Corrupted partition table

[X]

Hi, my hard disk crashed in the middle of Windows one day. I have multiple
partitions so i tried to format and reinstall Windows to C: so that i could
retrieve my data on the other partitions, but the hard disk will not even
boot up from the Windows XP CD because the partition table is corrupt. What
can i do?

Also, I have considered using a 3rd party program to overwrite the current
partition table with a new one (i know the approx sizes of the old
partitions), will this work or will the data still be innaccessible?

If there is a better newsgroup for me to be asking, please let me know

 

[Plenn]

BTW i had since formatted C: but couldn't even see the hard disk as a
secondary drive with a separate hard disk as primary running Windows. I have
also tried using Phoenix FAT & NTFS to repair the partition table - ran for
a few hours but came up with no results

 

[dj_lord_2000]

Hi, I think the safest way would be to slave this disk and copy it off
from there.Do this either in another pc or by installing windows on a
second drive in your pc. When stuff like this goes wrong it really goes
wrong and the more you play with it the greater the chance you'll lose
it all. (I'm spreaking from experiance here, recently lost about 100GB
of data when I had a similar thing happen and kept playing with it)

Hope this helps,
Dave

 

[Rod Speed]

Hi, my hard disk crashed in the middle of Windows one day. I have multiple partitions so
i tried to format and reinstall Windows to C: so that i could retrieve my data on the
other partitions, but the hard disk will not even boot up from the Windows XP CD because
the partition table is corrupt. What can i do?

The first thing to do is decide why it crashed in the first place.

If the hard drive is dying, what you can do is different to when
the problem was just software thats corrupted the partition table.

Also, I have considered using a 3rd party program to overwrite the current partition
table with a new one (i know the approx sizes of the old partitions), will this work

You need to know more than just the approx sizes, you
need to know them much more accurately than that.

or will the data still be innaccessible?

Depends on whether the hard drive has died or not.

See what
http://www.diydatarecovery.nl/DiskPatch.htm
says about the drive.

Its a lot safer to do it with the drive as a slave in a working system.

If there is a better newsgroup for me to be asking, please let me know

Nar, csiphs is fine.

 

[Plenn]

Hi, I have tried putting it in as a secondary drive but it doesn't even show
up in Windows Explorer as the partition table is corrupt

 

[Plenn]

The first thing to do is decide why it crashed in the first place.

If the hard drive is dying, what you can do is different to when
the problem was just software thats corrupted the partition table.

The hard drive is 1-2 years old. I think the problem was a faulty A:\ cable
connection, as every week or so at random times it made weird noises and the
A:\ light flashed on, hanging Windows and eventually corrupting Windows. It
also did this with my previous hard drive. I have since disconnected A:\ and
it hasn't been a problem with my 3rd hard disk.

See what
http://www.diydatarecovery.nl/DiskPatch.htm
says about the drive.

Its a lot safer to do it with the drive as a slave in a working system.

I will give it a try and let you know how it goes, thanks!

 

[Rod Speed]

The hard drive is 1-2 years old. I think the problem was a faulty A:\ cable connection,

Thats very unlikely indeed.

as every week or so at random times it made weird
noises and the A:\ light flashed on, hanging Windows and eventually corrupting Windows.

You cant get that with an A:\ cable connection.

You can get it with the motherboard,
hard drive or power supply going bad.

It also did this with my previous hard drive.

Then its likely the motherboard or power supply going bad.

 

[wemaole]

i think partition table doctor can help you.

Please see: http://www.ptdd.com/rpt.htm

 

[Zvi Netiv]

Hi, my hard disk crashed in the middle of Windows one day. I have multiple
partitions so i tried to format and reinstall Windows to C: so that i could
retrieve my data on the other partitions, but the hard disk will not even
boot up from the Windows XP CD because the partition table is corrupt. What
can i do?

I suppose you didn't bother checking the capacity of the C: partition before
formatting because if it was the only partition that showed then it contained
the entire disk capacity. "Fortunately", formatting C: doesn't overwrite the
entire disk, only a limited area, mostly at the beginning of the disk /
partition. This would allow to recover the higher partitions by appropriate
methods and tools. The content of the C: partition may not be recoverable,
depending on how much damage you did already by hyperactivity.

Also, I have considered using a 3rd party program to overwrite the current
partition table with a new one (i know the approx sizes of the old
partitions), will this work or will the data still be innaccessible?

Guessing will not work, it will only cause more damage. Besides, why guessing
when there are tools to find out the exact partition configuration?

Someone offered Joep's DiskPatch. Another option is my ResQdisk /ASSESS. Take
your pick.

If there is a better newsgroup for me to be asking, please let me know

This is the correct group.

Regards, Zvi

 

[Plenn]

Unfortunately i tried all of the tools in this thread and none worked. Most
wouldn't even let me select the drive for repair, it simply didn't show up
in the select drive lists.

 

[Horst Franke]

In Plenn typed:

BTW i had since formatted C: but couldn't even see the hard disk as a
secondary drive with a separate hard disk as primary running Windows.

Hi Plenn or X,
Drive C: cannot ever be seen as secondary drive when You want to use it
as System partition ie. bootable drive!
Respectively the "bootable flag" is the triggering event as bootable device.

I have also tried using Phoenix FAT & NTFS to repair the partition
table - ran for a few hours but came up with no results

Win XP gives a repair function by "fixmbr" via System recovery console.
But if You ever planned to reinstall XP then there should be no need for
this.
The Reinstall will reestablish the Boot partition and recognize other
partitions.

Your HD will NEVER boot from a CD, because this is a BIOS function!
Only Your OS might be able to do this.
And if You plan a new setup, then there's no need for any previous setup.

This is a REPAIR action but has nothing to do with "new" setup/format.
So if You looked for a XP Reinstall then forget all of these.
Reinstall will set up a new environment.
Horst

 

[Horst Franke]

In Plenn typed:

The hard drive is 1-2 years old. I think the problem was a faulty A:\
cable connection, as every week or so at random times it made weird
noises and the A:\ light flashed on, hanging Windows and eventually
corrupting Windows. It also did this with my previous hard drive. I
have since disconnected A:\ and it hasn't been a problem with my 3rd
hard disk.

Hi Plenn, an A: drive cable has nothing to do with the HD!
A: stands for a Floppy drive/connection!
Horst

 

[Horst Franke]

In Plenn typed:

Unfortunately i tried all of the tools in this thread and none
worked. Most wouldn't even let me select the drive for repair, it
simply didn't show up in the select drive lists.

Hi Plenn, what was You looking for?
On a Re-Install there's no need for any other tools.
For a repair most of the tools looked useable.
So it looks like You should provide more details on Your specific problem.
Horst

 

[Rod Speed]

Plenn wrote.

Hi Plenn or X,
Drive C: cannot ever be seen as secondary drive when You want to use it as System
partition ie. bootable drive!
Wrong.

Respectively the "bootable flag" is the triggering event as bootable device.

Repeat in pure engish.

And you're just plain wrong there too with modern
bios that can boot secondary drives fine.

Win XP gives a repair function by "fixmbr" via System recovery console. But if You ever
planned to reinstall XP then there should be no need for this.
The Reinstall will reestablish the Boot partition and recognize other partitions.

Wrong again if the reinstall cant see the original install.

Your HD will NEVER boot from a CD, because this is a BIOS function!

Wrong again, there are in fact a few systems that can do that fine.

Only Your OS might be able to do this.

Wrong again.

And if You plan a new setup, then there's no need for any previous setup.

This is a REPAIR action but has nothing to do with "new" setup/format.
So if You looked for a XP Reinstall then forget all of these.
Reinstall will set up a new environment.

Not necessarily.

And your bizarre approach to quoting has left an obscene mess too.

 

[Rod Speed]

In Plenn typed:

Hi Plenn, an A: drive cable has nothing to do with the HD!
A: stands for a Floppy drive/connection!

He appears to be saying that it was indeed the
floppy drive/connection that was behaving like that.

 

[Rod Speed]

Unfortunately i tried all of the tools in this thread and none
worked. Most wouldn't even let me select the drive for repair, it simply didn't show up
in the select drive lists.

OK, then something has died.

 

[Rod Speed]

In Plenn typed:

Hi Plenn, what was You looking for?
On a Re-Install there's no need for any other tools.

Not even possible if the drive doesnt appear anymore.

For a repair most of the tools looked useable.
So it looks like You should provide more details on Your specific problem.

He doesnt appear understand the system well enough to be able to do that.

 

[Horst Franke]

In news:[email protected] Rod Speed typed:

Wrong.

Hi Rod, why? An OS needs an "bootable drive"!
Please explain Your objections.

Repeat in pure engish.

This is HW matter! Boot-Flag is common knowledge!

And you're just plain wrong there too with modern
bios that can boot secondary drives fine.

No doubt, but only ONE drive can be selected!
What should the Bios select on multiple choices?
Only ONE can be valid! This is a NOGO!

Wrong again if the reinstall cant see the original install.

Rubbish. A NEW-Install reflects *no previous selections*!

Wrong again, there are in fact a few systems that can do that fine.

NO never. This is only an OS/BIOS function! A HD never decides this!
Only via BIOS You can select the bootable device!

Wrong again.

And WHERE is Your opposition/statement?

Not necessarily.

And again! What ist Your opposition/statement?
How should we discuss, if You don't state any personal ideas?

And your bizarre approach to quoting has left an obscene mess too.

This is slang that I don't understand - sorry.
Please repeat in pure English.
Horst

 

[Horst Franke]

In news:[email protected] Rod Speed typed:

He appears to be saying that it was indeed the
floppy drive/connection that was behaving like that.

OK Rod, but this has somewhat nothing to do with a HD problem!
Also there is a Bios option to disable a Floppy recognition.
Horst

 

[Horst Franke]

In news:[email protected] Rod Speed typed:

Not even possible if the drive doesnt appear anymore.

Hi Rod, then the PC is "dead"!
You will never be able to set up a system, when the HD will not
be recognized by the BIOS!

He doesnt appear understand the system well enough to be able
to do that.

Ok, then we will provide him with detailed infos what to do.
Horst