How to migrate Windows Live Mail to a new system from files captured from a failed hard drive
Windows 10 OS with Windows Live Mail. The hard drive in this desktop has failed with a bad sector. The OS will not start. There is no W10 Recovery DVD or Flash drive. I've tried several different ways to get the OS to start but have failed. I've used "Chkdsk" which finds the errors and does move the clusters but that did not allow the OS to start either. I've run other disk diagnostics that clearly show a bad sector. Therefore, I am unable to bring up Windows Live Mail in this system so please do not suggest doing the normal process of using WLM to id the files, export mail and contacts etc. since I cannot bring up the system and WLM.
However, I removed the failed drive and installed it in a W7 system and am able to find folders and files some of which are WLM data and have stored same onto a flash drive. Fortunately, this failed HDD was partitioned and it appears the the secondary partition is OK but that doesn't help me with WLM. Is there a way for me to use what I think are WLM files and folders to recreate WLM onto a newly created W10 OS and if so, what type of files should I be looking for and how would I go about "hooking" them into a new WLM app.? Bottom line, I have been able to install WLM on a fresh copy of W10 on a SSD but do not know how to import the folders (Inbox, Sent etc.) and in particular the user named WLM folders. It seems like there should be a way to do this.
BTW...if anyone has a magic solution on how to bring up the damaged system so that I can use "normal" methods for exporting mail, I'm all for it. I believe reinstalling W10 on this corrupted drive will not work although I haven't tried that. Even if were to work, I think WLM would not be included in the re-installation.
However, I removed the failed drive and installed it in a W7 system and am able to find folders and files some of which are WLM data and have stored same onto a flash drive. Fortunately, this failed HDD was partitioned and it appears the the secondary partition is OK but that doesn't help me with WLM. Is there a way for me to use what I think are WLM files and folders to recreate WLM onto a newly created W10 OS and if so, what type of files should I be looking for and how would I go about "hooking" them into a new WLM app.? Bottom line, I have been able to install WLM on a fresh copy of W10 on a SSD but do not know how to import the folders (Inbox, Sent etc.) and in particular the user named WLM folders. It seems like there should be a way to do this.
BTW...if anyone has a magic solution on how to bring up the damaged system so that I can use "normal" methods for exporting mail, I'm all for it. I believe reinstalling W10 on this corrupted drive will not work although I haven't tried that. Even if were to work, I think WLM would not be included in the re-installation.
Attach your backup WLM folder to newly installed WLP app.
In WLM go to options --> mail ---> choose advance flap. Click on "maintenance" than "store folder"
choose "change folder" and point to your WLM backup folder.
close WLM and open again, you will find all your emails in WLM.
In WLM go to options --> mail ---> choose advance flap. Click on "maintenance" than "store folder"
choose "change folder" and point to your WLM backup folder.
close WLM and open again, you will find all your emails in WLM.
ASKER
nobus....I've run the free scan and it has found several bad sectors. With a 60% chance of the app you've mentioned, I'm not sure it is likely to fix this drive.
GBaheja...I've found several "Storage folders" but now I've got the challenge of getting the "right" ones into the newly installed WLM. I think I can do that by simply moving the folders into the correct path. I made the mistake of opening WLM while attached to the web so I've also got all of the new mail to deal with.
On Contacts, do you have any ideas on how I can find and relocate the Contacts folder? I have a feeling this will have to be a CSV file and I don't know how I'm going to be able to make that happen even though i think I've got a Contacts folder in the backup with data. I'll try to simply move the Contacts folder in the User folder but I think I've tried that in other situations and it didn't work.
GBaheja...I've found several "Storage folders" but now I've got the challenge of getting the "right" ones into the newly installed WLM. I think I can do that by simply moving the folders into the correct path. I made the mistake of opening WLM while attached to the web so I've also got all of the new mail to deal with.
On Contacts, do you have any ideas on how I can find and relocate the Contacts folder? I have a feeling this will have to be a CSV file and I don't know how I'm going to be able to make that happen even though i think I've got a Contacts folder in the backup with data. I'll try to simply move the Contacts folder in the User folder but I think I've tried that in other situations and it didn't work.
on the contrary - if it said that the bad sectors were fixed - go for it
chances are high it will fix the whole disk
chances are high it will fix the whole disk
ASKER
GBaheja - I have been able to locate all of the storage folders in WLM. I set up GMAIL as an IMAP account in GMAIL. I've also set up a new account in WLM using the following servers:
imap.gmail.com with a port 993 and requires authentication etc.
smtp.gmail.com with a port 465 same as above
The GMAIL account appears within WLM. I can create a folder (ex. "Computer hints" within WLM's GMAIL folder and it does so successfully. However when I then select this same WLM account folder, select all of the emails within the folder and then right click to COPY them to the GMAIL folder, I get a "The selected message(s) could not be copied. Try again later." I tried various changes to the account settings with no progress. I'm fairly confident that I have the settings correct. Any ideas? This is the last step to moving all of the WLM to GMAIL. If there is another method, please let me know.
imap.gmail.com with a port 993 and requires authentication etc.
smtp.gmail.com with a port 465 same as above
The GMAIL account appears within WLM. I can create a folder (ex. "Computer hints" within WLM's GMAIL folder and it does so successfully. However when I then select this same WLM account folder, select all of the emails within the folder and then right click to COPY them to the GMAIL folder, I get a "The selected message(s) could not be copied. Try again later." I tried various changes to the account settings with no progress. I'm fairly confident that I have the settings correct. Any ideas? This is the last step to moving all of the WLM to GMAIL. If there is another method, please let me know.
ASKER
In a newly installede WLM, I can see the storage folders but I cannot open any of them. Do you have a suggestion on how to fix this problem? It appears that the files within the storage folders may be corrupted. Is there a WLM fix to check the file structure within the folders? The Inbox folder appears to be OK. This is limited to the storage folders.
i still suggest HDDRegenerator
"fixing " files on bad sectors will result in more problems
"fixing " files on bad sectors will result in more problems
ASKER
I actually purchased a copy of the app, created a bootable CD and it goes no where. I get a flashing "Limited Edition" screen which is intended for me to key a number to select the drive I want "fixed" but am unable to key the number. I'm questioning the code.
ok i'll check what happens
i tried to make an usb stick 1.2 Gb - and it would apparently not make it - Always saying the device is busy
but - it DID make it - so check what' on the DVD - since a cd will not be large enough
i'll test later if boots ok
but - it DID make it - so check what' on the DVD - since a cd will not be large enough
i'll test later if boots ok
ASKER
Nobus....the process is to create the bootable CD on the system on which you've registered the product. I did that and then used the bootable CD to try and fix the corrupted drive on a different system. At first, it would not take any input from a USB KB. I swapped it for a PS/2 KB (fortunately had a PS/2 port on this desktop) and was able to input the number of the drive I wanted to be "fixed". I know have a flashing red indicator telling me " 1 - DRIVE IS NOT READY!" However, it appears to be scanning and fixing sectors albeit, it appears to be every single sector. At this rate, it will be 2 or 3 day process. The drive I selected I think is the number 2 physical drive. I don't know what the flashing red message means. I've sent a note to the author but have not heard back from him/her.
ASKER
nobus....I'm am now getting a flashing red message now says "DRIVE IS NOT READY!" It has Scanned 126387 MB (258840990 sectors) and has stopped at around 25%.
B - 2087 bad sectors found
R - 2083 bad sectors recovered
What does all of this mean. What does "drive is not ready" mean. Do I restart the process? I've sent a note to the author but have not heard back.
B - 2087 bad sectors found
R - 2083 bad sectors recovered
What does all of this mean. What does "drive is not ready" mean. Do I restart the process? I've sent a note to the author but have not heard back.
trying to answer your questions :
- it would not take any input from a USB KB - i have Always used a PS2 , simply because you never have problems with that, so yes it is possible the usb kb is not seen by the bootable cd
-when it tells you DRIVE IS NOT READY - there is something wrong imo - i NEVER got that - but it can be the drive looses connection
this brings me to the Q : how is the drive connected? - i Always operate on drives connected directly to sata - NEVER over usb (you should not introduce more variables, protocols, and processes when diagnosing)
- >> it appears to be every single sector. At this rate, it will be 2 or 3 day process. << that's what it does - it scans every sector, but the bad sectors will only be a tiny part of the drive in most cases (let's hope) - if the whole drive is bad - it will not be able to recover it
typically, the bad sectors cover some MB - often situated near the start of disk
your last message means that out of 2087 bad sectors, 2083 were recovered and are useable - which is not bad
what disk model is this, and how is it connected?
- it would not take any input from a USB KB - i have Always used a PS2 , simply because you never have problems with that, so yes it is possible the usb kb is not seen by the bootable cd
-when it tells you DRIVE IS NOT READY - there is something wrong imo - i NEVER got that - but it can be the drive looses connection
this brings me to the Q : how is the drive connected? - i Always operate on drives connected directly to sata - NEVER over usb (you should not introduce more variables, protocols, and processes when diagnosing)
- >> it appears to be every single sector. At this rate, it will be 2 or 3 day process. << that's what it does - it scans every sector, but the bad sectors will only be a tiny part of the drive in most cases (let's hope) - if the whole drive is bad - it will not be able to recover it
typically, the bad sectors cover some MB - often situated near the start of disk
your last message means that out of 2087 bad sectors, 2083 were recovered and are useable - which is not bad
what disk model is this, and how is it connected?
ASKER
nobus....the drive was attached via a SATA connection (natively). It is Seagate, Barracuda - 7200 - 500 GB drive. I have now made it the only drive on the system (again, natively attached to a SATA port) and have restarted the process.
At around 3%, I'm getting "1- Drive not ready" but the process continues to go forward finding and correcting bad sectors. It will be interesting to see if it gets beyond the 24% mark this time.
At around 3%, I'm getting "1- Drive not ready" but the process continues to go forward finding and correcting bad sectors. It will be interesting to see if it gets beyond the 24% mark this time.
ASKER
nobus....just an update. Even though the app says "Drive not ready", the app continues to id and repair bad sectors. Interestingly, then the message will disappear and the app continues its process. I have seen this happen at least a dozen times already today. This time (compared to yesterday), the process never completely stopped. It has apparently hit a good part of the drive right now and is rapidly moving thru the process. I'm already at the 60% level and if it continues at this pace, it will have finished the process in about another hour.
usuallly it's only a range of the sectors that are bad - say from 400Mb to 1Gb, and the rest is ok (no errors is fast scanning, since no rereads or writes)
the good news is nearly all were recoverd, - so hope that's the info the system needs to work, and the 4 bad sectors (which are lost) are not needed
i have used this tool on maybe 40 drives now, and never lost any data; but of course, if the disk sector is scratched (to give an example) no software can recover it- unless there is a backup somewhere
it reassigns bad sectors to good ones
a scan takes typically between 1 -3 hours, if no errors exist
the good news is nearly all were recoverd, - so hope that's the info the system needs to work, and the 4 bad sectors (which are lost) are not needed
i have used this tool on maybe 40 drives now, and never lost any data; but of course, if the disk sector is scratched (to give an example) no software can recover it- unless there is a backup somewhere
it reassigns bad sectors to good ones
a scan takes typically between 1 -3 hours, if no errors exist
ASKER
nobus....HDD Regenerator did finish with an indication that all sectors had been repaired. However, upon trying to boot from it with W10, I get a no boot device available with "boot from CD:" It does show me that SATA-5: installed though which is where I think I have the SATA cable plugged into the Mobo. I'll try a different port on the Mobo but other than that, I'm guessing that the boot sector is one that was corrupted and the app did not fully recover it.
ASKER
nobus....tried a different SATA port on the MOBO but that didn't help. I used a W10 64 bit Home and booted from it to try a "repair" but isn't fixing it. I do see that the hard drive is working but there is still something no allowing the system to boot properly. I suppose I could try a OS reload but that will not retain the WLM app which is what I really want although I think a reload will retain the files. My real challenge is that there are about 200 folders and subfolders and I can't find an easy way to migrate them into GMAIL. It is laborious.
try the paragon rescue kit : http://www.paragon-software.com/home/rk-express/
it has a boot corrector option, and other tools
it has a boot corrector option, and other tools
ASKER
nobus....I did download Paragon but it appears to be quite complicated and have not tried it. I'm at a stage in this attempt to fix the system to try a reinstallation of W10 but without losing apps and data.
Here is what I've already done as a quick summary. I have now run (more than once) HDD Regenerator. The last time I ran this, it completely failed. I've also run a old version of SpinRite. It appears to have also identified bad sectors but was able to fix them. Regardless, the system will not boot nor has any attempt to "repair" the system from within the system or from a bootable W10 Home DVD worked. I would like to regenerate the W10 system without losing files or applications but apparently that is not possible unless you can boot to W10 which I cannot do. Does anyone on the panel know of way to do this from a Bootable W10 DVD?
Here is what I've already done as a quick summary. I have now run (more than once) HDD Regenerator. The last time I ran this, it completely failed. I've also run a old version of SpinRite. It appears to have also identified bad sectors but was able to fix them. Regardless, the system will not boot nor has any attempt to "repair" the system from within the system or from a bootable W10 Home DVD worked. I would like to regenerate the W10 system without losing files or applications but apparently that is not possible unless you can boot to W10 which I cannot do. Does anyone on the panel know of way to do this from a Bootable W10 DVD?
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I ended up replacing the drive. The author of HDD Regenerator is offering to refund my purchase so that was very nice of him.
i do agree. it's one of the cases it could not solve, but it was worth a try
http://www.dposoft.net/hdd.html
then put the drive back in the Original system and test