Data recovery

Chkdsk isn't perfect folks, depends on the error(s) and how they are interpreted by chkdsk.

It's very late here, Andrea, can you give me a rundown on what's been done please?

 

Hi Satrow, nothing much has been done really. Just tried running Chkdsk a couple times... So Earthling, since the task manager could take days, you're saying it's possible that it could be reading, ''Correcting errors in the Boot File' for hours, possibly days?? If yes then I'll run the last chkdsk you told me to do and I'll leave the computer on overnight... Also, my friend is sending me a better Windows XP installation disk than the one I currently have, so do you think it's possible that by reinstalling Windows with that, that it might fix the drive problem? I won't be getting that for another 3-5 days.... And wow, I didn't know it actually shows when someone edits.. Please don't tell me that it actually tells you how many times a person has edited. lol

 

Umm, no - that part should take less than a minute - more means big problems I think.

 

But Earthling said that the chkdsk itself might take a few days.... Oh god, I'm so confused. I just want the access to my files back!! I actually had a dream last night that I got into them. Then I woke up and I knew it was a dream.

 

@satrow As briefly as I can here's the history. The system originally had XP on a smallish disk. Someone added a larger disk and installed XP on that, and that's the one the OP has all her files on. It ran OK until recently when she got a hal.dll boot error, and prompted by the system she reinstalled XP. When she did that it installed on the small disk, presumably (and fortunately) because the large disk was inaccessible. All attempts to access the large disk failed, saying it needed formatting, though it does show in My Computer as D.

I asked her to run chkdsk /r and andrea said she could see the errors being corrected, but it hung on the Boot file and eventually I asked her to terminate it, but then I spotted this in the M$ XP documentation -

"If you use chkdsk /f on a very large disk (for example, 70 gigabytes) or a disk with a very large number of files (for example, millions of files), chkdsk might take a long time (for example, over several days) to complete. The computer is not available during this time because chkdsk does not relinquish control until it is finished."

That made me think we might need to give it more time, so I advised running it again but with both /f and /r switches, and to leave it running overnight if necessary. I don't know whether that was done or not, but that's where we are atm and it certainly doesn't look good.

Any thoughts other than take it to a repairer?

EDIT - I have also been a bit concerned at possible interaction between the two XP systems should chkdsk succeed, but so far that hasn't been a problem obviously.

 

Earthling, no it hasn't been done, because Satrow said that 'Correcting errors in the Boot File' should only take a minute... But now that you're replying to him saying the same thing, I'll do it now and I'll leave the computer on all day.. Please let me know if I need to do anything else. Thanks guys.

 

Thanks for clarifying that andrea. Certainly I'm not aware of anything else that can usefully be done in a home environment. The filing system is seriously busted and unless it is repaired then other recovery utilities won't be able to access it either.

The good news, if there is any, is that in all likelihood your files are largely intact, but the normal means of making them accessible has failed. There are specialist companies that retrieve data in situations like this, but it can be seriously expensive.

Let's hope satrow or someone else can weave some magic here.

 

Yeah forget that. I'll never take it to a specialist. lol.. I'm running the chkdsk now and I'll just keep it up all day and I'll keep you updated. Thanks a lot for all your help.

 

Just remember I hit the sack about 6PM EST :-D

 

Oh that's fine. Still whenever I type again you'll just see it the next time you log on.

 

Oh Earthling, I forgot. You didn't answer my question... Might it take a long time for the chkdsk to just read 'Correcting errors in Boot File'?... Also, I notice that the short flashing line under 'Correcting errors in Boot File' freezes on and off when when I browse the internet... Could that cause it to mess up the whole process? Or should it just pick up right where it left when the flashing line starts again?.. Maybe I shouldn't be on the internet at all while it runs?

 

This isn't a common situation andrea, so impossible to say what it's really doing when that message is on screen, or how long it 'normally' would take. I don't think you going on the internet is going to affect what chkdsk is doing though.

EDIT - I'm now wondering whether we shouldn't try running chkdsk outside of Windows. I don't use XP myself so need a little time to check out just how we do that.

 

I'd install the demo of Recover My Files and run the recover drive option on it to see what it finds on the D drive.

Do you have enough free space on the C drive to save your files?

EDIT:

That can be done from the XP install CD Recovery Console.

 

What! This isn't a common situation?? I thought this has happened plenty of times to people! lol

 

Satrow, I don't think so. I only have about 8 GBs of space left on my c drive.. There's only 18 to begin with. That's why I had another drive put on.. And on that drive I have about 20GBs worth of files... I just wish this chkdsk would work like it's supposed to.

 

It certainly has, but I don't recollect anyone telling how long it took to check the Boot file

When you feel you've given the current run long enough, try it from the XP Recovery Console. It uses switches differently, so just use /r

I'm a bit annoyed with myself for not asking you to do this earlier, but it's not too late and I can think of good reasons why when running it from Windows that it might hang when trying to check a system file.

 

So you mean just type, chkdsk d: /r into run?.. Oh and I just thought of something.. What if I were to try chkdsk d: /f /r or chkdsk d: /r in safe mode?

 

No. You have to boot the system from your XP CD and get into the recovery console, but I can't be specific about the exact sequence as I no longer have an XP CD.

Once in the Recovery Console you will be presented with something like ?\: and a blinking cursor, the ? being a drive letter. Type d: <enter>, and if the cursor changes to d: type dir <enter>. That should produce an error of some sort, but it will confirm that D can be seen.

If that's all OK, type c:\ <enter> and then chkdsk d: /r <enter>

Safe Mode wouldn't help.

 

btw you won't have internet access once you reboot so if you want to try this make some notes.

 

Wow, I don't know if all of this would've still happened if I just used the recovery console to begin with, instead of reinstalling Windows.. I actually did go to use that option at first, but about ten minutes into I freaked out and shut the computer down and just did the reintall option, because I was afraid that the recovery would've erased everything... But okay. I will write everything down that you just said, and I'll pop in the cd and follow your directions carefully. Thanks a bunch... By the way, when you say <enter>, do you mean type that, or actually press enter?

 

ah, only just seen that. It's the Enter key. A new post is better than editing the previous, as subscribers get notified, but not about edits.

 

Oh... I just bookmark the page and refresh it to see when you guys reply. lol

 

Okay, here's what happened when I tried running Recovery..... The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.

1: C:\system32

Which Windows installation would you like to log onto <to cancel press enter>?

So I typed 1 and hit enter, but then it said, 'Type the Administrator password'... Well I never created a password. So I just hit enter, it just kept reading, 'C:\system32' everytime I hit the enter key.... Apparently it will only accept a password even if one wasn't made.. So how would I go about creating a password for my computer?

 

I'll come back on that shortly

 

That's fine, you are where you should be. You can now start the instructions I gave above.

 

Huh??... I'm very confused. lol.. After you said, "I'll come back on that shortly", you said, "That's fine, you are where you should be. You can now start the instructions I gave above."..... Above?? lol Did you mean below? Because the older messages are shown below, not above.. And I can't start on the instructions. Like I said it's asking me for the administrator's password, but I never created one.. So that's why I asked you how I would go about creating a password for my computer.

 

Stop being pedantic. Above or below depends on how you have the thread display option set. Let's agree on previously

The prompt you are getting is c:\system32> and that is what we want. No password is required as you are now in what is called command mode and can start entering your commands. Print this out -

Type d: <enter>

If the prompt changes to d:> type dir <enter> This should give you an error message and return you to the d:> prompt. The error message is because it can't read the disk due to the disk corruption you have. If you get an error message when you first enter d: that's bad news and we won't be able to do the disk check this way.

Assuming that's all OK we are now ready to start the disk check, so

Type c: <enter> The prompt should change back to c:\system32>
Type chkdsk d: /r <enter>

Cross your fingers

 

Just thinking ahead andrea, whether this latest attempt is successful or not you must also be thinking about how to guard against this type of problem happening again, and the obvious answer is a high capacity external drive for backup copies.

If that idea appeals it would be sensible to get one ASAP, because you would then be in a position to try other recovery utilities, such as the one satrow suggested, but they all require you have somewhere to park the recovered files.

There is another thread running on this topic, with software suggestions -

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=183108

 

Earthling, it will NOT let me type 'd:', let alone anything but the Administrator's password... When you type something there, instead of seeing the letters you type, you'll see these...***.... It will ONLY accept a password!!... Which is why I asked twice, How would I go about setting up an Administrator's password!!... And if you meant for me to type 'd:' before that when it asked me to make a selection, I couldn't type that then, because it only had '1: C:\system32' as an option.... Do you understand now?

*Maybe I should just wait for the other Windows XP cd in the mail that my friend is sending me.. Though I don't know if it'll do the same thing or not.

 

Your question is meaningless, as you cannot set a password at the repair stage. If the system insists on you providing one before proceeding then it is doing so because whoever installed that XP system set a password at the time, and you had better ask them what it is.

I have put considerable effort into trying to help you here andrea, so spare me all those caps and exclamation marks please. All I need is clear factual information.

 

Well, perhaps you took it all the wrong way.. I use exclamation marks all the time, and as far as the caps, that was to make sure that paid extra attention to those words, as I tried explaining the same thing to you three times.... If you continue to think that I'm being nasty here in anyway, then you may as well stop trying to help me, because I don't like when people are smart with me... "Stop being pedantic", "So spare me all those caps and exclamation marks please".... I haven't been like that at all to you, so I expect you not to be that way with me.. Thanks. Again you may stop helping me if you'd like.

 

"Whoever installed that XP system set a password at the time, and you had better ask them what it is.".... I installed that XP system... And I didn't set up a password. It let me continue with the process with no password.. That is why I asked three times, how would I go about setting up a password (I won't use an exclamation point this time because you get all offensive about it). But nevermind. My computer help helped me with that so thanks anyway.

 

If it won't allow you to proceed to the repair console without a password then the comp clearly thinks there is one. Certainly you can't create one at this stage, so I just don't have an answer to that.

If you can't get past this obstacle I think you will have to get some external storage and try with some recovery software.

 

Andrea, please revisit post 63 and run the Recover My Files demo so we can see if it finds your data.

There's a chance that TestDisk will be able to recover it but I've no experience of this software.

 

This is the key post in all this. That c:\system32 prompt is the confirmation from the system that you have been admitted and are in control, and it is at that prompt that you can type your chkdsk d: /r command and press Enter.

Care to try it once more?

 

Earthling, believe me, I've already tried.. The cursor will only let me type one key, as it's expecting me to type '1' for the selection of C:\system32...

Satrow, I downloaded 'Recover My Files', and I was able to see lots of files after searching in 'Fast Format Recover' mode.. And after that was finished, it showed a long list of files... In the beginning of the list, it showed files that ended in, 'A0006086.dll', 'A0005834.inf', 'SGAMJPN.HLP', 'SiWinAcc.sys', 'CTDCRDUT.dll'.. then other files I didn't recognize, then some of my picture and video files... Is this is a list of files that have been deleted? Are all the files not listed still in my drive? I don't really understand... Anyway I went and checked the boxes next to a few of my picture files and clicked on 'Save Files', and then of course a box came up asking me for a user name and license key with the option to buy online... I think I'm just gonna wait until I get the Windows XP installation disk in the mail and then I'm gonna try Earthling's last suggestion on that one. Hopefully it won't be asking me for a password.

 

andrea, you need to read my last post again. Yes, you type 1 <enter>, and when asked for the password you hit Enter again, but at the next prompt c:\system32 you can enter your command.

Please believe me, it will work.

I hope to boot up in the morning and hear it's worked and you have access.

 

Oh. Yeah I actually had to go over what you said in the other post a couple times. Then after that I saw what you were saying.. I'll try it now. Thank you!! (Please don't take the exclamation points the wrong way)

 

Earthling... The process was working, but then it seems to stop working... It read, '75 percent completed' for at least two hours. And it wouldn't let me press any key on the keyboard, and I kept hitting the eject button to take the cd out but nothing happened... So I just shut the computer down and turned it back on. Luckily the computer was fine.... I'm just going to wait for the Windows XP installation cd I'm getting the mail by next week, and I'll run the same process again and hopefully it will complete with that cd.

 

Ah well, we tried :cry It will be the same with any XP CD I'm afraid andrea. I think now you either accept you've lost it, or take advice here on using recovery software. And get a backup drive of course.

Commiserations.

 

Earthling, I took advice here using recovery software. I just downloaded and ran ''Fast Format Recover' just yesterday, and I explained what happened in post 86, but nobody's replied about that yet.. And there's no point in me making matters worse in accepting that I've lost it. I would only be pretending. My files are still there. I've just gotta find a proper way, or get someone I know, to access them for me..... Well thank you everyone for all your help.

 

I've never had to use file recovery software, so I'll back out now. Good luck with it

 

Sorry Andrea, I missed reading your post 86.

That shows your files are still there and accessible by some means

I think it's time to study TestDisk from post 84 and see if we can work out how to use that to enable full access to your files.

Thanks for all your hard work Earthling :wine

 

Yeah but does that only mean that the files that 'Fast Format Recover' listed are the only ones that are still on my drive?? If so, then that's not good news at all. lol And TestDisk is actually the first thing I did when I had this problem, but once I got to a certain point I didn't know what to do anymore, even after reading the picture samples and directions, so I just quit and uninstalled the program... Now I would ask you if you could maybe help walk me through the process, but you said you don't have any experience with that. So I'm pretty much screwed. lol

 

LOL - not completely screwed, I'm happy to learn alongside you .

Recover My Files only searches for certain types of files, currently around 300, I think. It's a tool for recovering data not recovering disks or partitions.

 

Well, I downloaded TestDisk.. If you could learn alongside me, maybe you could help me get further with it than I've gone, since you know a lot about computers and I know barely anything. lol... If there's any way you can get on aim express let me know. It would be much easier and faster for us to talk about this testdisk thing.

 

I'd prefer to use TeamViewer, it'll be much more efficient and faster if I can actually see what's happening on your PC; just PM me your ID and pass once you've installed it, if that's ok with you. I have an hour or so free now.

 

I tried to PM you but I got this... Sorry, private messages are limited to regular members with over 50 posts. Please start a new thread in the appropriate forum.
If you are unsure where to place your thread, please start your thread in the Welcome Center and we will move it. Please visit the FAQ for more detailed help using the forums. We also have our own Majorgeeks FAQ that may help you.
tim@majorgeeks.com can be contacted for issues or concerns with Majorgeeks or the forums. Support emails will be deleted due to time limitations...

Whoever gets my info, could they actually do things to my PC? Or can they only look at it? If they actually have full access to it, and can do things like put viruses on my computer, then I have to find another way to send the info to you. What's your email address?

 

My username AT yahoo.co.uk

TeamViewer (like many other Apps, including some built into most recent versions of Windows) can be used for remote control - but only if permission to do so is explicitly granted - you have complete control over that, even if you decided to hand over control, you could still deny it and break off access at any time.

 

Alright I'll just give it to you here then. Just wanted to make sure someone couldn't use this and do something to my pc. lol
ID: 405 803 664
You still need my password? For you it's only asking me what your username is... By the way do I click on 'Remote support' or 'Presentation'?