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peewee
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 22
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Hi,
My laptop crashed a couple of days ago and now won't reboot. The error message was \windows\system32\config\system.
I have gone to the recovery console and run CHKDSK/R and this went to 75% and then returned the error message - The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems.
I have also run the command FIXBOOT C: and this returned a message about something missing in the volume (Cannot remember exactly!).
I have also tried to repair from disk and reach a point where I accept the licence agreement and then i believe a screen should be displayed allowing me to select Windows XP and then R to repair. I do not get this option but instead 3 options relating to Partitions.
I have also tried to restart in safe mode and last known configuration but still nothing! The computer switches off with a message about Unmountable Boot Value.
I am worried that I have lost everything on my laptop and so any help would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17943
Loc: Colchester
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I have to say that I think you've tried most of the likely fixes for what sounds like a hard disk in terminal decline! The messages you are getting back suggest that one or more partitions on your hard disk have got damaged tracks. I don't know of any free tools that will get your data back. There are private firms who say they can recover data from almost any hard disk but at a price.
I presume you don't have any backups?
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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peewee
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 22
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Sadly, the last back up I took was in Dec 06 and even then it turns out not of all files (the result of being a novice!)
Doesnt look good then :-( but thanks for your reply
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17943
Loc: Colchester
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When you tried the CD and you got the message about partitions, what were the actual words?
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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peewee
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 22
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The following list shows the existing partitions and unpartitioned space on this computer.
C: Partition 1 (Unknown) 37943 MB (37942 MB free)
Unpartitioned space 8MB
E: Partition 2 (Unknown) 204MB (203MB Free)
ENTER= Install D=Delete Partition F3 = Quit
If i choose install on partition 1 i get the message:
The partition is either too full, damaged, not formatted or formatted with an incompatible file system. to continue installing windows set-up must format this partition, formatting will delete any files on the partition.
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17943
Loc: Colchester
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That is definitely not good news. In effect it's telling you that you've got a 40gb hard disk and only 2mb of data on all of it! Unless you've got a few bob to spare to recover the data professionally I think that's the end of the line as far as your hard disk is concerned. You've clearly got an XP CD so I think your only choice is to buy a new hard disk for your laptop and start over.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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peewee
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 22
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Thanks again for your reply.
Would it be worth trying any software packages that advertise data recovery from hard drives?
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17943
Loc: Colchester
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I suppose it comes down to cost of the software versus the value of your data. Have you got any particular package in mind? You clearly need something that will boot up from a CD and get to your hard disk rather than one that needs to be installed on the hard disk itself.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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peewee
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 22
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I've just had a quick search on google and this has thrown a few options up - Prosoft Engineering - Data Rescue II or Restorer2000. There seems a lot of choice but I've no idea really! Don't mind paying a reasonable amount to recover holiday pics and stuff like that. I will put cost down as a lesson learnt and back-up regularly in future.
Thanks.
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GMAC
regular
Reg'd: Sat
Posts: 536
Loc: Wales, UK
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This happened to a friend of mine. By some stroke of luck "fixmbr" did the job with "fixboot"
Might be worth a shot
GMAC
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Toshiba Satellite P10-304
Dual booting Ubuntu Linux/Win XP Pro SP2
AntiVir Personal, COMODO Firewall, Ad-Aware 2006, Spyware Blaster, Spybot S&D, PeerGuardian 2
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17943
Loc: Colchester
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Data Rescue II is only for MACs not PCs. I've looked carefully at the Restorer 2000 FAQs but nowhere can I find about running it from a CD. It seems to want to run on the same PC as the lost files and that clearly isn't possible in your case. The only thing I can think of is to use your duff hard disk as a slave in another PC and then use the restore software to try and get back your files.
GMAC's advice is good but I'm a little worried about using FIXMBR because that will rewrite the master boot record on a different part of the hard disk which may overwrite some of your files if it doesn't work first time. On the other hand, if it works you've saved yourself some money.
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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peewee
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 22
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Hello again,
I've found some alternative software which looks like I can download and then burn on to CD to use in the laptop. This is: Spotmau PowerSuite 2007. Do you think this looks a better option?
Many Thanks again.
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17943
Loc: Colchester
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I presume it's this one. If it really can do all it claims for twenty quid or thereabouts it's got to be worth a try.
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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peewee
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 22
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Have now downloaded Spotmau, burned to CD and have inserted it in to the laptop. An option came up to recover files which sadly errored! Am now trying the recover data from partition option which takes 99hrs and so now at 75hrs48m30secs to go will provide me an answer sometime Sunday! The suspense is killing me - slowly!
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17943
Loc: Colchester
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If my maths are correct and you posted at 11.00 pm last night, at exactly 10.11pm and 30 seconds on Sunday night a large box will pop up and say 'Sorry that didn't work, do you want to try again.!
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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spcs
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 1
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Hi
Hope you don't mind me dropping into your forum but happened to pick up the string and hate to see anyone ripped off, or lose their data. Possible your laptop problem can be sorted out but saving your files is the first step. Initial things you need to do are:
Not do anything else that might further put the files at risk.
Take the Spotmau CD out of your drive and into the garden, as a bird scarer.
If you insist on doing this yourself, look up the UBCD4Windows project, where you can create a CD that actually works and will cost nothing. This may look a little complex but isn't too bad. You will also find tools included in the download that may help rescue the machine.
Once the UBCD is complete you should be able to boot up with this and use the explorer facility to see what is on your hard drive. For the amount of data you are concerned about, dragging this onto any available media shouldn't be a problem. You will work out from the disc that there are other options.
There can be no guarantees that the data can be retrieved but the initial symptoms you reported do not suggest a total drive failure. In the unfortunate event that the drive can not be read, think carefully before using a data recovery firm. Most of those you see on the web are a scam and the few genuine ones will charge severely for the task.
Hopefully, that will not apply and if you do recover the data, use the available tools on the disc to check the health of your drive. Even if this doesn't look great,try formatting and check again. If the drive is functional,a full reformat and reinstall might be better than trying to repair the existing installation. My main concern is how much damage has been done since the initial fault, not least by the wonderful product you bought.
Edited by Hello_There (Sun Oct 21 2007 07:53 AM)
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17943
Loc: Colchester
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To make it easier for the OP to find use this link for more information about the project and for downloads. The programme is based on BartPE which I have used. In effect you create a bootable Windows XP CD which runs XP direct from the CD drive and does not use the PC hard disk at all. UBCD adds further diagnostic software so you can examine and hopefully recover data.
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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peewee
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 22
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Hi, thank you both for your posts.
Spotmau finally finished running ahead of schedule! Argggh! turns out that it had scanned the external drive I had connected ready to transfer any files to! Managed to re-run scan on Laptop hard drive and although some files found they didn't look much and I could not get the option to transfer these to work (Spotmaus Helpdesk mentioned something about BIOS but at that point it sounded too technical for me.)
Am now starting to download the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows so will keep posting!
Thanks once again.
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peewee
new user
Reg'd: Sun
Posts: 22
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Sadly doesnt look like there are any files on my Hard Drive.
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17943
Loc: Colchester
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I'm sure there are, you just haven't got the right tools to access them. Now it's decision time. Pay out BIG money to a professional company to get at the data or call it a day. By big money I mean running into hundreds of pounds.
--------------------
Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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