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So I think I have a bad sector on the HDD on my laptop, and it jsut so happens to be right under the c:\windows\system32\config\default data, rendering my system unusable. Trying to backup, delete and re-write the key has been unsuccessful. Trying to do a windows repair isntallation was unsuccessful, trying to reinstall XP over the old OS was unsuccessful.
I think I need a utility that scans the disk at the sector level and then notes the bad secotrs in the MBR. I thought maxtor had a free utility like that on their web-site but cannot find it (I am at work trying to get work done, but this IS my work laptop!! )
Any suggestions would be oh-so-apprecieated right now!
Edward Abbey wrote:A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.
If you have data on the hard drive which you really NEED to get at.....
Couple of ways you might still be able to get it back.....if the old "CHKDSK /R" from the recovery console don't do it for ya.
Do a "mirror install" of XP...which might work for you, select a different $system% directory..like instead of C:\Windows, install it to C:\Winbak or C:\WindowsTwo...something like that. Might work around those bad spots on your hard drive, as re-installing will simply try to write data to the same bad spots.
Or....(and if you work with laptops in your business, this tool is a MUST HAVE)
Apricorns EZ Gig Transfer...a PCMCIA utility and software which lets you "clone", or "ghost" laptop hard drives. I just used it again this morning to upgrade my IBM Thinkpad drive to a new 8 meg cache drive. But in your case, you could plug your failing hard drive into this PCMCIA adapter, then plug the EZ gig adapter into any other laptop running 2K or XP..sort of like a slaved drive...and browse your drive and peel the data off of it that you need.
Spinrite is the best program ive seen for driver maintenance and recovery. Unfortunetly it will cost you 90 bucks but if you really need to get data and check a drive it is the best. O and if you have a maxtor drive get rid of it and get western digital there much better and will not fail as easy as the maxtor ones.
Cerberus1027 wrote:Spinrite is the best program ive seen for driver maintenance and recovery. Unfortunetly it will cost you 90 bucks but if you really need to get data and check a drive it is the best. O and if you have a maxtor drive get rid of it and get western digital there much better and will not fail as easy as the maxtor ones.
Took it about 8 hours, file system was screwed on the drive, but I was able to get a windows installation to boot and retrieve all of my important data. Did a thourough format of the drive, took all night, but it seems to be up and running again. Gonna call Dell and get the drive replaced, fortunately we have a few spare laptops around the office so I jsut grabbed another one and put my data on it.
Thanks all
Edward Abbey wrote:A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.
)
But in your case, you could plug your failing hard drive into this PCMCIA adapter, then plug the EZ gig adapter into any other laptop running 2K or XP..sort of like a slaved drive...and browse your drive and peel the data off of it that you need.
