Crash during defrag - can't start Windows XP again

[Guest]

This morning I wanted to use defrag. After some time I checked but then my
system was crashed. No matter what I did, I had to turn my system off because
there was no way to get any sort of control.
After this crash I was not able to start again, no matter which option I
choose, safe restart, prompt etc. the only result was that the system booted
again automatically.

I tried to put the original Windows cd in the drive and restarted. Then I am
able to use the restore console (I'm not sure of the exact term, I'm using
Windows in a different language) but there is also nothing I can do there.
I can't cd to Windows cause the system can't display files nor folders
anymore on my C:\ drive.
I can't use chkdir, cause it can't find this command.

I have a partial backup but would like to save whatever is possible. What
are my options here?
Do I need to wait till tuesday until I can ask my computer store to place
the drive into another system and see if he can saves anything from there or
are there any other options I can try?

This is a Dell 4700 with Windows XP Pro SP2 with all the recent patches
applied.

If there is anybody who can give me tips or pointers, I would really
appreciate it.
Thanks and in all cases, a wonderful 2007 to all of you!

Tia,
Renate

 

[philo]

This morning I wanted to use defrag. After some time I checked but then my
system was crashed. No matter what I did, I had to turn my system off because
there was no way to get any sort of control.
After this crash I was not able to start again, no matter which option I
choose, safe restart, prompt etc. the only result was that the system booted
again automatically.

I tried to put the original Windows cd in the drive and restarted. Then I am
able to use the restore console (I'm not sure of the exact term, I'm using
Windows in a different language) but there is also nothing I can do there.
I can't cd to Windows cause the system can't display files nor folders
anymore on my C:\ drive.
I can't use chkdir, cause it can't find this command.

Boot with the XP cd again and from the repair console issue the command
chkdsk

(do not use any switches)

A simple chkdsk will merely show you if you have any file system errors...

If you see a few errors then go ahead and run chkdsk /r

and it should correct them


Note: If you see *numerous* errors do not run chkdsk /r

though it will "logically" correct errors it may put most of your data into
chk files and make recovery
close to impossible

 

[Guest]

Hi Philo,

Thanks for your response.
I've tried that before (made a type, when I said chkdir I meant chkdsk).
When I tried to start that from the prompt, I got an error that said this
command couldn't be found.
I was able however to start it from the i386 folder on the cd. When I tried
Chkdsk c:, it said there were no errors.
After that I've tried chkdsk c: /r. This took a long time to process but it
quit at 50% saying there were unrecoverable errors.
It seems it's looking bad, isn't it? )-:
Any other suggestions?

TIA,
Renate

 

[philo]

Hi Philo,

Thanks for your response.
I've tried that before (made a type, when I said chkdir I meant chkdsk).
When I tried to start that from the prompt, I got an error that said this
command couldn't be found.
I was able however to start it from the i386 folder on the cd. When I tried
Chkdsk c:, it said there were no errors.
After that I've tried chkdsk c: /r. This took a long time to process but it
quit at 50% saying there were unrecoverable errors.
It seems it's looking bad, isn't it? )-:
Any other suggestions?

Does not look good

I think I'd slave the drive into another machine and see if there's any data
you can retrieve

also...you may want to try chkdsk /f rather than chkdsk /r

it's a little less extensive

also you should go to the website of the harddrive manufacturer
and get their diagnostic utility to see if the drive has failed
and is other than simply a "hosed" file system

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi Philo,

Thanks for your response.
I've tried that before (made a type, when I said chkdir I meant chkdsk).
When I tried to start that from the prompt, I got an error that said this
command couldn't be found.
I was able however to start it from the i386 folder on the cd. When I
tried
Chkdsk c:, it said there were no errors.
After that I've tried chkdsk c: /r. This took a long time to process but
it
quit at 50% saying there were unrecoverable errors.
It seems it's looking bad, isn't it? )-:

Yes, that sounds like the basic definition of A Bad Thing. The drive is
badly damaged and you need a new one.

The good news is that drives are cheap now - I purchased 250 gig drives for
CDN$80 this week.

The bad news relates to data recovery and potential costs.

Any other suggestions?

Yes, you have passed into a data recovery mode.

Power down the machine. Do not run it again until you get a new hard disk
and install it - physically remove the old disk and set the jumpers the
same. Do not reconnect the old disk yet. Further attempts at restarts
without a new drive will reduce your chances of data recovery.

Reinstall Windows and the apps you need, and their updates. Also, install
data recovery software. This may take the form of trial versions - these
versions are very helpful because they will tell you, without spending yet
more money, whether the data is easily recoverable.

Once that is done, power down the machine and re-install the old drive as a
secondary. Use the data recovery software to see if the data can be
recovered.

Don't think of chkdsk as data recovery software. At this point, it will
probably do you more harm than good.

If the data can be recovered via software, pay the license fee and re-run
the recovery software. Evaluate the data and remove the old drive; it's not
worth the effort to wring a little more use out of an unreliable drive,
given current prices.

If the software can't recover the data, stop now, disconnect the old drive
and consider the value of the data. If it's high, there are data recovery
services that have a much better chance of recovering the data (they can do
things like remount the platters on other mechanics, which you will not be
able to do). I have personally seen bills for this kind of service go to
$5,000 from a 20 gig drive.

HTH
-pk