Data Recovery from hard disk
Discussion
To be brief:- Mesh home computer, 2001; Windows XP
I was optimising my hard disk using Speed Disk. I stopped it as I had to reboot as it occasionally doesn't load the modem.
Restarted computer - won't load Windows at all:
I get WARNING: SMart predicts hard disk failure. Back up all data now and replace hard disk. Press F1 or DEL for Setup.
Pressing F1 - prompts loading Windows normally, last good configuration, safe mode x 3. Won't load ANY. It gets to the Windows screen with the ble bit going back and forth then seems to reset and click, reboots and so it goes on ad infinitum.
I have tried looking at reloading Windows XP from the original Recovery Disk but it won't do it without formatting the whole disk (well, it's been modified for 5 years...)
I've tried using the Recovery Console. Chkdsk suggests the hard drive is OK but the boot is corrupt. I tried to craete a new boot sector but have no idea what it did but it doesn't work.
The question I have is this - there is space inside for a second hard disk drive. Can I fit another HDD, load Windows on that drive and access the primary hard disk (Or alternatively make the new disk the primary and access the old HDD as the secondary).
I'm convinced that the Optimising caused this problem (too coincidental) and I don't have an alternative bbot disk. I've tried looking at installing Windows XP on a CDR but it doesn't seem to give you that option.
I have 6 years of photos on the disk which i want to retrieve. Is there any way it can be done? I've ordered a new computer so will try the old HDD in it (if it fits...).
Any advice appreciated. I am a bit of a novice at this sort of stuff.
I was optimising my hard disk using Speed Disk. I stopped it as I had to reboot as it occasionally doesn't load the modem.
Restarted computer - won't load Windows at all:
I get WARNING: SMart predicts hard disk failure. Back up all data now and replace hard disk. Press F1 or DEL for Setup.
Pressing F1 - prompts loading Windows normally, last good configuration, safe mode x 3. Won't load ANY. It gets to the Windows screen with the ble bit going back and forth then seems to reset and click, reboots and so it goes on ad infinitum.
I have tried looking at reloading Windows XP from the original Recovery Disk but it won't do it without formatting the whole disk (well, it's been modified for 5 years...)
I've tried using the Recovery Console. Chkdsk suggests the hard drive is OK but the boot is corrupt. I tried to craete a new boot sector but have no idea what it did but it doesn't work.
The question I have is this - there is space inside for a second hard disk drive. Can I fit another HDD, load Windows on that drive and access the primary hard disk (Or alternatively make the new disk the primary and access the old HDD as the secondary).
I'm convinced that the Optimising caused this problem (too coincidental) and I don't have an alternative bbot disk. I've tried looking at installing Windows XP on a CDR but it doesn't seem to give you that option.
I have 6 years of photos on the disk which i want to retrieve. Is there any way it can be done? I've ordered a new computer so will try the old HDD in it (if it fits...).
Any advice appreciated. I am a bit of a novice at this sort of stuff.
Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 18th December 10:06
I would buy a new HD for the machine and install windows and all other applications you need.
Once this has completed, i would connect the old HD as a Slave.
But if you HD is near the end of its life then do not put this in the machine while you are installing windows, as the continuous restarts could send the HD past the point of no return.
Once this has completed, i would connect the old HD as a Slave.
But if you HD is near the end of its life then do not put this in the machine while you are installing windows, as the continuous restarts could send the HD past the point of no return.
So you're having Windows loading problems too eh? Bloody computers...
For data recovery you might be able to do what I'm doing, namely setting my troublesome HD as a slave and connecting up an old HD as the master.
In case you don't know, setting to slave involves removing or repositioning the little jumper connection used with the 4 sets of small pins you'll find between the main sets your HD is wired up with. Usually a sticker on the HD telling you how to set it as slave.
If you can run your computer with your old HD then hopefully you'll be able to both open the files on your problem HD and copy them to CD or old HD. Good luck.
For data recovery you might be able to do what I'm doing, namely setting my troublesome HD as a slave and connecting up an old HD as the master.
In case you don't know, setting to slave involves removing or repositioning the little jumper connection used with the 4 sets of small pins you'll find between the main sets your HD is wired up with. Usually a sticker on the HD telling you how to set it as slave.
If you can run your computer with your old HD then hopefully you'll be able to both open the files on your problem HD and copy them to CD or old HD. Good luck.
You just need to replace the HD with any other brand as long as the type is the same e.g. SATA or PATA.
A PATA drive should have a large ribbon conenctor coming from the back.
Also you will need to check what the max capacity your Bios can support, if you go for anything less than 250 Gig you should be ok.
A PATA drive should have a large ribbon conenctor coming from the back.
Also you will need to check what the max capacity your Bios can support, if you go for anything less than 250 Gig you should be ok.
LuS1fer said:
Cheers. Will get a new HD and try and learn something about this black magic.
Considering your name you should be teaching us about black magic 
Another alternative (variation on theme) is to change jumpers on your iffy drive to slave and plug it into any other PC available. Reboot and then suck any/all data to a safe location till you get your system back up and running.
leorest said:
LuS1fer said:
Cheers. Will get a new HD and try and learn something about this black magic.
Considering your name you should be teaching us about black magic Another alternative (variation on theme) is to change jumpers on your iffy drive to slave and plug it into any other PC available. Reboot and then suck any/all data to a safe location till you get your system back up and running.
Yours might not look 'quite' like that but those are the jumpers you need to play with. The new drive will either have a manual pointing to the correct settings for "slave" or a sticker on the drive.
As for piggy backing the Mrs, I feel we should summon Vixpy and get an OXO tower quote
Basically, the ribbon cable (if it's a PATA unit) will (or should, you might need to buy one) have three connectors on it, one goes to the motherboard, one goes to the new drive.... can you guess where the third connector goes?
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