Lost Windows

[Guest]

While trying to update windows XP on my laptop yesterday I got a message that
my copy of XP could not be verified as genuine and it wouldn't update. I
figured some spyware or something was on my computer so I tried to run
Adaware and it kept locking up during the "deep scan of registry". I finally
had to reboot and when I did...no windows. I have files that I must somehow
get off the hard drive and cannot do reformat yet. HELP!
camstar

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

While trying to update windows XP on my laptop yesterday I got a message that
my copy of XP could not be verified as genuine and it wouldn't update. I
figured some spyware or something was on my computer so I tried to run
Adaware and it kept locking up during the "deep scan of registry". I finally
had to reboot and when I did...no windows. I have files that I must somehow
get off the hard drive and cannot do reformat yet. HELP!
camstar

Whenever I read the phrase "I have data that i can't afford to
delete" I think "If the data is so important, why didn't you back
it up when you had the opportunity?" This is obviously the time
for you to think about your backup philosophy and the iron rule
that important files must always be stored on at least two
independent media. No exceptions.

About your current problem: Your first step must be to save
your data. Pull out your hard disk, install it in a friend's PC,
get him to seize ownership of your folders if necessary, then
copy the lot to his disk.

If you don't have any suitable friends, ask a reliable computer
repair shop to do it for you. Try to be present when they
do it in order to minimise the risk of an accident. Get them to
put the data on a hard disk in an external USB case which
you can use later on as your backup medium.

 

[Guest]

is it a virus ? guess I have same situation here ...

 

[Guest]

I was about to backup everything on DVD when all of this occurred but didn't
get the chance. How about network boot? Or, I have two identical
laptops..one that works and the one with this problem. I also have a
wireless home network. Is there another way to get my files other than
removing the hard drive?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Backing up files to DVD at the time when you have problems
is a bit late. Backups must be done every week, without fail.

You need to be a lot more specific in your reporting. Instead
of saying "No Windows", you must quote the exact message(s)
you see on the screen and tell us precicely how far the boot
process goes.

 

[Guest]

Actually I was trying to do my weekly backup when the problem occurred.
There was no apparent problem at all until I installed the ms updates. At
that time I got a message that my windows xp couldn't be verified as genuine.
Have done updates before without this problem. I tried to quickly backup
my files but the backup wouldn't work. At that point I tried to run Adaware
and it locked up at "deep scanning registry". I pressed control alt del to
restart the computer. What I got at restart is "disk read error - press
control alt del to restart the computer".

Windows XP came bundled with the laptop and it will only allow full recovery
which deletes everything on my hard drive. I have an extra copy of Windows
XP Home so I have it in the disk drive so I can run the Recovery Console.

At the C prompt, I put chkdsk /r and it has been running for about an hour
now. The messages I got so far are:

CHKDSK is checking the volume....
CHKDSK is performing additional checking or recovery.....
CHKDSK is performing additional checking or recovery.....
0% completed.

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
thanks,
camstar

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

A "Disk read error" is usually the result of some physical or logical
damage to the disk. You can check for physical damage by running
the diagnostic routine that your disk manufacturer makes available
on his site. If there is logical damage then you should refrain from
running any repair utilities until you have saved your files. Many
of them, especially chckdsk.exe, can be highly destructive.

It's back to my previous advice: Remove the disk and install it as
a slave disk in a friend's PC for the data recovery effort.

 

[Guest]

Thank you Pegasus. I will give that a try.

Camstar

 

[Theslaz]

Thank you Pegasus. I will give that a try.

Camstar

Just did a reinstall of windows this past week because of a "Missing or
Corrupt" Hal.dll. The reinstall went smoothly using the manufacturers
full recovery copy of windows that came with the computer. It does not
erase all your files! All I had happen was that I wound up with the
orginal starting copy of windows; of course all the settings within
windows were out of whack; just have to patiently change everything back
to the way they were! I repeat; all my original programs and data files
were in tack! A lot of the programs I had installed had to be
reinstalled; no big deal!