Files Recovery-Need Help Now!!!

[mata2974]

I was trying to install win XP and both my hard drives were connected. All my backup data is saved on a Seagate HD, Primary master channel and I wanted to install XP onto my Raid SATA drives. I deleted the partition on the RAID HD and somehow windows wrote something, or did something to the boot sector of the Seagate HD. ( IT contained a corrupt win XP installion I did a long time ago, but since I dont boot with it I just only used it to save my data). I should have disconnected the seagate drive, but I was just stupid, my mistake, but anyway now when I load XP on the SATA raid setup this IDE drive is not seen or recognized. I didnt format it at all, I can still see the original name of the partion in Device Manager, its just that the partition is not seen or recognized in my computer. I have all my files on this partition. How do I recover my files, what suggestions do you have, is there a particular software I can buy, that can recover this situation:cry:

[K1ll1nT1m3]

My first idea... can you see it if you just hook it up and boot from an XP cd. Go to the first repair option. It should take you to the command line.

Edit: if you can see it in disk managment, it might work. Unless it says its unformated ( or some thing ). If you can see it, you could copy the files to another parititon. If it had an OS before ( in that partition ), you could go to the secound repair option and reinstall the system files. All of this is assuming that it still has a valid format though.

Edit2: Since it did have an OS before. I think the secound repair option would work. It will try to fix an XP gone bad by replacing the main files and leaving the other data untouched. The first repair option might be safer though since you are in contol of things. If you do the command line, I would try "fixboot" and "fixmbr". I have had those save OSs a few times.

[mata2974]

I can see it in Disk Management, labelled as Fat32,healthy and active, I will try to repair the partition in the repair option. I hope I dont mess up.

[K1ll1nT1m3]

I would try the command line repair first. It shouldnt mess anything up. Just open that partition and run "FIXMBR" and "FIXBOOT". These have worked for me.

[K1ll1nT1m3]

I forgot... to do the first repair, you might have to have that the only HDD on the system. Probably safer that way. Good luck

Edit: if its fat32, you can probably copy the files with a boot disk ( 98 floppy ). even safer

[mata2974]

How do I get to it, pressing F8, or going directly to install XP. I am not familiar with these commands... so I just type those commands and it will repair??

[K1ll1nT1m3]

Just boot the cd like you were doing an install. After it loads the files, it will ask if you want to repair an XP install ( it does this twice ). The first one is a command line interface. "HELP" should bring up a list of commands. The secound repair option is an automated recovery. It will replace some system files ( im not sure which ones ), but you dont have to interact with it much. If it works, it will be like resetting XP.

If you cant get to the files by way of a 98 bootdisk, the first XP repair option is my next choice. Run those commands, on the partiton that failed, and reboot. ( I would have it the only HDD hooked up, just to make sure. ) If that doesnt do it, you may want to get some other opinions, because the second repair option will replace a bunch of files and look like a fresh XP install has started. ( but the user data files should be left untouched )

It all depends on how important the data is and the risk you want to take. I personally, dont know of any other way to save XPs.

[K1ll1nT1m3]

Another idea... if you have free space on that HDD, you could try installing a fresh xp in a new partition ( leaving that one alone )and see if you can get to the data from the new OS.

[K1ll1nT1m3]

Have you done a check disk on that partition? Can you right click and explore that partiton from device mangler?!!!

[mata2974]

So far I tried FIXBOOT and FIXMBR with Seagate HD only connected. Then I rebooted with SATA as ist boot option and still its not seen in My Computer. I have
free space on it 50GB, I made a new partition on this 50GB using Seagate tools disk, then this was the only one visible through SATA HD, I am not sure if I install XP on it whether It will see those files.

[K1ll1nT1m3]

Those commands will try and save the XP on that HDD. I would try booting from the IDE drive.

But now you cant see that partiton at all?

[mata2974]

The problem is that I used to have an abit NF7-s and Gforce 4 when I installed that XP (now I have a Epox 8rda3+ and radeon 9800 pro) and when I try to boot from it it will crash at the first instance of windows logo, which I think some driver is needed. I will try to get back the GF4 card as I think my only hope is to boot this win XP. I was thinking that some 3rd party software might help me. This was just stupid on my part. :bang head :bang head

[mata2974]

I really appreciate your help man

[K1ll1nT1m3]

Try booting it in safe mode, ( F8 option ). Its possible it will be able to reinstall the correct drivers. If not, it will at least try and boot in VGA mode ( basic video card drivers ). If that doesnt work, try the command line option ( f8 ), you might be able to copy it to another partition that way. I think you might be able to use "XCOPY", im not sure.

If you can see that partition from the first repair option on the cd ( better yet would be a 98 bootdisk ), its still very possible to save the data. I need to get some sleep though. I wouldnt format it yet though ( if you can still see it ). Good luck

Edit: if you can still see it, I think the 2nd repair option would work for sure. It Should be able to make that XP bootable again. But I would use that as my last chance.

[shiyan]

just wondering, is it possible to assign a drive letter to your FAT32 partition within disk management when you boot using the SATA RAID installation?

otherwise just make a new installation of windows onto that FAT32 partition.

It does not sound like there should be much wrong with your FAT32 partition, as it is seen as healthy and active under disk management.

But I think during the installation of XP, it did see your FAT32 as C:, and so wrote its boot files onto it.

but above all, stay calm (it might be hard I know). it's quite easy to mess things up further if you are not calm.

[mata2974]

I have tried all options, to no avail. Now which software recovers files and does not cost $$$. All the freeware staff can still see my files but they always restore mambojambo dump files and will not even restore folders

[shiyan]

I'll try to find some data recovery program for you.

You've tried reinstalling Windows to that partition then?

[Kendan]

Try to boot with Knoppix and see if you can see the data. It has saved my butt before. Knoppix is a bootable linux distro on a CD.

[K1ll1nT1m3]

I dont know anything about data recovery software, so Ill step out. ( what I have tried didnt work in my case )

I would think the fresh install to that partition ( with the " leave file system intack" ) would be a good thing to try as well. Booting from Linux is also a good idea. Anything you can try that will let you access that partition and copy the data is a good idea.

[shiyan]

Originally posted by K1ll1nT1m3
I would think the fresh install to that partition ( with the " leave file system intack" ) would be a good thing to try as well.

yeah, that's what I thought too.

I didn't think of the Linux option though, installing Windows just seemed more familiar to me, and I am not that familiar with how to mount FAT partitions within Linux.

It was certainly a strange problem.

I suggested mata2974 to try Get Data Back from Runtime, and it seems that it works for him.

Hope he gives us an update when he's online again.

[K1ll1nT1m3]

Id like to hear too.

[mata2974]

Update:
Well like I said, for some reason XP wrote something (messed up the old Win XP on that Seagate HD), I was trying to erase the partition on the SATA drive. Now when I go to try and install to that partiition (the one that got messed up) XP during install wont even recognize it, it says there is no partition with a previous install of XP (so I have no way of leaving it intact and reinstall). With the second OS command repair option it sees a folder with windows. Disk management also sees it as a Fat 32 active partition.
Partion magic ( I have version 6.0, which does not support XP, but what the hack I just tried it) sees it as a type 44 partition with nothing I can do with it, I mean, the only option is format or delete. So far Shiyan referred me to "GetDataBack" recovery software, it works great except that it takes a long, long time to recover the files and I still have to sort them out. This has been my saviour so far.

[K1ll1nT1m3]

Yeh, glad to hear it.

[Kendan]

Originally posted by shiyan


I didn't think of the Linux option though, installing Windows just seemed more familiar to me, and I am not that familiar with how to mount FAT partitions within Linux.



With knoppix it boots right to a desktop environment with icons for the harddrives on the system. You just have to click it to mount the drive . :D try knoppix it is worth it just so you have it in the future for things like this.

[shiyan]

sounds great! will download ISO real soon!