Computer problem

[Scott & Lai 12]

I tried booting with my XP disc. Selected the repair option. The setp-up started, then asked which installation I wanted to use. Only one was listed, H:\MiniNT, so I selected that. I got a DOS prompt with H:\MiniNT, but nothing else happens. What does it want me to do?

If I try using the setup XP option instead of the repair option, will that cause me to lose my data?

H:\MiniNT sounds like a recovery partition. When your in the DOS prompt try to switch to C by typing "C:" Then trying running a check disk by typing "chkdsk /p". Once it runs and finishes (it make take awhile depending on your hardrive) try rebooting into windows as normal.

Let me know how that goes.

Ran chkdsk with /p, then /r. Said one or more errors were fixed. Took out the CD, then tried booting. Exact same problem...

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Hmm at this stage the "quick and easy" way to fix the issue is to do as someone else suggested. By a new HDD, install the OS on it and then place the old HDD in an enclosure and copy your files from it to the new drive.

[Scott & Lai 12]

Update:

I bought an external HD, put my HD in a HD enclosure, and connected both to my laptop. The HD was inaccessible. Found out the problem was with the enclosure, and tried an IDE to USB cable. Was able to see and transfer data to the external drive. Unfortunately, a number of the folders that were filled with photos I took are empty, and most of the ones that aren't have some files that are now zero bytes. So, I was able to recover a lot, but there are still many photos and probably other data that are lost. It may be that the data is still there, but disconnected from the file names, but I don't know what can be done if that is the case.

Meanwhile, I bought a new PC with Windows 7

[Heracles 417]

You need to scan your drive using data recovery software. I manged to recover a four disk raid array using such software, something almost impossible to do.

[Scott & Lai 12]

You need to scan your drive using data recovery software. I manged to recover a four disk raid array using such software, something almost impossible to do.

Any specific ones you'd recommend?

[Dan J 277]

You need to scan your drive using data recovery software. I manged to recover a four disk raid array using such software, something almost impossible to do.

Any specific ones you'd recommend?

I've used ontrack before with good results. But there is no guarantee that you will actually be able to recover the data, especially if the corruption is due to physical problems with the drive. For the future, look into Mozy as a way to keep a backup of all your files.

[Niels Bohr 72]

When it says "one or more error were fixed." That probably means the link to that location on the HD have been deleted (aka file deletion).

I think the OS keeps a log file of what has been fixed, and where. The ontrack program scans through them to find the location that was evil. It would probably scan the start byte + offset (estimate the size of data that was loss based on the log files), and connect a name to map to that location on the HD. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Most likely if it doesn't, that means the head of the drive probably took a dump (poop) at the location and it is totally inaccessible no matter what you do.

I have to agree that ONTRACK is one of the best developers in recovery software. Not only that, they have a service where you can send your HD to them for them to try and recover your data. I don't know what they do there nor do I know what method they used to recover the information.

[Darnell 8,478]

Dr. Darnell's Handy Dandy File Recover

requires 2 computers , an ethernet router, ethernet connections into both machines.

1. make a knoppix boot cd - see http://www.knoppix.org

2. boot sick machine with knoppix os. load samba

3. mount remote disk on windows pc.

4. copy files from sick machine to windows pc using windows explorer. (no, not Internet Explorer )

If you don't have the skills - get to a local linux user group - beg plead / offer beer.

Good Luck !

Edited November 25, 2009 by Darnell