bad drive

C: (boot drive) came up missing hal.dll . Researched, found try to re-copy into system32 and make sure boot.ini exists OK. Couldn't get to C: by booting off CD, so installed Windows Xp Pro on my 2nd drive. 2nd drive is now C: and the sick drive is F: but I can't get to it (says not formatted!). Looking for a way to recover data without re-formatting?
Thanks

 

Also, rebooted in safe mode command promt, tried chkdsk F: /f /x and /r and it bombs out with chkdsk encountered a problem and needs to close. Device manager doesn't show any problems with the drive!?

 

Something that gets me upset....chkdsk....yes chkdsk...

In recovery console IT IS!!!

chkdsk <drive letter> /r (/p is implied .... fixes errors)

within windows it is

chkdsk <dive letter> /r (/f is implied .... fixes errors)

Easy...


I wouldn't use the /x to dismount the drive, unless I know...FOR A FACT...that nothing is running on that drive. So, just say (Y)es to chkdsk on next reboot.....if memory serves me right

Not sure if any of this is related to your problem, Zakrz1

 

/R just bombs out.....

 

try this program it's pretty easy to use!! i had to use it to get to my files, as my 2nd h/d somehow got corrupted and wasn't formatted anymore!! anyway, i was able to get most of it off of there.

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

i'm fixing to head off to work. if you have any questions just shoot. it kinda took me a while to get my routine down (make it more efficient), so to speak. - sos

 

Awesome utility! Mucho thanks for the tip! Everything going on CD and I'm off hard drive shopping tonight!
Regards!

 

kewl, glad you figured it out!! it took me a while messing with it to be more effiecient. i had noticed (at least in my situation), if i saved too much at one time, it would lock up, and i would have to reboot, and try to figure out where i left off, after the logical drive step that is. i'd say it took me about a month to get all the stuff off of my 80 gbyte h/d (of course before and after work etc.)!! - sos

 

one more thing. your h/d might not be bad, just got corrupted? i'd get all the data off that you want (or can get) from it, format it and see what happens. i wound up doing a low level format (using manufacturers software), which basically writes all zeros to it, which is how a new h/d comes. - sos