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I was trying Ubuntu 16.04 but had issues and decided to install 14.04 over it. I have 16.04 installed on a single ext4 partition and encrypted my home folder (I remember the encryption passphrase).

Before installing 14.04 I created a 2nd ext4 partition on the same hard drive and made a copy of the files I need from my home folder. I later came across a post that suggested I could have installed 14.04 over 16.04 and kept my home folder (argh).

I thought I was installing over the first partition on my disk but I must have been paying full attention. I also installed LVM, which may have made things worse, in an attempt to prevent this in the future.

I booted to 14.04 and tried to a rescue with GParted but that didnt work. I installed testdisk and after a deep analysis I was able to find my previous root with my home folder and .ecryptfs files.

I think that I need to try to rebuild the ext4 file system, then mount it and decrypt and move the files where I need them. I need a little help getting there. I think I need to assign a file system from testdisk but I want to be sure. Also, does this have to be done from a Live CD? I realize once the files get written over I cant get them back.

Thanks,

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If you overwrote the files, they're gone. If testdisk couldn't find the partition, it's essentially gone. You could try photorec, it may find some files yet, but a backup copy would be best.

If you still have a copy somewhere, run ecryptfs-recover-private

As always, remember that if files are important enough they should have a good backup somewhere.

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