Computer problem (repost)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rob
  • Start date Start date
R

Rob

Hey all,

I thought I would repost this as my original thread seems to be dying,
and this would be a chance to give the current status. Please read
the post before replying. Thanks.

I have a friends computer that, when you turned it on, was
automatically rebooting before ever seeing the windows logo. I
attempted to put the hard drive in another computer, and got the same
error, so the problem is the hard drive somehow.

I put a new hd into her computer, and it booted no problem (proving
yet again that the problem is the hd). I then tried to plug her hd in
as a slave to my master, but the same thing happened again: automatic
reboot before ever seeing the windows logo. Tried with her hd as
master pressing F8...got the special screen with all the options, but
no matter which option I picked (including "Disable automatic reboot
on system failure"), it still automatically rebooted as soon as I
pressed enter.

I had a USB HD-enclosure sitting around, and so I stuck her hard drive
in it. Happily and unhappily, windows detects the USB hard drive, but
the partition on it is detected as active, yet unformatted.

I want to get her data off, if possible. The hard drive is:

Maxtor (3.5", 20.0 GB)
Model: D540X-4K

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Rob
 
Rob said:
Hey all,

I thought I would repost this as my original thread seems to be dying,
and this would be a chance to give the current status. Please read
the post before replying. Thanks.

I have a friends computer that, when you turned it on, was
automatically rebooting before ever seeing the windows logo. I
attempted to put the hard drive in another computer, and got the same
error, so the problem is the hard drive somehow.

I put a new hd into her computer, and it booted no problem (proving
yet again that the problem is the hd). I then tried to plug her hd in
as a slave to my master, but the same thing happened again: automatic
reboot before ever seeing the windows logo. Tried with her hd as
master pressing F8...got the special screen with all the options, but
no matter which option I picked (including "Disable automatic reboot
on system failure"), it still automatically rebooted as soon as I
pressed enter.

I had a USB HD-enclosure sitting around, and so I stuck her hard drive
in it. Happily and unhappily, windows detects the USB hard drive, but
the partition on it is detected as active, yet unformatted.

I want to get her data off, if possible. The hard drive is:

Maxtor (3.5", 20.0 GB)
Model: D540X-4K

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

You can blame the HD or try to repair the OS.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
Following this link will repair an XP installation without losing any
data.
 
Hello,

Sounds like a UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME error

Try using CHKDSK.

NOTE: This **may** lead to loss of data (e.g. documents), if you don't have
a backup, it is advised *not* to proceed.

You will need to enter recovery console using your XP installation disc and
running CHKDSK disk from there

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
(See Starting Windows Recovery Console, and the CHKDSK command)


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http://www.bootstrike.com/WinXP/faq.html
Windows XP FAQ
 
I had a similar (maybe the same?) problem that I could not solve so I used
data retrieval software to get the data on the storage only partition. Once
done, I formatted the partition and all was well.
 
Rob said:
Hey all,

I thought I would repost this as my original thread seems to be dying,
and this would be a chance to give the current status. Please read
the post before replying. Thanks.

I have a friends computer that, when you turned it on, was
automatically rebooting before ever seeing the windows logo. I
attempted to put the hard drive in another computer, and got the same
error, so the problem is the hard drive somehow.

I put a new hd into her computer, and it booted no problem (proving
yet again that the problem is the hd). I then tried to plug her hd in
as a slave to my master, but the same thing happened again: automatic
reboot before ever seeing the windows logo. Tried with her hd as
master pressing F8...got the special screen with all the options, but
no matter which option I picked (including "Disable automatic reboot
on system failure"), it still automatically rebooted as soon as I
pressed enter.

I had a USB HD-enclosure sitting around, and so I stuck her hard drive
in it. Happily and unhappily, windows detects the USB hard drive, but
the partition on it is detected as active, yet unformatted.

I want to get her data off, if possible. The hard drive is:

Maxtor (3.5", 20.0 GB)
Model: D540X-4K

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Rob
Click to expand...



Rob

You have two realistic choices:

1. Download or buy some hard disk file recovery program(s) and let them
loose on the drive in question when it's mounted in the USB caddy. Google
can give you some good leads.

2. Send the drive to a recovery specialist and pay for the data to be
recovered.

Runing a file recovery program may well be successfull, but in doing so you
run the risk of damaging remaining data beyond recovery. Sending to a
recovery specialist is the safest but also the most expensive

Which you choose depends on the value of the data, something only you and
your friend can decide on.

(Respectfully) I must comment on your reply to chuckcar "It gets
frustrating to hear the same advice over and over."
Maybe it's because there is only a few options open to you.
Mind you that's not to say all the advise is relevant, it amazes me how
often the suggested solutions have absolutely nothing to do with the
problem. All the incorrect ramblings do is display the posters lack of
knowledge or inability to read the post in the first place.
Sigh!

Paul.
 
Rob said:
Hey all,
I thought I would repost this as my original thread seems to be dying,
and this would be a chance to give the current status. Please read
the post before replying. Thanks.
I have a friends computer that, when you turned it on, was
automatically rebooting before ever seeing the windows logo. I
attempted to put the hard drive in another computer, and got the same
error, so the problem is the hard drive somehow.
I put a new hd into her computer, and it booted no problem (proving
yet again that the problem is the hd). I then tried to plug her hd in
as a slave to my master, but the same thing happened again: automatic
reboot before ever seeing the windows logo. Tried with her hd as
master pressing F8...got the special screen with all the options, but
no matter which option I picked (including "Disable automatic reboot
on system failure"), it still automatically rebooted as soon as I
pressed enter.
I had a USB HD-enclosure sitting around, and so I stuck her hard drive
in it. Happily and unhappily, windows detects the USB hard drive, but
the partition on it is detected as active, yet unformatted.
I want to get her data off, if possible. The hard drive is:
Maxtor (3.5", 20.0 GB)
Model: D540X-4K
Click to expand...

Maxtor and Seagate have diagnostic software available for download.

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/

Ben
 
Hey all,

I thought I would repost this as my original thread seems to be dying,
and this would be a chance to give the current status. Please read
the post before replying. Thanks.

I have a friends computer that, when you turned it on, was
automatically rebooting before ever seeing the windows logo. I
attempted to put the hard drive in another computer, and got the same
error, so the problem is the hard drive somehow.

I put a new hd into her computer, and it booted no problem (proving
yet again that the problem is the hd). I then tried to plug her hd in
as a slave to my master, but the same thing happened again: automatic
reboot before ever seeing the windows logo. Tried with her hd as
master pressing F8...got the special screen with all the options, but
no matter which option I picked (including "Disable automatic reboot
on system failure"), it still automatically rebooted as soon as I
pressed enter.

I had a USB HD-enclosure sitting around, and so I stuck her hard drive
in it. Happily and unhappily, windows detects the USB hard drive, but
the partition on it is detected as active, yet unformatted.

I want to get her data off, if possible. The hard drive is:

Maxtor (3.5", 20.0 GB)
Model: D540X-4K

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Rob
Click to expand...

Good news. With the HD in the USB enclosure, GetDataBack 2.0 was able
to find most of the data, and allow me to copy it off the hard drive!

Thank God for Hard Drive Enclosures!! LOL

Rob
 
Rob said:
Good news. With the HD in the USB enclosure, GetDataBack 2.0 was
able to find most of the data, and allow me to copy it off the hard
drive!

Thank God for Hard Drive Enclosures!! LOL

Rob
Click to expand...

You're lucky the last time I had a hard drive that was acting up the
way you described even putting it into a Hard Drive enclosure (& then
plugging it into a PC) caused the PC to lockup, thankfully everything
is backed up where needed...
 
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