Booting HDD through DOS commands

Question

Hello,   I have bootable USB and i want to boot in my non working HDD through Win98 installed on bootable USB.. Nonworking HDD in the sense that, when i boot normally, it says that a disc read error occured..so i cannot boot further with this HDD..but i can use another HDD on my laptop..it works fine!   Now, when i put my non-working HDD & boot through USB, i get Windows 98 screen at start & then C prompt..then i run DIR C:..it gives me a list of 30 files on screen 30 file (s) 1,079,851 bytes 1 dir (s) 60,147,712 bytes free   how do i proceed from this point?   kindly advise   Kedar. Spl. Attn: Mr.Alon.

aloncohen · Answer

Well, I've told you already (in my last post) :smileysurprised:   Put your non-working HDD & boot through USB. You should get Windows 98 screen at start & then C prompt. At this point you are working via your bootable USB Win98 OS. This USB stick defined in the system as Drive C  (by default).   Now, you have to 'guess' your non-working HDD - definition in the system. To do the 'guessing mission' you have to try by using the command DIR followed by any character and a colon, starting with D: or E: or F: ... etc. UNTIL you will hopefully see some files & directories. (an example: DIR E: )   Say DIR D: was successful, means that your 'non-working HDD' is still ALIVE otherwise It's NOT.   So check this out, and return with an answer.   Alon C.

RoHe · Answer

What version of Windows file format does the ailing HDD use? If it's NTFS (eg, WinXP or 2K), I doubt Win98 is going to recognize it and be able to recover your files. In that case you may need to install the HDD as a slave in a compatible system running the right version of Windows to recover your files.

Ron

aloncohen · Answer

Yessss! you are 100% absolutely right RoHe, I've forgot to ask this Q ( I would certainly recall this one later on... :smileywink: ) Thanks   Alon C.

kedar_deshpande · Answer

Hello Alon,   i tried to boot HDD from USB..initially i got Windows 98 screen & then C prompt. Then i run DIR C..i got list of files..then i tried from DIR D to Z, i did not get any results,  DIR R: showed following result CDR101: Not ready reading drive R.   I tried to change boot order to various modes Onboard NIC PXE-E61: Media test failure check cable Cardbus NIC Boot failed Diagnostics Express test - PASS Extended Test - for Hard Disc IDE Disk - System Memory, Device Self Test, SEEK Test, S.M.A.R.T Test ----PASS IDE Disk - Confidence Test - Skipped IDE Disk - Read Test, Verify Test --- FAIL   Kindly advice!   Kedar.   Note : The file format was NTFS on Windows XP Prof earlier.

aloncohen · Answer

Yea, I believe you can predict the sequel. :smileysad: Please follow the RoHo NTFS supplementation instructions above.   Good luck Alon C.

kedar_deshpande · Answer

Hello Ron,   i tried to boot HDD from USB..initially i got Windows 98 screen & then C prompt. Then i run DIR C..i got list of files..then i tried from DIR D to Z, i did not get any results,  DIR R: showed following result CDR101: Not ready reading drive R.   I tried to change boot order to various modes Onboard NIC PXE-E61: Media test failure check cable Cardbus NIC Boot failed Diagnostics Express test - PASS Extended Test - for Hard Disc IDE Disk - System Memory, Device Self Test, SEEK Test, S.M.A.R.T Test ----PASS IDE Disk - Confidence Test - Skipped IDE Disk - Read Test, Verify Test --- FAIL   Kindly advice!   Kedar.   Note : The file format was NTFS on Windows XP Prof earlier.

RoHe · Answer

Kedar, You still haven't told us what version of Windows is on the old HDD. If it's not Win98, your efforts to recover files by booting from the USB memory stick with Win98 are probably useless. You'll have to install this HDD as a secondary drive in another system running the same version of Windows to recover your files, assuming it's still readable.

If you're desperate, there are companies that can recover files from a damaged HDD, but that can be very expensive.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 02-21-2007 10:07 AM

kedar_deshpande · Answer

Hello Ron,   I was operating Windows XP prof version on my non-working HDD. I have now my laptop with Windows XP Prof installed and working on another HDD.   The non-working HDD is removed and kept aside.   Kindly guide me now as to how to proceed from this step onwards   Thank you   Kedar

RoHe · Answer

Find a desktop PC that runs XP and temporarily install the old HDD as a secondary drive. Boot from that PC's working HDD in XP and copy the files from your HDD. Then uninstall the old HDD.

I can't give you any more instructions because specifics about installing the old HDD in another PC will depend on what PC it is and what type of HDD you're trying to install in it.

Maybe a nice friend who knows about PCs can do this for you..?

Good luck!

Ron

kedar_deshpande · Answer

Hello Ron,   u r right..i need a good friend for this to guide me. This way will not work now !   I hope somebody might explain..i still have some patience left !:)   Kedar

aloncohen · Answer

Hi Ron, I would suggest solving the problem using a simple tiny DOS app. (147K)  in order to READ and COPY the old NTFS HDD - assuming there is no physical damage to the HDD of course,   So, everyone including Kedar can DOWNLOAD IT HERE  (and it's a freeware as well.)  Then copy the app. to his USB (Win98) mem, Boot with it and then copy any file or folder from NTFS to a FAT volume or any Network Drive.   I think It's the easiest way to do it ( with no fuss or muss.. :smileywink: )   BTW, I've checked it myself and it's fine.   Alon C.

RoHe · Answer

Alon,
Good suggestion (thanks for the link) assuming that works. I was under impression that NTFS (eg, XP) security protected you so someone couldn't just read/copy files off the HDD without logging into that user's account. You certainly can't read/copy files on the HDD if you boot from the XP installation CD, unless Group Policies had previously been set to allow access to all files/folders.

So much for privacy and security...

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 02-21-2007 01:30 PM

aloncohen · Answer

Yea, Don't take it too seriously, actually.. NOTHING is secured today :smileymad: ** and just remember this: 'We are born naked, wet, and hungry. Then things get worse.'   Alon C.

kedar_deshpande · Answer

Hello Alon,   I have downloaded the file that u mentioned on my USB (Win 98)   Sorry, i did not understand ur instructions after that. Could you please eplain as to what exactly i have to do from now.   thank you   Kedar

aloncohen · Answer

Dear Mr. Kedar I beleve you can see my last posts - just few inches above... Well, once the readntfs.exe app. is on your memory-stick root directory, it's ready to read and transfer your NTFS HDD files/folders, assuming there is no physical damage to your ailing HDD.   1 Learn or print the readntfs INSTRUCTIONS first. When done, follow this: 2 Boot with USB 3 Run the readntfs.exe app. 4 Find your NTFS ailing HDD using the App GUI. 5 Copy the files/folders as needed to a FAT volume Destination or Network drive. 6 Be happy, don't smoke and ......... OOPS! My brain just hit a bad sector.

Windows General

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