My girlfriend's got XP on her notebook, but while I'm computer literate I'm still using 98 on my PC and I don't know a huge amount about XP. :confused:

 

Basically the FAT seems to be completely corrupt- XP itself won't load whatsoever, and when I put my 98 boot floppy in it says that there is no valid FAT on C: :eek:

 

Running off the 98 boot floppy, the hard disk simply doesn't exist, but it's present in the BIOS setup. :rolleyes:

 

Now I'm assuming this will be terminal, but if anyone knows of any tricks that could help get it back up and running, if only to back up her contacts to USB drive, then I'll be forever grateful!!! :bow:

 

Cheers

 

Mark

maybe her system is formatted using the NTFS?

As Mike says, the Hard disk drive will almost definately be formatted using NTFS which isn't readable when you boot off a 98 floppy. What errors do you get? Do you get BSOD (Blue screen of death) or ntldr missing/corrupt? This latter can sometimes be fixed by replacing the deleted system files but if this fails then you've got 2 options:-

 

1-Try to re-install XP over the top of what's already there, failing that you can install another instance of XP on the same drive if it's partition isn't totally screwed.

2-Put her hdd into another 2000/XP machine (must be formatted NTFS also) as a slave to recover any data then perform a full re-install, booting from the XP or recovery CD (needs a 2.5" to normal IDE adaptor).

 

Hope this is of some use.

I've used these utilities on non bootable systems to recover/replace/copy files from an NTFS volume.

 

HTH

 

Steve :)

 

* EDIT * What are the exact symptoms on startup?

Cheers for the help chaps- I wasn't aware of the NTFS thing!

 

As soon as it starts to boot up it comes up with a path, rather than a specific filename, that it says is missing (something like C:\blah\blah\Windows\System, but that's not it exactly).

 

I only have the XP recovery CD that came with the HP notebook and the only way it will "recover" the OS is to format C: first :rolleyes: and that's the only partition (why oh why didn't I set up partitions after the last time this happened :headvswal ).

 

Do you reckon I can repair this XP using a different XP CD?

 

Anyway- tonight I'll check those utilities you linked to Steve.

 

Cheers again,

 

Mark

the safest and best way to recover is to remove the hardrive from the laptop, get a 2.5 inch to 3.5inch drive adapter, plug it into a pc , boot off the pcs drive and then you can safely backup any data off the laptop drive.

 

if you are still having difficulty, use a local pc shop.

 

however if you are still not happy please let me know as i offer a data recovery service as part of my pc business.

 

by the way.. just so you guys know discount on stuff to members. ranging from innks for printers to dvds and cases, to pc systems, componetnts. etc..

my web site is being updated right now so it wibe up shortly http://www.e-fix.net

Put in a Windows XP disc and boot up. On the installation page you will get an option to quit to recovery console. Do that and then you will have a dos prompt. Run a chkdsk /r

 

This should take about an hour maybe more depending on the computer and disc space.

 

What problems are you having. When are you having them? Where does it load to? Any error messages?

 

This will scan the hard drive for any errors.

One good way of being able to do anything you need to do on a dead PC, regardless of O\S is to use WIN PE. This is a CD that you boot from, installs an Pre Installation Environment and gives you a GUI to use apps such as Virus SCanner, Networking tools etc.

 

I use it at work and it is very good, especially on servers but will work on notebooks. Saved my bacon a few times...

 

It takes a while to do but it works...

 

Also..see http://www.winternals.com or http://www.sysinternals.com for utilities..

Looks like another 2am evning for me! :D

 

Many thanks for the tips, I'll post up as things get better or worse!

 

AngusGlover- you say WIN PE installs stuff- does it do that without overwriting anything on C?

 

SRRAE- I've mentioned my symptoms above, but apologies if they're not clear! Apart from the initial BIOS screen (if that's what you call it- mem check, American Megatrends or whatever) then the error as mentioned above is the only thing that is reported. And it happens every time- XP never loads.

 

Cheers again chaps!

 

Mark

I dunno isn't that the second XP failure on this forum in just over a week? LOL :D

 

Yeah excellent stable and reliable OS ain't it? NOT! :rofl:

I dunno isn't that the second XP failure on this forum in just over a week? LOL :D

 

Yeah excellent stable and reliable OS ain't it? NOT! :rofl:

 

Yeah, what they want is a nice Linux install.. Gentoo is good, or Ubuntu :D

Ok- managed to retrieve everything important; just putting the factory recovery OS back on.

 

Cheers chaps!

 

Mark