Recover file from corrupt partition

[raaman rai]

Hi experts, recently my system could not boot and had the NTLDR missing error as a result of which i couldnot retrieve my files. So i took out the hard drive and added to another system as secondary drive. Now the problem is that i cannot access the drive belonging to my hard drive. It says its not formatted and needs to format. But i dont want the drive to be formated since i have important files in the hard drive.

So can i have any idea how to retrieve those files. Or kindly refer me some free softwares which can do my job.

[AmberJain]

See link below for online MS docs that deal with troubleshooting this error--->

LINK

Although the article mentiones that it is for Windows 2000, but what I think that it would be applicable almost in similar manner to Windows XP (I assume that you are on XP).
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ ______
In this matter, what is required is probably just a repair for installation of XP on your PC. If you have an XP CD then repair the installation of XP (available on XP CD).
_______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ ______
If this doesnot solves your problem, then reply back so that I can tell you the names of some Free data recovery softwares (which doesnot require booting into windows OS).

HOPE THIS HELPS.......... ..

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AmbrNewlearner
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[raaman rai]

nice to find your reply again. yes i tried repairing but the problem is that it says that some files in C:\ are either missing or corrupted, so it is required that the whole partition is formated (before repairing or installing fresh OS) which i dont wanna do because i have my files in my desktop.

so i just wanna have a software which can retrieve existing files that cannot be accessed.

[mac11]

nice to find your reply again. yes i tried repairing but the problem is that it says that some files in C:\ are either missing or corrupted, so it is required that the whole partition is formated (before repairing or installing fresh OS) which i dont wanna do because i have my files in my desktop.

so i just wanna have a software which can retrieve existing files that cannot be accessed.

When I have a problem like this I go and get a bootable linux distribution (linux on a cd or dvd which lets you run linux without installing anything). Then mount the drive and copy off whichever files you need (to a thumb drive or whatever).

If you're not familiar with Linux, there are serveral good live distributions that are very user friendly, maybe try Ubuntu, Knoppix, or Helix

[AmberJain]

nice to find your reply again. yes i tried repairing but the problem is that it says that some files in C:\ are either missing or corrupted, so it is required that the whole partition is formated (before repairing or installing fresh OS) which i dont wanna do because i have my files in my desktop.

so i just wanna have a software which can retrieve existing files that cannot be accessed.

If the drive is not already formatted (by mistake), as happened to me. I just have a multiboot PC and 3 days ago I repaired my XP and while repair program ran, it displayed-"Setup is performed requested operations on your hard disk" and then instead of repairing my XP it formatted my linux installation partition.

Well, there are many options available at your disposal------->

1. You can do as mac11 advised in REPLY #4. But what I think is that if you are new to linux, then it is better to follow the options given below.

2. Download Emergency BOOT CD from link below. It is ultimate solution to your problem. You can get more details from the user guide available on it's site. If you face problems, tell me. According to their site----->

"Emergency Boot CD (EBCD) will help you. It is a CD-ROM for booting PC and recovering data in emergency situations..... .EBCD contains file manager, which is able to process files on FAT, NTFS, EXT3 volumes........ .........Using EBCD you can backup your data from IDE, SCSI and SATA fixed disks to USB Flash, FireWire removable devices, or other fixed disks; and restore them when necessary...... "

LINK to Emergency Boot CD



EDIT ; Well older versions of EBCD are for free which are available on many download sites. Search google for downloading previous versions of EBCD.



3. Try downloading FreeDOS ISO image from link below (it's a small download and so you will not need to wait for download to complete) and then burn it to CD using software such as Nero, express burn etc. (I use ISO recorder personally). Now boot the CD in live CD mode (hope you understand what I mean by Live CD mode. If you don't understand, then reply back so that I will tell you). Now you can access all VFAT partitions.( If you are on NTFS, see options below) Now simply use DOS copy or xcopy command to backup important data. If you need more details, tell me.

LINK to FreeDOS


There are more softwares around. If your problem remains unsolved, tell me. I will then post more such softwares.


GOOD LUCK........... ......


HOPE THIS HELPS.......... .....

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AmbrNewlearner
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[AmberJain]

Alternatively you can also try using Ultimate BOOT CD (link below)---->
LINK

HOPE THIS HELPS.......... ...

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AmbrNewlearner
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[raaman rai]

I tried all the links that u provided but the problem is that u said the links will lead to files of iso (image) type but when i download the files it is in the form of compressed WinRar type as a result the bootable property is lost i think. Yet then i extracted the file and burned in a disc and tried booting from there. But to no avail, the system cant boot from the disc. I even tried creating bootable disc via the Nero option, when i try to boot from that disc it gets to start but i dont understand because a command promt is displayed and i dont know what to do next. i know how to assign the booting sequence aswell as that my disc drives are working fine. So what to do next?

[wassimdaccache]

Dear raaman rai

Do you know how to reinstall your windows? &
What kind of data do you have (files or program installed).?


you can rebuilt your old indexes on your HARD DISK even if you used a high level format (when you format you drive you set 0 all address on table indexes) and you can anytime use some system recovery program on you new OS to back up all your data even you formated your drive.
what I suggest is to reformat your drive and I'll send you a free program to rebuilt your index and back all your data.
If you are interested I am ready to provide you more details attached with the program.

By the way I did it many times and It is guaranteed


WASSIM S DACCACHE

[raaman rai]

Yes i know how to reinstall my OS but i am afraid that i may not retrieve my files because i have two softwares meant for recovery but this softwares were not upto my expectation. I have tried a couple of times retrieving formated files but it doesnt perform its work well. Sometimes the files are found corrupted when it is recovered by these softwares. So i dont want this to happen.

And your help would be appreciated. Please provide me the softwares with the necessary direction. Please note that i have a very limited knowledge on this stuff.

[AmberJain]

OK, step by step procedure this time.........

1. Goto link below and download a free verion of Emergency Boot CD.
LINK

_NOTE_I tried downloading it and yes LINK is working.

2. You will get an exe file. Run it on some working PC and extract all files in a folder (actually exe file is a compressed archive as far as I remember).

3. Open the folder and run builder utility (makeebcd.exe) in the folder. This will launch a DOS kind of window. Let it run. It will then create a ISO file in the same folder.

4. Burn this iso to a CD. And boot this CD.

After this everything is pretty easy but if you still need help, reply back.


_NOTE_If you are able to boot emergency boot CD, but cannot recover your data, then it is possible that your HardDisks are wiped completely i.e. your data is permanently deleted. NOTE------You can also try running this cd on some other system (running state) so that you know what to do and don't commit mistake while you are recovering data from Hard disk which has your IMP data.
Also, I think you never actually formatted your PC. It is just that your Windows OS crashed and you couldnot repair it and you don't wanna format also? If so, then don't worry. Your data is safe and someday certainly we will recover the data.


HOPE THIS HELPS..........

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AmbrNewlearner
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[AmberJain]

ALSO, Try this------->

Boot XP CD and start Reocvery console (hope you know what recovery console is) and use FIXBOOT. See link below for more details---------->

LINK

HOPE THIS HELPS.......... .....

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AmbrNewlearner
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[raaman rai]

i downloaded the software from the link provided by you and burned it which i tried and its working as expected. But now the problem is that what is needed to be done in my case. Which option should i select and what commands to be given (if necessary).

[AmberJain]

i downloaded the software from the link provided by you and burned it which i tried and its working as expected. But now the problem is that what is needed to be done in my case. Which option should i select and what commands to be given (if necessary).

HELLO,
Well, I'm very busy today. So I will tell (what to do next) to you tomorrow. Hope this does not bothers you.

BTW, I now assume that you have----->
1. downloaded Emegency boot CD.
2. Burned it successfully to cd.
3. CD is booting when inserted in CD drive in BIOS boot menu.

[raaman rai]

Yes i have followed everything as u said but when it comes to the actual task after the system is booted from CD, i have no idea what to be done next. Actually i tried to copy one of the folder from one drive to another, it gives the message access denied. I gave the command for listing the directory in C:\, it gives the same message and once i encountered with the message "Boot sector corrupted (something like this)". So i need to know what can be done.

[AmberJain]

Yes i have followed everything as u said but when it comes to the actual task after the system is booted from CD, i have no idea what to be done next. Actually i tried to copy one of the folder from one drive to another, it gives the message access denied. I gave the command for listing the directory in C:\, it gives the same message and once i encountered with the message "Boot sector corrupted (something like this)". So i need to know what can be done.

First of all, let me tell you that you will be certainly able to recover your data. So don't loose hope.

Now, I have never faced "Access denied" sort of error on EBCD (emergency boot cd). But let me tell you what to do.
1. Boot into EBCD.
2. When main screen comes up select option 2 (i.e. File manager LFN/NTFS support) and press enter.
3. Then you will come across many questions/options like loading mouse driver , CD driveretc. You should be able to deal with them easily.
4. Then you will come across a (mostly blue coloured screen) file manager (it's probably called VC or volvov commander). Now simply use DOS commands like copy, xcopy etc. to copy your important data on some media.

HOPE THIS HELPS.......... ....