Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: daddog on April 20, 2007, 10:05:18 AM
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My HD crashed last weekend. Had it for a couple years. It is a 250gig Maxtor with a SATA connection. It will start boot up normally. Gets to the XP logo and then just goes black.
I can boot to the WinXP CD and have these choices.
*Setup Win XP now
*Repair a Win XP install using the recovery consol
*Exit
Tried the repair twice with zero luck. It did say there was some bad sectors.
It asks what install I want to log on to and lists my C:\Windows
I choose that and it puts me at a
C:\Windows> prompt.
What do I do from there?
Also tried the setup XP option. It has a repair option a screen or two later. Now it will not even boot up to the XP logo.
Memory checks out fine. On boot up it does not list the HD.
MB ECS 755-A2
CPU AMD 3200
GeoForce 6600GT
1.5GB of RAM
XP w/SP2 all updated.
DirectX 9c
LiteOn DVD Burner SOHW-1693S
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Did your hard drive crash or did your Windows get corrupted?
If the HD crashed then there is something physically wrong with the drive and you should disgard it immediately (you may be able to recover some data off it).
If your Windows got corrupted I've never had success with the 'Repair' function in setup. I've always just had a reformat.
In the BIOS, see if you are able to redetect the HD. If not, and all the cable connections are good etc, sounds like the hard drive has crashed and you'll need to replace it.
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You have to continue to the 'setup' option and then it will ask you if you want to repair your installation automatically. It's confusing really. But 8 times out of 10 I've been able to restore functionality with it. The few cases have called for a reformat.
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"Calling Doctor Skuzzy, Dr. Skuzzy come in"
DD come visit, bring the PC and your sticks. We'll reformat and have you on for squad ops tonight and lan it up at my place.
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Thanks guys. Not sure Fulmar, I will check tonight when I get home.
I will try it again MrRip.
Can't tonight Larry. Humm you home Saturday or Sunday?
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Originally posted by daddog
. Humm you home Saturday or Sunday?
Ya... sent you a private msg.
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:aok Sent reply.
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a few opinions here daddog,
1- being a SATA HardDrive it should be hot-swappable meaning you can plug in another HD load an OS and still retrive your data you want off of this one....
2 - long ago if you remember, when one would want to exit windows and go to DOS to do something then go back to windows one would type WIN or start and hit enter
the above #2 is in reference to ---> It asks what install I want to log on to and lists my C:\Windows
I choose that and it puts me at a
C:\Windows> prompt.
What do I do from there?
3- have you went into your CMOS/BIOS at powerup and tryed to let it autodetect the SATA-HD?
just some quick thoughts/opinions/comments for ya to chew on there, daddog, good luck with it.....
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Thanks TC! Will try #1 when I get home if nothing else. :)
Rgr on the auto detect. Did not work, but I will try it again.
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Tried the reinstall again. Says...
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
says to reinstall a copy of that. How would I do that?
Other thoughts gents?
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Originally posted by daddog
Tried the reinstall again. Says...
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
says to reinstall a copy of that. How would I do that?
Other thoughts gents?
Try this page...
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000646.htm
Missing or corrupt ntoskrnl.exe file
If the ntoskrnl.exe file is corrupt or missing this can also generate the error. To restore this file follow the below steps.
1. Insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD. Note: If you have a recovery CD or a restore CD and not a Microsoft Windows XP CD it is likely the below steps will not resolve your issue.
2. Reboot the computer, as the computer is starting you should see a message to press any key to boot from the CD. When you see this message press any key.
3. In the Microsoft Windows XP setup menu press the R key to enter the recovery console.
4. Select the operating system you wish to fix, and then enter the administrator password.
5. Type expand d:\i386\ntoskrnl.ex_ c:\windows\system32
6. You will then be prompted if you wish to overwrite the file type Y and press enter to overwrite the file.
7. Type exit to reboot the computer.
Good luck!
Regards,
Sun
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This happened to me *would start up normal then go to black screen after windows log* but when I did it to mine I as replacing a video card and forgot to unplug the computer that combined with the wrong type of video card *was PCIE not PCI whoops* led to one messed up computer! SO i basically fried the motherboard and messed up the video stuff. Was a very fun learning experience:rofl :rofl :rofl
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Thanks for the suggestions guys!
* Tried to hook up my SATA drive to sondogs and my daughters system, but their older power supply does not have a SATA power connection.
* Tried to reinstall the ntoskrnl but it said file not found. :huh I have the original Win XP CD so I don't know why it would not find it.
*Tried the swapping of keyboards as that was mentioned as a possible solution in one of the links. Again no joy.
Still trying to figure this out.
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Tried the reinstall again. Says...
"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\system32\ntoskrnl.exe
says to reinstall a copy of that. How would I do that?
Other thoughts gents?
Do you have a floppy drive on your son or daughter's pc and on your PC? if so have someone send this file to you in an email, copy it to the floppy, then install it in the DOS prompt where you mentioned before you could get to C:\windows>
just do a file copy from A:\ntoskrnl.exe to the C:\windows\system32\ directory
if you can actually have use of your floppy drive...just a thought.
but after you are able to do this, youmight have another missing file pop up........:(
daddog, do you not have a power converter/adapter to go from a 4 pin to a SATA power type plug? should have 1 or 2 of these lying around IF you built your own system.....heck might even be one in your PC Case , take a look around see if you see anything of the sort......
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Daddog sure seems to me like you have a problem with the boot sector of that drive. If thats the case the sooner you quit messing about with the the better chance you have of recovering data from it in the end.
Go buy a new drive, get it installed, reinstall XP, software, etc.
When system is back up, stable, and functioning then plug the bad drive in and see if you can copy data from it.
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Originally posted by Ghosth
Daddog sure seems to me like you have a problem with the boot sector of that drive. If thats the case the sooner you quit messing about with the the better chance you have of recovering data from it in the end.
Go buy a new drive, get it installed, reinstall XP, software, etc.
When system is back up, stable, and functioning then plug the bad drive in and see if you can copy data from it.
Yes that is actually a very good piece of advice. Hard drives are dirt cheap nowadays and you can use the extra space later anyway.
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TC thanks. Don't worry about it. I have tried everything about 3 times. This is odd.
On the initial boot up it reads the following.
IDE Channel 0 Master – None
IDE Channel 0 Slave – None
IDE Channel 1 Master – Pioneer DVD
IDE Channel 1 Slave – None
IDE Channel 2 Master – None
IDE Channel 2 Slave – Maxtor (my SATA Hard Drive)
Now in the CMOS setup it lists the same thing above, but without my Maxtor SATA Hard Drive. IDE Channel 0 Master – None
IDE Channel 0 Slave – None
IDE Channel 1 Master – Pioneer DVD
IDE Channel 1 Slave – None
IDE Channel 2 Master – None
IDE Channel 2 Slave – None
At this point am going to get a new drive and try what Ghosth suggested. I will take my system in Monday to work (I teach) and with the T1 at school I can download and update everything pronto. Then I will hook up my old drive and see what I can copy over.
I appreciate all the help gents. :) Will post again when it is all resolved. :)
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It may also be your motherboard failing so the ide controller starts to drop drives or cause read/write errors. I had a mobo that thrashed my whole harddrive once.
So.. proceed with extreme caution and take backups asap.
Try also completely unplugging your computer - switch it off and remove the power cord for a few seconds. As a weird coincidence my computer also lost one of its drives just last week but a complete cold reboot fixed it.
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Sorry I didn't see this thread before.
Is Sondogs' computer able to accept an SATA drive or do you have access to a computer that can?
The recovery requires several physical hard drive transfers between two machines but can be accomplished using only the data wiring if you ground the two computer cases to each other. Install your drive in a working computer and after setting up the new drive in BIOS as a slave, copy all your data folders including everything except the invisible OS files and folders and the WINDOWS folder. This will preserve everything including your cookies, browser bookmarks and email addresses which are always a pain to recover. The OS folders have files that will abort a copy proceedure.
Put your drive back into your machine and reinstall windows. I recommend partitioning the drive 1/3rd OS vs 2/3rds data during the process so you can avoid these problems in the future.
After you have XP up and have run all the hardware tests, connect the drive back in the machine holding your data and transfer your files back into a folder in your new data partition. If you saved all the application installers for your programs you'll be back up and running in less then a day including clean up, don't forget to put all the BIOS settings for both machines back to right.
If you use Thunderbird, your email can be imported as well as you address book, but first create a folder named 'Email' on your data partition so you can point Thunderbird there when it asks where to save your email and address book. Using the file types Thunderbird creates in your new email folder, search for your old email and address book.
For Firefox bookmarks, search for bookmarks.html. For IE, search for Favorites. Be sure to use copies until you have it all working but replace your user default bookmark file/folder with the proper one you saved. Cookies are the same, search, make copies and replace the invisible default folder inside C:\Documents and Settings\userID\.
At this point you will have a working machine with your bookmarks and email up and running. You can then reinstall your applications and choose to recover such application settings and configure files as you see fit.
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Amazingly, I have a similar drive (Maxtor sata 300 gig) and I had the exact same problem, only mine happened after I formatted. No matter what I did, it just wouldn't take a format and gave me multiple errors due to master/slave status.
I did everything in my ability, formatting, creating partitions (I didn't care about date loss) and such without success. Instead, I went out and got a 10k HD instead from a company I never had problems with in the past (Western Digitial).
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I've also had so many Maxtors fail on me that I buy exclusively WD nowadays. I never had one fail on me so far.
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Originally posted by MrRiplEy[H]
I've also had so many Maxtors fail on me that I buy exclusively WD nowadays. I never had one fail on me so far.
Vis Versa for me the last 10 years. Still have a 1.2gb Maxtor that can still be fired up.
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My WD just failed on me... it's only 2 months old!
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Have any of you guys ever tried the surface of a running hard drive with your hand? I never make boxes without a 120mm fan blowing air directly on the hd rack. Anymore. After learning the hard way. :aok
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Daddog,
I worked at Dell for a while and I cant tell you how many Maxtor hdd's we had to replace. Many more than any other brand!
You can however try debugging the hdd. Normally this is done on IDE drives and I wouldn't recommend doing this to a SATA drive but if you cant load anything on it then you dont have much to lose! Youll need to boot to a dos prompt and run a debug script on it then try to reinstall windows. Debugging the drive will move all the bad sectors to one particular area and erase or 0 out all the files on the hdd. YOU WILL LOSE ALL INFO ON THE HDD by running a debug script on it. Also you'll need to reinstall the sata drivers on the hdd to get it to load windows. Make sure you have the drivers downloaded to a floppy and press F6 at the prompt in windows setup. This is just a suggestion but its worth a try and has fixed this issue on a number of occasions even on some SATA drives. You can get a good debug script and info here:
Debug Script and info page (http://www.fdisk.com/fdisk/HardDrive.htm)
Hope this may help!
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Question? why is it showing your SATA drive as an IDE drive , and also as a Slave?
1st thought is it should be a Master Drive, 2nd thought, for SATA drives, I thought you had to manually go into your Bios and pick the option for your boot up to be SATA or other type verses a true IDE channel....
just curious...seems a miss with the way you have listed what it says......
yes, I agree with Ghosth and Ripley on quickly getting a new HD and transfering your important/most wanted data.......
Good Luck daddog,