[bdt]

Hi,
I am trying to repair the corrupt file: windows\system32\config\system. I have accessed my installation CD and I get to the Windows start up where you press R. I get to the command prompt and type in md tmp and it says access denied. I then go thru the whole process again, after reading another post, and instead of pressing repair i press install xp. I get to a screen showing partition 1 and then an unnamed partion. If I press reintall xp, will i lose my data? I have one folder that I need off the hard drive, because my backup did not back it up. Any help would be greatly appreciated and thanks in advance. I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 xp home edition operating system. My hard disk is encrypted with PGP disk encryption.
BT

[Advertisements]

YES
The HDD will be formatted and you will install XP as it is on that CD
You may have many problems depending on the version of driver issues, Service Packs and if your HDD is SATA drive recognition failure

Edited by Macboatmaster, 04 February 2011 - 05:00 PM.

[Macboatmaster]

YES
The HDD will be formatted and you will install XP as it is on that CD
You may have many problems depending on the version of driver issues, Service Packs and if your HDD is SATA drive recognition failure

Edited by Macboatmaster, 04 February 2011 - 05:00 PM.

[Macboatmaster]

Further to the above - did not spot the encryption at first
https://pgp.custhelp...ecovery-console

http://blog.securism...ncrypted-drive/

[bdt]

Hi Macboatmaster,
If I am understanding you correctly, I will lose the data on my HD is I reinstall xp from the recovery disk. I am pretty new to this and have just read the forums on the issue. One answer received from another blog was that xp would reinstall without losing data. I guess I am not sure which post to follow. I have tried both forum suggestions, one doing the R on the Windows setup, getting to the c prompt and then entering md tmp, which denies access.
Ther other post said don;t go to recovery console, but go to xp install and then hit repair. When I do that it just says install, delete or quit. Thanks for your feedback.

[Macboatmaster]

I have no idea about advice on another blog.
HAVE YOU READ THE LINKS I SENT YOU regarding your encryption.

Please be assured from me that when inserting the CD - providing it is the Microsoft XP CD and not an OEM XP reinstall CD - some of which do not have all these options - you will be presented with - basically THREE options.
1. Recovery Console - that is the first R.
2. Install windows but THEN a second opportunity to press R for repair windows.
This option SHOULD leave your personal data intact and simply reinstall the Windows installation itself.
See the excellent guide on THIS site. GeekstoGo
http://www.geekstogo...air-windows-xp/
3. Continue ignoring that second R and THIS OPTION will format the drive and you will lose everything.

See this guide for an overall view
http://www.theelderg..._windows_xp.htm

Edited by Macboatmaster, 04 February 2011 - 06:50 PM.

[bdt]

Thanks for your answers. I did see the links you sent and I am exploring those. I appreciate it greatly.

[bdt]

Hi Macboatmaster,
Well, according to you second link, I went to the Windows setup and pressed r and at the prompt put in fixmbr. This is the answer I received.
This computer appears to have a non-standard or invalid master boot record. FIXMBR may damage your partition tables if you proceed. This could cause all the partitions on the current hard disk to become inaccessible. If you are not having problems accessing your drive, do not continue. Are you sure you want to write a new MBR/
I am not doing a lot of the stuff he did, I don't have a second computer that I can use or do I understand everything else he is doing. I did make a pgp recovery disk, standby, I am going to try and boot off of that, well it didn't do anything. So do I go ahead and write a new mbr, or will i lose everything. Should I just take to a data recovery specialist and tell them the issues. Thanks again for your help. BDT

[bdt]

Hi Macboatmaster,
Well, according to you second link, I went to the Windows setup and pressed r and at the prompt put in fixmbr. This is the answer I received.
This computer appears to have a non-standard or invalid master boot record. FIXMBR may damage your partition tables if you proceed. This could cause all the partitions on the current hard disk to become inaccessible. If you are not having problems accessing your drive, do not continue. Are you sure you want to write a new MBR/
I am not doing a lot of the stuff he did, I don't have a second computer that I can use or do I understand everything else he is doing. I did make a pgp recovery disk, standby, I am going to try and boot off of that, well it didn't do anything. So do I go ahead and write a new mbr, or will i lose everything. Should I just take to a data recovery specialist and tell them the issues. Thanks again for your help. BDT

[Macboatmaster]

Well, according to you second link, I went to the Windows setup and pressed r and at the prompt put in fixmbr

I never suggested FixMbr.
You asked on your first poat

If I press reintall xp, will i lose my data?

Then you asked for clarification and I sent you the two guides.
There is a chance that FixMbr would indeed cause problems, as the HDD is partitioned.

The first thing to do is to go to Recovery Console
when in there and at the command prompt, where you typed FixMbr.
TYPE "chkdsk C: /r" without the quotes and presuming that Windows is on drive C:\.

When that has completed exit the recovery console and see if the computer will now boot.

Post back and if not working I will give you the next command.

[bdt]

Hi Macboatmaster,
Thank you again for your help. I entered the command and the answer was:
The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems. thank you again.
BDT

[Macboatmaster]

Please provide the make and model if branded ie: Dell, HP etc.
Does the computer have a floppy drive please.
If you KNOW the make of the HDD please provide that.


I strongly recommend you recover whatever data your require.
You can do this by taking out the HDD and putting it in an enclosure and then connecting it to another computer via usb and simply copy your data that way. You are not going to open the HDD to run Windows, you are merely going to access it as you would a flash pen drive etc.
OR you can if possible slave it inside another computer and do the same.

OR I can send you a program to burn onto a CD that will allow you, all being well to get your data. Do you have another conmputer to burn a CD and do you have a flash pen to copy the data to.

Edited by Macboatmaster, 05 February 2011 - 10:06 AM.

[bdt]

Hello and thanks again for your help.
My computer is a Dell Inspiron 6000, the HDD is a Seagate Momentus 5400.3 80 GB. I do not have a floppy. I do have a computer that I can burn a cd and I do have a 4 GB flash drive that I can copy the data to. I appreciate your help very much. I am a total neophyte. I will go to my local computer store and get the usb to transfer the data from my hard drive to the other computer. I will let you know how it goes. Thank you very much again. BDT

[bdt]

Hi Macboatmaster,
I have purchased a ide/sata/usb harddrive adapter. I have attached my Seagate HDD to the adapter and plugged the adapter into my computer with the usb cable. When I go to my computer and click on the drive F, it says I have to format first. I am reading the directions in the adapter and if I format, won't I lose all my data? Your advise is greatly appreciated.
BDT

[bdt]

Here is what my screen says:

[bdt]

here is the attachment

Attached Files

•  driveF.pdf   430.15KB   207 downloads