Just lost 200gigs.... Thanks XP

[torontodennis]

I sympathise with you. I have almost done the same thing before. At the very
last prompt I decided something wasn't right and backed out. Sure enough
when I got to the same point again and very carefully studied the screen the
partitions were not shown in the correct order. I would have deleted the
wrong partition. Every motherboard, chipset, and drive controller seems to
handle SATA & PATA combinations differently. For future reference when
installing Windows remove all drives that aren't directly involved in the
install. That means physically disconnect everything except the drive you
are installing Windows to, one floppy drive, and one optical drive. This
includes unplugging built in flash card readers from the motherboard,
printers with card readers, anything that shows up as a storage device.
Since I started doing this I have had no problems with weird installs,
seemingly random drive letter assignments, etc..

Yes... I think the morale of this story is play safe and remove the
other drive when your installing.... I will be doing that from now
on... if I ever figure out whats wrong with my motherboard that is...

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I reject your half-ass answer...

I did not 'hit the wrong key'... it was not a decision that made
lightly.. it was something that I stared at for 2 min before deciding
And in order for this "typo" to have happened I would have had to
hit the down arrow twice then hit L (or whatever it was) instead of
just hitting L.... highly unlikely.... It was either Windows XP or a
bios thing.... I blame XP

Anyone else experienced S-ATA / ATA mix ups on install?

After booting from the WinXP CD, very early in the setup process, the
screen will have displayed the words to the effect: "Setup is examining
your system." When this happened, did you press <F6> and install the
*motherboard manufacturer's* WinXP-specific drivers for your SATA
controller? If not, WinXP did exactly what you told it to do; it
formatted the only partition it could see, which happened to be on the
IDE drive. Remember, WinXP won't have a driver for the SATA controller
built-in (the SATA interface was finalized/distributed after WinXP went
gold).


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

 

[torontodennis]

After booting from the WinXP CD, very early in the setup process, the
screen will have displayed the words to the effect: "Setup is examining
your system." When this happened, did you press <F6> and install the
*motherboard manufacturer's* WinXP-specific drivers for your SATA
controller? If not, WinXP did exactly what you told it to do; it
formatted the only partition it could see, which happened to be on the
IDE drive. Remember, WinXP won't have a driver for the SATA controller
built-in (the SATA interface was finalized/distributed after WinXP went
gold).

.....again... That sounds plausable except for two things (check
previous posts pls)

#1 it conflicts with previous replies to this thread (and my
experiences) that you dont need a driver to install a S-ATA drive
(unless your getting into raid situations or the drive controller isnt
on the motherboard (or whatever that previous poster said).......

#2 "it formatted the only partition it could see" ... No... It sees all
of them... and mixes them up horribly....


Could someone please prove or deny this possibility? Do S-ATA drives
really need drivers(with NO RAID). I have installed without s-ata
drivers MANY times.....

Thanks for the input from all posters and those ive spoken to
directly...... it is -all- appreciated..... apologies if Ive been harsh
with those who leaped to post painfully obvious conclusions.... its
been a very frustrating day..... nite guys....

 

[Ron Martell]

- The IDE drive partition of 250 GIGS was deleted instead

Go to http://www.bootitng.com/utilities.html and downloand their free
MBRWORK utility. If the partition was deleted and no further changes
have been made to the drive it can be recovered with this utility.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

It is realistic and possible if the data is essential.
An operation such as this is only one of many things that can cause complete
loss of data.
Another common one is catastrophic hard drive failure.
If data is lost, the first fault is with the user for not keeping
appropriate back ups of important data.
In the case you reference, it can be easily done fore less than $200.
How much is the data worth?

If the data is essential, it must be backed up.

 

[torontodennis]

It is realistic and possible if the data is essential.
An operation such as this is only one of many things that can cause complete
loss of data.
Another common one is catastrophic hard drive failure.
If data is lost, the first fault is with the user for not keeping
appropriate back ups of important data.
In the case you reference, it can be easily done fore less than $200.
How much is the data worth?

If the data is essential, it must be backed up.

OMFG...... again: please read the whole thread before you spew generic
MVP "McResponses"... I'm trying VERY HARD to be patient with you
guys....

I said how many times now? Backing up 500 gigs is not realistic and not
possible for me.... and I didnt lose anything terribly valuable... Open
your LITTLE TINY MVP MINDS and accept what I say as truth and drop
insulting me. Please?

the point of this thread is WHY DID IT HAPPEN... and why is it still
happening....





http://tinyurl.com/rnfoo

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

I never insulted you, but you seem to feel the need to insult others.

I read the entire thread.
Particularly where you said:
"Windows just raped me up the arse. The damage is done, but for future
reference I'd like to know what happened and who's fault it was (mine
or Bill Gates). Please comment."
As to what, you have already been given some reasons.
If there was any type of data loss, that is entirely your fault.

I was commenting on your statement "...is not realistic or possible."
If that is true, the data is not very important to you.
Anyone who loses anything at all first has themselves to blame.

Mine was not a generic response, it was a practical and true response.
I never said you lost anything, if you think I did, you should read my post
again.
See particularly the word "If" in my post.
It sounds like you lost something but exactly what and how much was not
stated.

What I do to prevent such a problem is foolproof, I physically disconnect
the connections making such a loss impossible.
Even then I have back ups.
If back ups are not "realistic or possible" for you, that is your problem
and only you are responsible and can deal with it.

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

The message header states 200gb, so why 500gb now?.. all you have to do is
connect an external USB backup drive to your system..