PC crash, can a Restore from booting from the CD?

[Cassidy]

My hard drive is giving me a PCI error, saying it can't find the media, check
cable, and it won't boot.

I did NOT finish backing up all my data onto another server, and do not want
to lose my files and images on my PC. Hubby is hoping to pull the hard
drive, and pull all the data off and onto his PC, and then I can reformat and
reinstall everything onto my hard drive.

I was wondering, if I put in my XP install CD, can I run a system restore
off the CD without wiping out my data? I will also lose programs that I no
longer have the CDs for if I reformat, which is a pain.

I also don't know if my error is drastic enough that my hard drive isn't
salvagable. The other thing worrying me is that it makes an audible noise now
when it is trying to boot. I feel confident my data isn't destroyed, but I
can't boot my laptop. My husband's method will work, but I was hoping for an
easier way. ANY advice out there?

 

[nass]

My hard drive is giving me a PCI error, saying it can't find the media, check
cable, and it won't boot.

I did NOT finish backing up all my data onto another server, and do not want
to lose my files and images on my PC. Hubby is hoping to pull the hard
drive, and pull all the data off and onto his PC, and then I can reformat and
reinstall everything onto my hard drive.

I was wondering, if I put in my XP install CD, can I run a system restore
off the CD without wiping out my data? I will also lose programs that I no
longer have the CDs for if I reformat, which is a pain.

I also don't know if my error is drastic enough that my hard drive isn't
salvagable. The other thing worrying me is that it makes an audible noise now
when it is trying to boot. I feel confident my data isn't destroyed, but I
can't boot my laptop. My husband's method will work, but I was hoping for an
easier way. ANY advice out there?

Hi,
It will help if you included the exact wording of the error message you get
for us to tell if the machine is okay to reinstall or repair and if your data
will be salvagable!
Here a link that my be refresh your memroy to the error please state in your
next reply:
http://walshcomptech.com/ohlandl/8642/8642_PCI_Error_Codes.html
Or is it “pci.sys†error it could be bad memory card?
Try to press F8 on start up and when you get the boot options select last
good know Configuration that worked from the boot up options.
HTH
nass

 

[Cassidy]

I'll have to write down the exact error message when I get home. The fact
that it is asking me to check a cable, that's weird. I don't have all the
codes from the error message, so I'll get that later and resubmit.

Anyhow, I can not reboot in any configuration - last known good, safe mode,
nothing. I can't reboot at all. It always jumps to this error and leaves me
there.

 

[Cassidy]

EXACT Error message is:

For Realtek RTL8139(x)/8130/810X PCI Fast Ethernet Controller V2.13 (020326)

PXE-E61: Media Test Failure, Check Cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting PXE ROM



That's what I get, runs over and over and over again

:

 

[nass]

Hi,
Make sure you don't have a CD in the CD-ROM or a Floppy Disk that if your
machine have one!
Reset the BIOS to factory Default and also try to change the Boot up options
to :
1-CD as First Boot up device
2- HDD as second Boot up device

If the above doesn't help then you need to check the health of your HDD by
running the diagnostic tools from the Laptop manufacturer website and see if
it will pass the test.

Your Husband can hook up the HDD in a USB enclosure to retrive the data
needed to be saved.

Similar scenario like yours here:

http://forums.techguy.org/hardware/104472-solved-pxe-e61-media-test.html

HTH
nass