Very commonly, this is a symptom of a drive that has developed bad sectors and is failing. If you've no access to your profile and files, BEFORE you do anything else, decide what it's worth to have the data back. The more you do to a drive that's failing, the lower the chances of recovery. Data recovery isn't cheap - budget a couple of thousand dollars for a straightforward recovery - but it's likely the only way you'll get your data back. Drive Savers, Ontrack and Nortek all do data recovery and can often work miracles - for a price likely to run $2,000 or more.
I'm in the UK, but I know there'll be data recovery firms here and it won't be hard to find them.
I'm quite dismayed at this info but that's because I'm tired after a somewhat sleepless night.
I didn't think that the drive on a relatively new Dell could be on the way out. (As I'm a home rather than a business user, 18 months is "relatively new".) This was going to be my retirement laptop, for all my personal projects! It's been really carefully treated too.
I'm so disappointed. And still frustrated at the loss of my data, though it isn't worth £1400, which equates to a significant chunk of my retirement income. I just have to start over.
Insert the operating system disk and restart the computer.
Press any key to boot from CD.
Choose install.
Do the agreement.
Now choose repair. Takes about 30 minutes to repair everything.
Since the operating system was re-installed did you remember to go to drivers and downloads, enter your service tag(DO NOT POST SERVICE TAG here or your post will get deleted, since it contains your personal information), and install these drivers in this order.
Desktop System Software or Notebook System Software Chipset or SMBus driver Processor Driver (if applicable) Video Audio (sound) Input Drivers (keyboard/mouse) Modem Network Card
Remember to go to Windows Updates and get all the Updates, especiall the net framework(custom update). Also install the latest Java.
I've already replied to you but I don't think it got sent and it's nowhere I can see, so here goes and it might be a tad more coherent that the one that's gone awol.
Thank you for your generosity in giving up time to ask about steps that I have taken and to make such a helpful list of instructions/options. That kind of action certainly spreads a bit of positive emotion.
An update on some of the things I've tried today and what's worked.
I found the documents in the Documents and Settings in the C drive. You can imagine how relieved I was and how much it broke the tension and misery. I've spent most of the morning doing a bit of housekeeping and copying the rest to a mobile drive. There are annoying omissions like my Favorites and Bookmarks which I suppose I'll need to restore my missing profile to access.
I've not copied the documents into my current "new" My Documents - the one that was denuded yesterday - in case I'm able to retrieve the missing profile in which case everything might reappear there anyway.
A helpful friend suggested that I run a disk check next and I've just done the one that says 'Scan for and attempt recovry of bad sectors'. The green zone on the Progress Bar (I just learnt that term this morning!) didn't budge in Phase 2, then it moved rapidly to the end and I relaxed, but too soon, because I then got the error message that Windows had been unable to complete checking the disk. That was a bit of a disappointment.
I'm now wondering whether I should try the Automatically Fix File System option?
Re your advice:
I don't know Recuva and Malwarebytes, but I'll google them so, no I haven't done that yet.
I'm sure I've got the operating disks, and I'll search for info on how to use them to repair the system. Thank you for the instructions on how to do that as I hadn't worked that out. I think I have a recent Java update and I get the automatic Windows Updates.
I will print out your instructions in case - it's amazing how trust I've lost in my laptop over the past 24 hours - but I am grateful it's still usable and that I can access the Internet. I will also remember to check my Service Tag and write it down - I was doing it yesterday, but I was in Firefox, and it only works in IE.
Rick, I thought I'd leave it until today to reinstall the operating system.
I'm embarrassed to post again as I think you've spent enough time on my problem. But having gathered my disks together, and re-read your instructions, I find I am uncertain about a couple of things e.g. the choices.
I haven't used Recuva, as I haven't deleted any files. (But I will download it after reinstalling the software.)
I haven't downloaded Malwarebytes yet. I'm currently updating SpyBot, and will run a check before I reinstall. If I am wrong in thinking this is roughly equivalent software to Malwarebytes, please put me right. [Whoops. There was a problem with downloading the Spybot Update, to do with replacing a Plugin file (.dll) to do with the TCPIP address, in case it's relevant, so I had to abort the update. Guess I have to leave this until after reinstalling.]
The two disks I assume I need are the ones labelled "Operating System" and "Drivers and Utilities". When you say go to Drivers and Downloads, do you mean this second disk, or is it something somewhere else, like in the Control Panel, that I should know about?
Re, the subsequent installing of drivers, one or two of the choices are not clear to me. I have an Inspiron 640M Core Duo T5300 according to my Dell Invoice.
I know I have to choose the Notebook System Software.
Chipset or SMBus Driver? I can't find anything on the Description List on the invoice that helps me identify which one I might have.
Processor Driver? I don't know if that's 'applicable'. I thought all pcs had processors. If it's not applicable, maybe it won't ask for it?
The rest on the list should be straightforward.
I will then go to Windows and get all the latest updates.
After that will I have to do that bit about naming the laptop again?
Will I have to set up new user profiles? Including one for myself?
What will happen to the files in Documents and Settings?
After this, will all my software programs have to be reinstalled or will they still be there?
Is this going to be enough to reunite me with the files that my profile can't link to my folder in Documents and Settings?
Sorry to have all these questions! I'm a little bit nervous about reinstalling, and I don't want to get half way, and then not be able to ask anyone, so I've sort of rehearsed your list in my mind, trying to imagine what will be easy, and what not.
Malwarebytes will find things the other programs didn't. Best to use a couple of programs to remove malware. As for the drivers, yes they're on the disks and you can just follow the list I provided. The updated drivers are on Dell's website and if you enter the service tag number, usually found under the laptop(If you cannot find it, download Belarc Advisor to locate it), the correct drivers will appear and you just have to look for them by name. There may be a few questionable ones, just post back and ask about those in question.
husky0894
1.6K Posts
0
January 7th, 2009 15:00
Very commonly, this is a symptom of a drive that has developed bad sectors and is failing. If you've no access to your profile and files, BEFORE you do anything else, decide what it's worth to have the data back. The more you do to a drive that's failing, the lower the chances of recovery. Data recovery isn't cheap - budget a couple of thousand dollars for a straightforward recovery - but it's likely the only way you'll get your data back. Drive Savers, Ontrack and Nortek all do data recovery and can often work miracles - for a price likely to run $2,000 or more.
Piu
19 Posts
0
January 8th, 2009 00:00
Thank you for your post.
I'm in the UK, but I know there'll be data recovery firms here and it won't be hard to find them.
I'm quite dismayed at this info but that's because I'm tired after a somewhat sleepless night.
I didn't think that the drive on a relatively new Dell could be on the way out. (As I'm a home rather than a business user, 18 months is "relatively new".) This was going to be my retirement laptop, for all my personal projects! It's been really carefully treated too.
I'm so disappointed. And still frustrated at the loss of my data, though it isn't worth £1400, which equates to a significant chunk of my retirement income. I just have to start over.
So now what? (Would YOU buy another Dell?)
PudgyOne
9 Legend
•
30.3K Posts
0
January 8th, 2009 01:00
Piu,
Where were your documents located, before this happened? Did you try using Recuva to see if you could get your documents back?
If theye were on the desktop, did you try right clicking on the desktop, left click arrange icons by, then click show desktop icons?
Did you download Malwarebytes, update it, then do a quick scan and have it remove anything it finds?
If you have the operating system disks, you could try a repair. If not, then request a backup set of disks in the UK.
Insert the operating system disk and restart the computer.
Press any key to boot from CD.
Choose install.
Do the agreement.
Now choose repair. Takes about 30 minutes to repair everything.
Since the operating system was re-installed did you remember to go to drivers and downloads, enter your service tag(DO NOT POST SERVICE TAG here or your post will get deleted, since it contains your personal information), and install these drivers in this order.
Desktop System Software or Notebook System Software
Chipset or SMBus driver
Processor Driver (if applicable)
Video
Audio (sound)
Input Drivers (keyboard/mouse)
Modem
Network Card
Remember to go to Windows Updates and get all the Updates, especiall the net framework(custom update). Also install the latest Java.
Rick
Piu
19 Posts
0
January 8th, 2009 07:00
Hi Rick / Pudgy One
I've already replied to you but I don't think it got sent and it's nowhere I can see, so here goes and it might be a tad more coherent that the one that's gone awol.
Thank you for your generosity in giving up time to ask about steps that I have taken and to make such a helpful list of instructions/options. That kind of action certainly spreads a bit of positive emotion.
An update on some of the things I've tried today and what's worked.
I found the documents in the Documents and Settings in the C drive. You can imagine how relieved I was and how much it broke the tension and misery. I've spent most of the morning doing a bit of housekeeping and copying the rest to a mobile drive. There are annoying omissions like my Favorites and Bookmarks which I suppose I'll need to restore my missing profile to access.
I've not copied the documents into my current "new" My Documents - the one that was denuded yesterday - in case I'm able to retrieve the missing profile in which case everything might reappear there anyway.
A helpful friend suggested that I run a disk check next and I've just done the one that says 'Scan for and attempt recovry of bad sectors'. The green zone on the Progress Bar (I just learnt that term this morning!) didn't budge in Phase 2, then it moved rapidly to the end and I relaxed, but too soon, because I then got the error message that Windows had been unable to complete checking the disk. That was a bit of a disappointment.
I'm now wondering whether I should try the Automatically Fix File System option?
Re your advice:
I don't know Recuva and Malwarebytes, but I'll google them so, no I haven't done that yet.
I'm sure I've got the operating disks, and I'll search for info on how to use them to repair the system. Thank you for the instructions on how to do that as I hadn't worked that out. I think I have a recent Java update and I get the automatic Windows Updates.
I will print out your instructions in case - it's amazing how trust I've lost in my laptop over the past 24 hours - but I am grateful it's still usable and that I can access the Internet. I will also remember to check my Service Tag and write it down - I was doing it yesterday, but I was in Firefox, and it only works in IE.
Once again, thank you, generous stranger.
:emotion-1:
PudgyOne
9 Legend
•
30.3K Posts
0
January 8th, 2009 08:00
Piu,
Try the repair like I suggested above. I have done this many times and haven't lost any files and folders, with a Dell Computer.
You should be running again in about 45 minutes.
Rick
Piu
19 Posts
0
January 9th, 2009 03:00
Rick, I thought I'd leave it until today to reinstall the operating system.
I'm embarrassed to post again as I think you've spent enough time on my problem. But having gathered my disks together, and re-read your instructions, I find I am uncertain about a couple of things e.g. the choices.
I haven't used Recuva, as I haven't deleted any files. (But I will download it after reinstalling the software.)
I haven't downloaded Malwarebytes yet. I'm currently updating SpyBot, and will run a check before I reinstall. If I am wrong in thinking this is roughly equivalent software to Malwarebytes, please put me right. [Whoops. There was a problem with downloading the Spybot Update, to do with replacing a Plugin file (.dll) to do with the TCPIP address, in case it's relevant, so I had to abort the update. Guess I have to leave this until after reinstalling.]
The two disks I assume I need are the ones labelled "Operating System" and "Drivers and Utilities". When you say go to Drivers and Downloads, do you mean this second disk, or is it something somewhere else, like in the Control Panel, that I should know about?
Re, the subsequent installing of drivers, one or two of the choices are not clear to me. I have an Inspiron 640M Core Duo T5300 according to my Dell Invoice.
I know I have to choose the Notebook System Software.
Chipset or SMBus Driver? I can't find anything on the Description List on the invoice that helps me identify which one I might have.
Processor Driver? I don't know if that's 'applicable'. I thought all pcs had processors. If it's not applicable, maybe it won't ask for it?
The rest on the list should be straightforward.
I will then go to Windows and get all the latest updates.
After that will I have to do that bit about naming the laptop again?
Will I have to set up new user profiles? Including one for myself?
What will happen to the files in Documents and Settings?
After this, will all my software programs have to be reinstalled or will they still be there?
Is this going to be enough to reunite me with the files that my profile can't link to my folder in Documents and Settings?
Sorry to have all these questions! I'm a little bit nervous about reinstalling, and I don't want to get half way, and then not be able to ask anyone, so I've sort of rehearsed your list in my mind, trying to imagine what will be easy, and what not.
Piu
19 Posts
0
January 9th, 2009 03:00
Re what I said about SpyBot. I tried downloading it from a different download centre, and this loaded and updated with no problems.
It's found 28 problems, which have been fixed.
Will now only be able to do the reinstall in about 7 hours' time.
Thanks for exhibiting patience, no matter what.
PudgyOne
9 Legend
•
30.3K Posts
0
January 9th, 2009 07:00
Piu,
Malwarebytes will find things the other programs didn't. Best to use a couple of programs to remove malware. As for the drivers, yes they're on the disks and you can just follow the list I provided. The updated drivers are on Dell's website and if you enter the service tag number, usually found under the laptop(If you cannot find it, download Belarc Advisor to locate it), the correct drivers will appear and you just have to look for them by name. There may be a few questionable ones, just post back and ask about those in question.
Rick