Laptop boots. BIOS is recognized. HDD, DVD, etc. are all recognized in the BIOS. Can't tell if size of HDD is recognized, but it doesn't look good. Tried ALL sorts of recovery options including low level format. Format could not even take place. Every time I try to fool with some recovery option laptop powers down and does not reboot. The HDD drives has started to make funny LOUD clicking noises as if the head arm is slapping up against the side of the drive. Obvbiously NOT a good sign. HDD has been replaced before on this machine for just such a reason. The only thing I haven't tried yet is ghosting the drive. First off I don't really know how to, but on the other hand I have looked into it, and it just doesn't seem like a viable option at this point. Recovery from trying to install Windows XP Home goes through loading setup files, then when it wants to go to the next step - starting windows - the laptop powers down. I've checked all options in the BIOS to try to prevent this, and nothing. Something wants to happen, but something keeps it from doing so. Any ideas? My resort now is to buy a new HDD and start from scratch.

Clicking noises from hard drive...sorry, think the hard drive is a goner.

Some drives make extra loud noises if a part of the mbr is corrupted, the Firmware tries repeatedly to go to that part of the drive where the data is supposed to be, or "over further" to find the data; if the drive was formatted incorrectly.. Firmware could ask the heads to read too far over and contact the heads bumpstops in the parked position, or on the inside track.. If you got a friend closeby that knows how to work on laptops, have them pull the drive, and hook it to an adapter/PC then recover it on the PC, find the lost files etc.. If they can't make a backup, atlease they can re-format it on the PC or test it for physical errors.. If it makes the PC powerdown; then you know the drives putting both feet into the grave...

Just a thank you for confirming my hunch.

Hi,

If all else fails you could try this:
Put the drive in a plastic bag - ensuring all the air is forced out and seal it ( tape / elastic band ).
Put the drive in a freezer for a good few hours - then replace it in the laptop.
You may be pleaseantly surprised ( or not ).

I have heard of this a few times before and recommended it once before. The success rate was not 100% but I have seen threads where data was retreived using this method.

It is a strange "fix" but if all else has failed then nothing lost.

This link explains a bit more:
http://geeksaresexy.blogspot.com/2006/01/freeze-your-hard-drive-to-recover-data.html

I think I'll try that! Thanks for the tip! I'll let you know how it comes out. (Probably frozen).

The frozen hard drive didn't do anything. Sorry. Good "shot in the dark" though! Thanks. I'm at another crossroads though. See next post. It's also posted in Hardware forum. Anybody up for this one?

I CAN figure it out, but you may say, "If you don't know then DON'T DO IT!!!!" How do you and what's the process for ghosting a HDD. I can't imagine it would be any different for a laptop HDD than a full size HDD. Here's the issue. Can/Should I do it while the HDD is still in or not in the laptop? (Please see thread "Recovering from "MBR Error"" in Operating systems forum.) What do you suggest? Do I need software, and what do you suggest? Do I need some sort of hardware to help, and what do you suggest?

Ghosting usually requires a second hard drive, atleast as big as the original drive that you want to make an image of.. I'll check out your other post and see if I can post anymore usefull info, but for now here's some info to consider. Before Ghosting your drive, the drive needs to be in good running order, with all your apps/OS installed and working, free of viruses etc.. The purpose of ghosting the drive is to get a working copy of your current runnign configuration, so that you can quickly restore your system in the event of a drive failure/os curruption or bad virus infection.. It's best to keep a running backup of all your important data and ghost a fresh installation of the running OS with applications and stuff you use most often.

Is there no one out there that wants to give me the answer, or is it just that no none knows? I need to learn how, but it seems that no one wants to help out!


How does one recover files from a drive that has bit the dust, but not too badly. "Not too badly" as in the computer recognizes it, but there is an MBR error, and is not bootable. Any thoughts would be nice. I have a hard drive that I'm trying to learn on/with that I don't care if the files are lost or not. If nobody has the answer, then where can I find the proper resources? If anyone suggests "Norton Ghost" I'll slap them!

Is there no one out there that wants to give me the answer, or is it just that no none knows? I need to learn how, but it seems that no one wants to help out!


How does one recover files from a drive that has bit the dust, but not too badly. "Not too badly" as in the computer recognizes it, but there is an MBR error, and is not bootable. Any thoughts would be nice. I have a hard drive that I'm trying to learn on/with that I don't care if the files are lost or not. If nobody has the answer, then where can I find the proper resources? If anyone suggests "Norton Ghost" I'll slap them!


Hey, noprob I found some resources that might be helpfull; you use google at all?

This is what I found when searching for [MBR errors]

http://www.ntfs.com/mbr-damaged.htm

""The simplest way to repair or re-create MBR is to run Microsoft's standard utility called FDISK with a parameter /MBR, like

A:\> FDISK.EXE /MBR

FDISK is a standard utility included in MS-DOS, Windows 95, 98, ME.

If you have Windows NT / 2000 / XP, you can boot from startup floppy disks or CD-ROM, choose repair option during setup, and run Recovery Console. When you are logged on, you can run FIXMBR command to fix MBR.

Also you can use third party MBR recovery software or if you've created MBR backup, restore it from there (Active@ Partition Recovery has such capabilities).

What will happen if the first sector is bad/unreadable?

Most likely we'll get the same black screen, which we got when trying to boot. When you try to read it using Disk Viewer/Editor you should get an error message saying that sector is unreadable. In this case recovery software is unable to help you to bring HDD back to the working condition, i.e. physical partition recovery is not possible. The only thing that can be done is to scan and search for partitions (i.e. perform virtual partition recovery), and in case if something is found - display them and give the user an opportunity to save important data to another location. Third party software, like Active@ UNERASER, will help you here.""

you can also try the tidbit that F1 has listed previously http://forum.networktechs.com/showpost.php?p=14242&postcount=1