[adk66]

Startup message reads:"Operating system not found"

Before restoring operating system to factory default I wish to first copy my personal data from hard drive.
I bought a KNOPPIX cd which boots and runs but I don't see my Hard drive icons on the desktop.

My Acer Aspire 8920 Runs Vista Home Premium 64 and has 2-320Gb HDD and is still under warranty.
Acer support, in broken english, has told me to go to the nearest repair shop to save my data before restoring!

I failed to learn my lesson as this is the second time this has happened with this computer and I failed to back up all my data.

Reading other forums, I just remembered that the startup message said: "Check cable conection!"

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.........

Edited by adk66, 22 August 2009 - 12:30 PM.

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What exactly happened for the second time, and what happened first time around?

[Broni]

What exactly happened for the second time, and what happened first time around?

[XxFadedxX]

You need to force mount the drive with Knoppix. I don't know how to for gnu but for Ubuntu, I had to do that same. The drives are primary Windows so Knoppix won't read them unless it is forced to. If your data is on a partition, you can just reinstall the windows on the main partition instead of doing a full system restore. That way, the data on the partition isn't touched and safe.
Backing up data takes up too much space, only back up the important stuff. The rest, just leave it in a separate partition and they'll be fairly safe.

[adk66]

Nov 08-One month after purchase instead of normal startup, the computer started in "Acer Arcade Deluxe" (which utelizes the media hardware/software comes with Acer computer) This program can run without starting windows!
Next startup computer went to "Startup repair" every time!
"Windows cannot repair" "contact manufacturer"
Reinstalled from back up recovery discs which i created.

Aug 09-Upon startup, black screen reads as follows:

Intel UNDI, PXE-2.1 (Build 082)
Copyright © 1997-2000 Intel Corporation

For Atheros AR8121/AR8113 PcIE Ethernet Controller v1.0.0.4 (2008/01/13)

CLIENT MAC ADDR: 00 A0 D1 A7 A5 88
Check cable connection!
PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel PXE ROM.
Operating System not found


At first, the cursor awaited my next command, was actually rotating clockwise..Its not now.

Nov 08-I paid $10 for the KNOPPIX 5.1.1 CD. I could see the named folders on the desktop however no files inside!
This time i see no folders or files. NOt sure about "force mount" too technical for myself!

........Comments greatly appreciated

[XxFadedxX]

http://www.linuxforu...-harddrive.html
This isn't an in-detail way to force mount but this is pretty much how it's done. I had the same problem, but that was when my partitioning failed, I tried to recover my windows but I couldn't so all I could do was reinstall. I couldn't even access anything in my main drive because it was really messed up. You might want to run a check on your bios and hard drive. Maybe it is failing and that's why your windows folder keeps disappearing.
Also, on a side note, $10 for a Free Live CD? That's really steep. Knoppix right now, only sells for $2.00. But lets you download for free.

[Broni]

I'd take advantage of the warranty.

[adk66]

thanks for comments...

Acer warranty support has offered no help at all. Every response I get is from a middle eastern name who simply ignores everything i say and suggests I reinstall the operating system and lose all personal data in the process.
What I want to do sounds so so simple.
See whats on the HDD and remove what's important!

I downloaded PUPPY Linux Operating system..It is simple and works great but when I mount hard drive I see a 300Gb hard drive with nothing on it. Computer has 2-320Gb hard drives.

HAve not given up yet!

[TheWhiteRose000]

Did you switch the way your hard drive was being read?
HDMI to ATA.
(Can't remember if that was right off hand.)

And / did you leave a USB drive in?

xD
These are questions I would normally ask if you weren't booting thru a program.
=/

Try anyways.

8D

[Broni]

Try to slave the drive in another computer.

[adk66]

I Did not switch the way the hard drive was being read. I did change bios to read dvd first.
No usb drive attached.
Dont understand "slave"

Thanks again

[Broni]

How to Slave a Hard Drive: http://www.dtidata.c...ave-hard-drive/

[adk66]

"Slave the hard drive" looks daunting...inside the laptop everything is so tiny. I'm afraid to touch anything.



Bios looks like this: Computer has 2-320Gb Hard drives but why is only one shown??

Boot priority order:
1: IDE 1: WDC WD3200BEVT-222CT0-(S2)
2: IDE 0:
3: CD/DVD: Optiarc BD ROM BC-5500A- (P
4: Network boot: Atheros Boot Agent
5: USB HDD:
6: USB FDD:
7: USB KEY:
8: USB CD/DVD ROM

Thanks for suggestions

[Broni]

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize, we're dealing with laptop here.
You'd have to remove laptop's hard drive, buy USB hard drive enclosure (laptop drive type), and hook it up to another working computer.
...assuming, the drive is still readable.

[robert.wiechert]

This could also mean that the HDD controller for the IDE:0 is bad. May need to contact Acer to replace the mobo.