Recovering data from a slave drive

Wasn't sure whether to put this in Hardware or Software, but anyway...

I had the dreaded Reboot loop. Windows does not load. That is, the Windows XP splash screen appears with the scrolling bars on the bottom. After some seconds of that, as the bars continue to scroll, it starts a reboot. Rinse. Repeat. I haven't had any recent installs of hardware or software.

Holding F8 can get me to a choice screen and to the choice of safe mode. But, still, after selecting safe mode or any other option, ultimately a reboot starts. Same for the "Last Good Configuration" choice. When I select Safe Mode, a DOS like scroll begins but it stops with:

Multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\windows\system32\mup.sys

Whatever that means… And then the reboot again starts.

I'm tried various solutions after googling the problem and cruising various computer help boards. Ideally, I'd am hoping to fix this and not lose tons of documents and data on my hard drive. [Note to self: You IDIOT! You know you should back things up once in a while. :-o )

BTW, don't bother suggesting going to Control Panel to alter any settings. If I could get to the @^$(@* control panel, it means Windows booted up that far and I wouldn't be begging for help.

I was told that the possible suspects are, of course, hardware (so far I've found suggestions of bad fan on the processor, bad memory chip) and software (corrupted [fill in the blank] ).

The fans are operating fine. I changed the memory, upgrading to 1G of RAM. That didn't help the re-boot problem.

I'm running Windows XP (Home ed.). I don't have any installation or recovery CD but have the option of "system restore", which does seem to work. That it, I started it, saw it interrupted the looping and then quickly aborted it so as not to wipe any data, etc.

BTW, I also did manage to download boot software on another 'puter to at least get me as far as the recovery console. I get choices from there of going into DOS to C:\Windows, or directories in D: This is where my limited computer literacy kicks me in the shins. I know enough of DOS commands only to be a danger to myself and others. I tried DOS chkdsk command but it was "unavailable" (Huuuuh...???) With some trepidation I tried the DOS commands fixboot and fixbootcfg. But they give me option screens that are greek to my limited skills. I tried copying files from the C:/ prompt but, oddly, it won't tolerate me using wildcards so that would be a daunting task... Before I inadvertantly wipe data or reset things via system restore I wish to exaust all options for data recovery.

The status now:

Someone else was able to step me thru removing my hard drive and slaving it to another computer as a slave drive. It showed up as "F:/" The idea was, from this configuration, I could copy files to the other machine's hard drive, reinstall my hard drive, run system restore and then copy my data from one computer back to my computer via a memory stick. And that's where the real problem now sits.

I started copying. A family photo. A letter to a relative. Yea! This is working! Let's get to the important stuff (tons of letters and documents stored in various folders and subfolders). Uh Oh! I can't access these folders! Whaaaa?! These folders were never passworded or otherwise set with any security. COmputer is a standalone and not networked. I checked the folder's properties and they're set as "Read only", even though I never set them that way. Tried to remove the "read only protection of these folders. Nope, it just won't "take" and remains "Read only". Tried on all the folders, hell, even the whole "F:/". Nope, it won't "take". Grrrrr... So why can't I copy files (after those few innocuous ones) from a slave drive?!

 

You need to take ownership of the files or folders. If you are on an XP Home Edition note that you need to be in safe mode to get the Security tab.

 

It worked! Thank you soooo much!

 

I'm glad you got your data.

I'm curious which software you downloaded for recovery console that didn't have the chkdsk command. Do you have a link to the program you downloaded.

 

I downloaded from http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310994 Had to download bootable software for floppy disks, as my CD drive also wasn't working. Six floppies. Ugh. It was like working with stone knives and hand axes. Don't know why, exactly, chkdsk didn't work. Especially since it came straight from Microsoft. But happily, thanks to you and others, I'm past that problem. Now that my data has been saved, I'm off to try system restore. Thanks again! :cool

 

I'm Baaaaack.*sigh*

After putting restoring my desktop to functional status on the back burner for a while, and working off my son's new lap top, I'm diving back into the project. Here's where things stand now...

Things did work out, to a point. From the slave drive, I copied/rescued my picture and data files to another computer after slaving my hard drive to it and "taking ownership" of the file folders. So far, so good. I returned the hard drive to the problem computer and booted up. I used system restore to kill the eeeeevil XP re-boot loop that started all my woes. Apparently things worked. No more re-boot. Of course, some apps were lost, as, I suppose, the computer was restoring itself to a point. No big deal. I can re-install, etc. as needed.

I copied the "salvaged" data and picture files from the "other" computer to a flash drive and restored them to my original computer. This also worked.

Now I tried to call up a document and... GAAAAH! Can't access the @#^@%%# folder. Wait... I guess I have to "take ownership" of them again. OK, That seems to work. I can get in the folder and see the individual documents. <click> Grrrrr! I have to "take ownership" of each individually?! Even though I clicked on taking ownership of all subfolders and objects?! Now, now... Patience... Patience...

I take ownership of an individual document. Still no good. *sigh* I suppose I have to take control of the $&*^#$ word processing program now???! I slug along down this trail... Nope, I still can't access this, or any, document. And, for some reason, I cannot access the internet from the computer. I also tried "taking ownership" of the whole (now restored) C: drive and its sub folders/objects. No help.

As a desperate attempt, I try accessing the document while in safe mode. Well, that works. How odd... OK, The documents are "there" and I can even call them up. But, working in safe mode? How barbaric! And still, no internet access.

Surely, there's a simple solution here that is tantalizingly just beyond my skills. How do I get my baby to "walk" again?

 

So, it sounds like you have got your data all saved, yes?

And you are given an option for a system restore? Have you done that? It will reset your 'puter to the day it left the factory, all your data will be gone, but you have that saved anyway.

If this doesn't fix it, then you probably do have a hardware issue. :wave:wave

 

"So, it sounds like you have got your data all saved, yes?"

Yes, it's all been saved (on an old sloooow computer, on a flash drive and now, back into my problem computer).

"And you are given an option for a system restore? Have you done that?"


Yes, that's all been done. I don't recall seeing any options, though.

"It will reset your 'puter to the day it left the factory, all your data will be gone, but you have that saved anyway."


That's what I was hoping for... It did reset it to some earlier point. Almost back to "factory fresh", I'd guess. Oddly, the documents/data that concerned me, some rather recent, remained although still inaccessable. I don't recall ever having set a reset point for this 'puter. So, that's sorta strange...

"If this doesn't fix it, then you probably do have a hardware issue."


Arrgh. Umm... Any ideas what it might be? The fan is working and I replaced, and upgraded, the memory. I'm hoping it might be some software fix as things seem to work in safe mode.

 

So... No other ideas? Anyone...? Bueller...?

 

I'm not clear about your document problem. Are these Word files? Work files? And if you open the Word or Works program it won't open them?

Regarding the internet, what kind of connection? If wireless, can you start with a hard wired connection?

Open a command prompt and type;
ping www.yahoo.com

Do you get returns?

And are the other issues you listed in your first post, (control panel) resloved?
Do you have SP3 installed on your XP? What antivirus?:wave:wave

Kind of need to address these problems one at a time.

 

They are Word documents. And AHA!!!! Or rather... aha.

What I had been doing was opening up Windows Explorer to reach the documents. I was so happy to finally reach them... see them that I just clicked on them to try to open them and had no access. Your post brought clarity on this point. Open Word and open the document that way to see what happens.

Yuck. Cannot open Word. Or most any other programs either. There's the real rub, it looks like. Can't open Word or the programs via clicking on desktop icons or via Windows Explorer. In fact, while we're on the subject, the icons for most programs are gone and replaced by a "generic" program icon. If I see that "generic icon", that program cannot be accessed. In Windows Explorer, I can see "Program Files" but can't access that in order to try to access individual programs via that route. All of this inaccessability despite all efforts to "take ownership". *sigh*

Worse yet, I considered just deleting and re-installing the programs (like Word) that I need. But, I suspect that, as I cannot access the "Program Files" folder, I probably won't be able to even to delete. Likewise "Uninstall" via Control Panel probably won't work for that reason.

It's a DSL line, not wireless.

I'll try to address the balance of these questions when I return home today. The AV is Norton's, now expired, I believe. Yeah... I know... Norton's... If I can get it running again, It's Avast for me.

And sorry for the ignorance, but, SP3? Whassat?

BTW, Thanks a ton for the help. You and others who toil away here are a Godsend.

 

Oh... SP3 = Service Pack 3. Google is our friend. I believe so, but will have to double check later.

 

That's my guess, too. I'll try restore again to see if any better result occurs. But, it is very weird. For example, I have a program called "Calendar Creator Plus" that survived the "restore" and works fine. Yet, Spybot, for example, did not. Or maybe it is still present on the C: drive but is simply in the inaccessable Programs folder. Again, I never set a restore point. So why it acted that way is mysterious.

 

That's my guess, too. I'll try restore again to see if any better result occurs. But, it is very weird. For example, I have a program called "Calendar Creator Plus" that survived the "restore" and works fine. Yet, Spybot, for example, did not. Or maybe it is still present on the C: drive but is simply in the inaccessable Programs folder. Again, I never set a restore point. So why it acted that way is mysterious.

Seems there may be some confusion as to the term "restore". A "system restore" is an action you perform with utilities, puts all of your system files back to the selected restore date. Restore points for this can be set manually and will be automatically set with/before each MS update.

Unfortunately, the same term, "restore" is used when talking about your recovery disk or partition is used to "restore" your computer to the day it left the factory. The first restore does not affect your data files, the second will erase the data files.

It doesn't seem that we are always talking about the same "restore".

So, where are you now with your issues? Internet okay? :wave:wave:wave

 

Exactly what I was thinking. His comments seem to clearly indicate he has not used the recovery partition to restore the system back to day one, meaning back to the way it was when new.

 

D'oh!!! It's a Hewlett Packard Desktop. The HP system recovery function that I used very politely defaults to a partial restore so your data files aren't erased. It plainly tells you this and allows for a full "factory fresh restore" if you select it. In my haste to get the job done, as was plain to all of you, I merely partially restored. *facepalm*

I've now performed the full restore and (TADA!) it's working again as if just out of the carton. Now to restore some apps I lost and re-load my saved data. Internet works fine too. (well... via Firefox, IE is acting all wonky but that's OK).

THANK YOU ALL! As I become more well versed in things techy, I'll be returning the favor to other newbies who visit here. This board ROCKS!

 

And thanks for letting us know of the successful result. So many times these threads just end without anyone knowing if their advice was of any help. :wave:wave:wave