Hi friends !
I got a very serious problem in my laptop. The OS (Windows XP Pro) is corrupted due to viruses. When I start the laptop, it restarts again and again and does not come up to logon screen .
I tried two methods but FAILED:
(1) Ist Method:
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I used Windows XP Professional SP 2 CD and booted from it. But when I went to Second Repair , the installation stated that:
Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed in your computer.
Make sure any hard disk drives powered on and properly connected to your computer, and that any disk-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer-supplied diagnostic or setup program.
Setup cannot continue. Press F3 to quit setup.
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(1) IInd Method:
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I booted using Winternals ERD Commander 2003, but when it reached to the point where it asks to Select the Windows installation you wish to repair , I found that No any installation is detected. It shows:
None Do not attach to a Windows installation
So, XP Professional (C:\Windows) folder is not located. (It is missing as I understand). Again, when I logged on with the only available option, I got the information that:
Registry information will not be loaded.
Some product features require that a Windows installation directory be selected to function properly.
Again, I could NOT see my C: and D: partitions in the console provided by ERD.
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Now, I am stacked as I CAN NOT repair and also cant access my data using ERD commander. The only way is to format the hard disk (then I will loose my data, that I want to recover) but that is also not possible as my Windows XP installation is not detecting the hard disk. (I suspect it is because that all new laptops come with SATA HDD and so this CD is not detecting it.)
The laptop does NOT have any floppy drive so that I use bootable floppy and try to do some other troubleshooting.
Is there any way to get the data back and to repair the OS ?
The solution is needed on urgent basis as most of my important data are there on laptop and I always need them.
Regards.
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You have two options
1. Boot from a WinPE or BartPE CD, this will allow you to access the data and copy it
2. Take the drive out of the machine, add it as a second(slave) drive in another machine (or put it in a USB Caddy and then access the data that way.
Once the data it safe then put the drive back in the machine. Do a clean install, then copy the data back
Download free tool from here: http://www.paragon-softwar
Execute the file and let it burn the CD.
When ready - boot from this CD the machine in question and run File Transfer Wizard.
It will let you copy out data to external USB drive.
After that either continue attempts to repair the installation or simply reformat the drive and reinstall Windows.
Thanks for your instant reply.
So, is WinPE chargable or free ? and when you say Bart PE is a free analogue, means it provides the same functionalities of WinPE but it is free. Am I right ?
Yes...I am downloading that tool.
@houssam_ballout !
First Repair: It is not working (the same message that hard disk is not detected)
Safe Mode: It is not working (PC is restarting again and again)
@KCTS !
It is a laptop so removing the hard disk and attaching it to another as slave is little bit complicated. And the laptop is new so I don't want to open it when it is in warranty. Well...I can try that WinPE or BartPE CDs if you tell me how to get them.
WinPE is charged additional payment normally by MS and BartPE builder allows you to build your own customized CD using the WinXP installation CD you have (if any).
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilde
If you use Rescue Kit then there is no need to use WinPE or Bart. They were suggested as access to your data only.
Hi all !
Thanks for your replies. Finally I applied the solution provided by "noxcho" and it really worked for me.
I prepared "paragon resuce CD" and it seemed great to me when recovering the data. I WILL RECOMMEND it to others also. I could SUCCESSFULLY retrieve the data so now my data are secured.
But, I am still unable to install XP operating system as the hard disk is SATA and XP installation is not able to detect it.
Special thanks to "noxcho".
Regards.
Good to know you recovered the data.
Now, you need to reformat the drive and run fresh Windows installation.
It should be done from boot CD for sure. Use one of these tools:
1) http://partedmagic.com/dow
2) http://www.paragon-softwar
Run it and in Tools section find Recovery Media Builder. Run it and burn a CD or USB stick.
Then boot the PC from this media and select Normal Mode - Drive Backup.
There right click on HDD - Update MBR. Then right click on volume - delete. Apply changes.
Same way right click on free space and select - create. Follow the instructions.
Then restart from Windows XP CD. Does it see the drive now?
Make sure you've set in BIOS the HDD to enhanced IDE (ATA compatible mode).
@noxcho !
Thanks for your support. Well...I will read these tips and apply them in future. For right now, I got another Windows XP SP2 CD and to my surprise, it could see the hard disk so there is no problem any longer.
@edbedb !
As I informed above that another XP SP2 had detected the hard disk so I will remember your suggestions for future.
Let me close the discussion. Further comments are welcome.
Regards.
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by: houssam_balloutPosted on 2009-10-04 at 05:18:05ID: 25488979
Try these 2 solutions:
1- in the XP repair , press R at the first screen, then you will see a prompt box, type:
fixmbr press Enter then press Y
fixboot press Enter then press Y
chkdsk /r press Enter, this phase will last for sometime.
hold on, then restart the computer and try
2- when you boot press F8 then select Safe mode , see if you go in to safe mode!