[Me11y]

*
*
Hi ya dsenette

I will do as you ask but you need to know that
the tech from Microsoft who tried to help me
had me change it to this setting. I think he was
going to try to help me somehow copy my files
to CD or DVD but after lunch thought better of it.
Instead he suggested I take my hard drive in &
pay someone to recover my files & photos. I
don't think he saw this problem as Microsofts
responsibility.

But like I said I wil place hard drive first & try
again as you suggested.

Ok I'm back. Mission accomplished but no luck.
I still get the same sad results.

[Advertisements]

ok...well..here's where that "how comfy are you with the inside of a computer" question comes in....

let's do the free and easy method of getting your files back...

turn the machine off and unplug it...and ground yourself...now open the case...and take the hard drive out....on the back you will see a little plastic deal...we call it a jumper...that jumper is across two pins in a bay of maybe 4 pins ( looks like this ::[:]....somewhere on the case neaer this jumper...there should be some letters etched into the drive (CS, MSTR, SLV) put the jumper on the SLV...now...open up a working computer by the same process as above...and hook the drive up to the middle connector on an open IDE cable (the cable that connects to the hard drives)...now...when you start up that computer....you should now see your old drive as a second drive on that computer...you should now be able to navigate to your files and pull them off the drive....after tat you will have to take owner ship of the files...but i'll tell you how to do that once you get all your important stuff off of there

[dsenette]

ok...well..here's where that "how comfy are you with the inside of a computer" question comes in....

let's do the free and easy method of getting your files back...

turn the machine off and unplug it...and ground yourself...now open the case...and take the hard drive out....on the back you will see a little plastic deal...we call it a jumper...that jumper is across two pins in a bay of maybe 4 pins ( looks like this ::[:]....somewhere on the case neaer this jumper...there should be some letters etched into the drive (CS, MSTR, SLV) put the jumper on the SLV...now...open up a working computer by the same process as above...and hook the drive up to the middle connector on an open IDE cable (the cable that connects to the hard drives)...now...when you start up that computer....you should now see your old drive as a second drive on that computer...you should now be able to navigate to your files and pull them off the drive....after tat you will have to take owner ship of the files...but i'll tell you how to do that once you get all your important stuff off of there

[Me11y]

*
*
Good morning dsenette

I am using my good friend & neighbor's:

Dell Dimension 2400 Pentum 4 DeskTop with
Windows XP Home Edition.

Thanks for your input Skeptic :>)

I feel secure here, like I have a large family.

When I upgraded to the 80 gig hard drive a few
years ago, I attempted to get my PC to duel
Boot. My plan was to put Windows 98 on the
20 gig hard drive & Windows XP Home Edition
on the 80 gig hard drive. I was unsuccessful
at this. It ended up that I could only boot into
Windows XP Home Edition. I left it at that &
made do. I never found out what happened
to Windows 98.

I am pretty sure everything I need is on the
80 gig hard drive, including Windows XP Home
Edition.

==================================

Ok, this is where my lack of expertise comes
into play which compells me to ask possible
stupid questions. Although I beleive there are
no such things as stupid questions, some
silently disagree with me on that.

Am I to understand that I will need 2 computers
to get to my files?

You wrote: open up a working computer by the same process as above...

Does this mean:

#1 I should ALSO.... take the hard drive out of the second, working PC & put
the jumper on the SLV too?

OR...

#2 Am I simply to open a 2nd working PC, ground myself & hook the drive up
to the middle connector on an open IDE cable (the cable that connects to
the hard drives then reboot ONLY? (My common sense tells me this is what you
want me to do but must be sure.)

*
*

Edited by Me11y, 13 January 2006 - 10:49 AM.

[dsenette]

yeah....are you currently posting from a laptop?

[The Skeptic]

You mentioned that you have two HDs, one 20, the other 80GIG. You also mentioned that you added the 80GIG latter so I assume that the 20GIG is your system drive (the one with windows on it). Where do you store your valuable data, is it on the 20 or 80GIG? If it is on the 80 GIG then you have no problem because it lies safely there. You can disconnect the drive and run a repair on the 20GIG (you don't even have to disconnect it. I suggest that just to make sure that the data isn't damaged under any circumstances). If the data is on the 20GIG then please follow desenette advice.

[dsenette]

the skeptic is on to something here...totally missed that in the beginning...i was under the assumption that you only had one drive..

[Me11y]

*
*
dsenette, I haven't heard from you so I am
posting this again in case you missed it
the first time:

--------------------------------------------------------

Good morning dsenette smile.gif

I am using my good friend & neighbor's:

Dell Dimension 2400 Pentum 4 DeskTop with
Windows XP Home Edition.

Thanks for your input Skeptic :>)

I feel secure here, like I have a large family.

When I upgraded to the 80 gig hard drive a few
years ago, I attempted to get my PC to duel
Boot. My plan was to put Windows 98 on the
20 gig hard drive & Windows XP Home Edition
on the 80 gig hard drive. I was unsuccessful
at this. It ended up that I could only boot into
Windows XP Home Edition. I left it at that &
made do. I never found out what happened
to Windows 98.

I am pretty sure everything I need is on the
80 gig hard drive, including Windows XP Home
Edition.

==================================

Ok, this is where my lack of expertise comes
into play which compells me to ask possible
stupid questions. Although I beleive there are
no such things as stupid questions, some
silently disagree with me on that.

Am I to understand that I will need 2 computers
to get to my files?

You wrote: open up a working computer by the same process as above...

Does this mean:dsenette

#1 I should ALSO.... take the hard drive out of the second, working PC & put
the jumper on the SLV too? lookaround.gif

OR...

#2 Am I simply to open a 2nd working PC, ground myself & hook the drive up
to the middle connector on an open IDE cable (the cable that connects to
the hard drives then reboot ONLY? (My common sense tells me this is what you
want me to do but must be sure.)

*
*

[dsenette]

what you would be doing...is just taking out the drive that you think failed....and jumpering it as slave...then connecting it as a slave to the working pc....as a secondary hard drive....that way..you will be booting to the primary drive of that machine( and using it's working version of windwos)...hopefully...that version of windows will be able to detect the drive...in which case you can browse to your important information and copy it over to the working pc...burn it to cds if you can...and what not...then we can run some tests on the drive...and take it from there

[Me11y]

********************************************
*
*
Hey dsenette,

I am so sorry for the delay. I was almost ready
to post this when I was ran down by a bad case
of the flu.:>( I must say, this month has
really been a challenge. I am now looking both
ways before I leave a room!

I am struggling to finish this so I can post it.
I probably won't be good for much of anything for
a few more suffering days. My plan is to get your
feedback on this post, follow your instructions
then post the results just as soon as my fever
comes down and my bedroom stops moving.

--------------------------------------------------

To recover my important files, folders and
pictures off my failed hard drive:


1.) I need to choose the drive that I think
failed.

In this issue I would treat my 80 gig hard
drive as the failed hard drive.

2.) I need to turn my computer off, unplug it,
ground myself then I can safely open my
computer case.


3.) I need to disconnect and remove my 80 gig
hard drive from my computer.

4.) I need to Jump my 80 gig hard drive as a
slave. In other words, I need to set up my 80
gig hard drive as a second hard drive. To do
this:

a.) I need to look on the back of my 80 gig
hard drive for a a little plastic piece
that is called a jumper.This jumper is
located across two pins in a bay of
maybe 4 pins and looks like this ::[:]

b.) I need to look on the case somewhere near
this jumper. I should find some letters
etched into the drive (CS, MSTR, SLV)

c.) I need to attach the jumper to the SLV.


5.) I need to ground myself, open my computer case,
attach my 80 gig hard drive to the middle
connector on an open IDE cable (the same cable
that connects to the hard drive).

6.) My 80 gig hard drive should now be successfully
connected as a slave to my computer. When I
start up my computer, I should now see my 80
gig hard drive as a second hard drive on my
computer and navigate to my files.

7.) I need to pull the files, folders photos, etc.
that I want to recover off my 80 gig hard drive.

8.) dsenette will show me how to take owner ship of
these files after my important files, folders,
photos etc. have been removed from my 80 gig
hard drive.


I want to do this right so I can't help but
worry about my 20 gig hard drive. I am pretty
sure everything I need is on the 80 gig hard
drive and this is definately what I want to
beleive. But no matter how hard I try, I
can't be sure. What a mess! What if I buy
another 20 gig hard drive, install windows
on it, then use it to boot into both the 80
gig and the 20 gig hard drives if necessary?
Would that make everything be easier?


Also,should I change the setting on my Bios?
I can do it. I just need to know what order
to set it in? This is the order the Microsoft
tech set it:


#1 CD-ROM
#2 HARD DRIVE
#3 NETWORK BOOT
#4 REMOVABLE DEVICES


Please don't forget or give up on me as my
need for your help is great. For now I will
wait for your feedback so you can look over
this post and point out anything you think
I don't understand and/or anything that
needs correcting in my version of your
instructons.


Thank you so very much dsenette for your
patience with me and your valuable time,

Melly :>)

[dsenette]

well...it's very possible that you may have to buy a new hd once this process is over and done with....so if you were planning on getting another 20 gig...then sure...you could get another 20 gig hard drive...take all the drives out of the offending computer...and then install windows and all that jazz...and take it from there....that is a feasable sollution...i just usually prefer to not have to buy new hardware unless i have to...if you wanna go that route...then we can...you would be doing the same steps...basically..just...inside of the same computer instead of using a second computer...but yeah...all your steps sound right.....let me know what your plans are as of now

[Me11y]

*
*
Ok dsenette, In answer to your reply,
lets do it!

You know how important this lost data & etc. is to me. You also
know that I'm not sure if there is a working Wndows and/or
important data on the 20 gig hard drive. You say getting another
20 gig is not neccessary. In fact I can't see how we can prepare
for this any better.OK. Fine. I think I'm ready. A Little nervous but
ready.

Keeping in mind that I'm in Western Maryland, name a couple or 3
good days & times for you & I will pick one. My big problem now is
I just can't seem to thank you enough. :>)

Me11y

[dsenette]

well...hehe i'm here mon thru friday 8 to 5 ish....sooo...whenever i guess...all i need to know is which way you want to do this...do you want to take the drive out into another computer? or do you want to put a new drive into this one...let me know how you want to proceed and we'll set some steps up