you. It is your choice. Here is Active's url: https://www.lsoft.net/bootdisk/
That’s the full package partitions and file recovery. You can try the freeware evaluation version. They also have a freeware program which could initially help you get a better idea of what's what:https://www.lsoft.net/ntfs-recovery/
Sorry but I don't think there is a simple solution here. It looks like the Dell website SupportAssist really mangled things. For myself, for sport, I try all kinds of little tweaks but for clients I just do the data file recovery. After files are recovered you can always fiddle around with the partitions, etc. if you are curious. I once used EaseUS to convert GPT to MBR partition and then back again and it fixed! Booted.
The extra partitions are for the Windows Recovery programs, boot strap, etc. They do like to make things complicated.