Xp home won't boot- chdisk can't solve problem-its the end!!

[lucien14]

Hi
I'm in real trouble please help me. I booted up my Xp home edition 2 days a go and chdisk told me i had unreadable/corrupted files. Chdisk eventually repaired system but then when i rebooted next day it was all corrupted again. and now i can't even get into Xp to sort problem out. i fear the worst, i may have to reformat , but what about all my files -i can't get at them to save them.
please help me. it may be a virus- but i can't get into the system to sort the problem. I've had it!

 

[wolluf]

You could try running chkdsk from recovery console - if it will load recovery console -

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654.

PS. why do you think a virus? (is it fat32 or ntfs filestore? - if fat32 you could also try an anti-virus rescue disk to check from dos (assuming you can get filestore readable).

PPS. If you have access to another machine (2k or XP if ntfs - win9x/ME ok if fat32) could mount drive as slave and try data recovery app (and virus scan!) - there's a free data recovery app here -

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

 

[linney]

These might help.

So Very URGENT! XP Boot Loader Hates Me
thread779-532847

MBR IS COMPROMISED
thread779-495467

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.mediaworkstation.com/htm/homeset1.htm

Click on Tutorial then the Charlie White article on XP crash.
This is a laymans version of Q307545 in simple language.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows itself by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

More data recovery links.

http://www.restorer2000.com

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

 

[JuanH]

It sounds as if your hard drive is blowing sectors. ChDisk seems to be moving the data to another cluster; moving files around doesn't help if you just write to [another] failing cluster.
Listen to Wolluf and grab what you can, then throw the HD away (or give it to an enemy).
If you have 50 bucks to spend and you MUST have this info, then you may want to take a look at Steve Gibson's site. He wrote a utility that works for this sort of thing.
Yay Gibson.