Checkdisc doesn't work 1

[Oso9411]

I have a 40G hard drive just for storage of files, no OS on it, that is defying recovery. It has about 35G of files that would save me a whole lot of grief if I could recover them.

When I booted it went into XPs checkdisc and stated sectors 4,5,6,7,172,173,174,175 are unreadable. Then it states an "Unspecified error" has occured and chechdisk stops. Then the boot finishes.

When the disc is accessed via XP properties/tools for checkdisc the box just diasappears after a few seconds and does nothing.

In the properties section the pie chart says the disc is 100% full. In disc management it says 100% empty and files healthy. NTFS file system btw.

Is there anyway the files can be recovered?

Thanks in advance.

 

[linney]

Try running Chkdsk from the Recovery Console.

Some similar stories here but short on solutions.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...pecified+error"+chkdsk+windows+xp&sa=N&tab=wg

If you still have problems you may have to do a reformat of that drive.

You could try the drive out in another machine. The drive's manufacturer will have free diagnostic tools on their site.

Recovering Data links.

http://www.restorer2000.com

http://www.runtime.org/hints.htm

 

[Oso9411]

Well linney, couldn't get it to chkdsk under any circumstances. So tried your links. The link to Restorer2000 was a gold mine. They have a demo for download. I ran it and it found and named every single file - all 35G's of them.

It will not let me recover due to limitation of demo. (64KB file size)

But I reckon that if it can find them, it can recover them. What do you think?

$29.95 to recover them all - a bargain.

Getting ready to whip out the old plastic - waiting for your opinion.

Thank you ever so much - posted this on 10 forums of various types and you were the only one to respond - thanks again!

Oso

 

[vdubincali]

I would definately remove this harddrive and place it in a known good system. Attempt to move the data you need off onto the known good system. Don't waste your time running chkdsk, unless you can't get the data off. Then use it to format the drive and place it back in the system, reload Windows XP Pro fresh and move your data back over.

The other way to do this would be to get a new HD, a 60 gig is $70.00 and disconnect the problematic drive. Load a fresh copy of Win XP using the cd, reload your apps, then hook up the offending drive, and move your data to the new system drive. Low level reformat the old drive and use it as a backup drive. This is a little harsh, but you will not loose data, and you will have a fresh system in a known good state afterward. Plus a new backup drive! Hope this helps!

 

[linney]

I found out about those data recovery programs via "Langalist", I have played around like you with the free demo model of Restorer 2000 and it seems to work. Luckily I have not needed to do a complete recovery with similar programs as I use backups for important files.

You can read the recommendations for your program here.

http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2002/2002-08-26.htm#3

 

[Oso9411]

I always have stuff backed up too - but the one time you forget and leave your rear end hangin' out in the wind....

Actually the hard drive is fine. And the c drive with my dual boot set up of XP Pro is fine.

The root of all this is the Abit KG7A Lite mobo. It has a nasty habit of losing hard drives and cdroms and then not recognizing them so you have to reinstall to get them back. I have had to reinstall so many times I just put in a 2nd Hd and kept all my files there. The only thing on the C drive is the OS and some progs with their document and data storage set to go to the 2nd HD.. So basically I am set up for a quick no hassle short turn around reinstall or recovery as necessary. LOL

This is the first time Abit lost the 2nd drive that it damaged it as well. All the files seem to be fine, I think it just trashed the disc registry maybe?

The mobo problem is bios related and the only fix I can find is on a forum, written by one of the members. I am too much of a coward to download it to flash. Abit does not have an update for it themselves.