Assigning letter drive to recover data

[Guest]

Computer#1 experienced inability to boot (message was a corrupt file in
windows\system32\config\system). Tried using Norton GoBack, didn't work,
tried repair via XP Pro CD, didn't work.

So, I pulled the c: drive and installed as a slave in Computer #2 in order
to recover user files, etc. I have done this before, but this time the
system will not assign a drive letter. BIOs sees the drive, Device Manager
sees it as disk 1, Disk Management see it but when I right click the only
option Disk Management gives me Delete Partition - which I do not want to do
just yet. Disk Management says it is healthy and is NTFS.

Could the difficulty lie in the fact this slave drive was a "c:" drive
(master boot, etc.) in #1 and #2 recognizes that and won't let me assign it
a letter?

Thanks for you help

 

[anno_triangle]

Hi,

there is other solution for your problem imho. You can use data
recovery utility to restore lost system file vital for work. For
example, some DOS tool like Uneraser can perform such a trick. the tool
is on a data utils set CD image Boot Disk, also including soft for data
backup and erase.
http://www.ntfs.com/boot-disk.htm