Insert Boot-Disk & press any key

And what is the size of your harddisk? 40GB?

Size of my HDD is 40 GB.

If you have data you need to retrieve from hard disk -- boot with a Live Linux CD (Knoppix or Ubuntu) and see if files can be retrieved.  If not, connect it to another PC and use data recovery software to attempt recovery.  I recommend GetDataBack.

http://www.runtime.org/

Just started an Ubuntu live CD. If that doesnt work, how do you propose I get my desktop to see my laptop in order to retrieve data?

Moreover, are you suggestion that the XP installation on the laptop cannot be repaired?

A repair install definitely will not work if all setup sees is unpartitioned space.

After data retrieval, you can enter Recovery Console (from XP setup CD) and try these commands:
fixmbr
fixboot

I prefer to back up data files as soon as possible in case problem worsens with time.

Yes, I would like to initiate the data retrieval process as Ububtu live CD & fixmbr have, both, not delivered.

Which brings me back to my earlier question:

How do you propose I get my desktop to see my laptop in order to retrieve data using GetDataBack?

You will need to remove hard disk and connect it to a desktop PC.  I prefer an adapter that will directly connect to an IDE or SATA port on desktop PC.  External USB adapters are not as reliable for data retrieval.

IDE Adapter -- http://www.directron.com/nbadapter.html

You may be able to find the same adapter at Comp USA or another computer store.

Thx b0fh.

As I commence building a bartPE live cd, do you foresee any failures vis-a-vis a failed Ubuntu live cd attempt?

Has any1 used pebuilder before?

The pc I am running it on had c: & d: drive. However, PE is showing a B: Ramdisk & C: only. Moreover, c: its showing as being completely empty.

How can I confirm the validity of PE's info?

Thx,
wirefree101

> Moreover, c: its showing as being completely empty.
That's unfortunately "true", as your Free space is 40GB and your disk 40GB, it means that your partitioning info got "lost".

You need a tool that is capable of restoring (or trying to restore) your partition information. Of course, you should not create a new one, as you would overwrite any subsisting data fragment.

I can not comment about the various clues/tools listed, but I believe that all experts noticed that obviously your disk is missing the partition information.

Sorry not being able to help you more. I hope you'll recover your data (even if the probability is very low).

Werner.

You may want to try a product like Active Partition Recovery:  http://www.partition-recovery.com/download.htm

From a quick glance, it appears that although the demo version won't necessarily restore your lost partition, it should be able to view it.  This would let you know whether or not you might want to shell out the $30 for the full version (or at least let you know that the partition info is recoverable w/ this or another tool).

You could also try GParted  or GPart (maybe included on Ubuntu Live CD? -- don't have it handy right now)

Active Partition Recovery does indeed show 2 logical partitions and existing data. This is an improvement over PE (see above).

What are my options now as to recovery of data? How?

Thx,
wirefree101

Go way back to my first response.

GetDataBack does indeed offer the functionality to recover data from a remote machine. However, it requires that HDHost.exe (also available from runtime.org) be running, & waiting for a connection, on the remote machine. However, since I can't even boot into XP, this poses a problem.

I have tried running HDHost.exe in PE off a floppy but I receive an error:

"The application has failed to start because wow32.dll was not found."

I am sure there is a way around.

Any suggestion wud be appreciated.

"connect it to another PC and use data recovery software to attempt recovery.  I recommend GetDataBack."

willcomp:

I am indeed referring to GetDataBack in my last post. So, once again, GetDataBack requires that an accompanying sofware named HDHost.exe be running on the remote machine.

Please refer to my last post.

Connect drive to another PC (desktop) using internal IDE/SATA ports -- not networked and not USB. There are notebook drive adapters that you can use.  It is the best method for data retrieval.

willcomp is correct that an adapter is generally the best way to go.  However, if you don't have one, there is also an hdhost plugin for bartPE.     http://www.runtime.org/hdhost.cab

Just throwing out options... whatever works to get your data back.

Better link...   http://www.runtime.org/peb.htm

@ http://www.runtime.org/hdhost.cab: Here they probably call it HDHost "plugin" for a good reason BUT its still just an executable. I have already tried this route (see my last to last post).

Thank you for all the assistance.

No problem.  I hope you were able to recover all of your data.