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General discussion

System Wiped

Mar 7, 2004 4:11AM PST

I was forced to re-install Windows XP yesterday. I have 2 hard drives, the operating system HDD is 80Gb, and the additional HDD is 200Gb. I transferred all my files to the 2nd HDD before I re-installed XP. Unfortunately, due to a crappy XP CD my PC manufacturer supplied, I had no control over the installation and instead of just deleting the main HDD, both HDD's were deleted.

Now the 2nd HDD states that it is only 30Gb and when you try and open it it says you have to format it first. I obviously want to try and recover the data if possible. What is the best way to do this? Which is the best software to use? Will I have to format the HDD before I can access it? Does the format truly wipe over all the data? Is it possible to recover this data?

Hope someone can help!

Discussion is locked

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Re:System Wiped
Mar 7, 2004 7:25AM PST

DONT FORMAT
set the 2nd hard drive as a slave and then you might be able to get some files
good luck and repost your out come

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Re:System Wiped + 200GB drive - XP SP1 = Trouble.
Mar 7, 2004 8:12AM PST

The issue here might be simple. Without SP1, the maximum size IDE drive is about 137 billion bytes. You are over that. Any reinstall of the OS will likely cause loss of access to such a size drive.

Don't touch the second drive and install SP1

Bob

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Re:Re:System Wiped + 200GB drive - XP SP1 = Trouble.
Mar 7, 2004 4:42PM PST

I have installed SP1, but it still says I have to format the drive when I double click on it.

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System Wiped + 200GB drive - XP SP1 = Trouble.times 2.
Mar 7, 2004 8:24PM PST

The problem is that NT/2000/XP/2003 might write to drives even on a boot. And users install all sorts of things that may cause this even if the OS is not the culprit.

You inadvertently stepped off the supported area and the drive data is now corrupt. Outside of data recovery houses, there is no "do-this" to recover that drive.

I expect this scenario to be a repeating theme for those without integrated SP1 CDs.

What to do?

1. Request a new XP CD with SP1 from your supplier. Call it a warranty issue. Be firm, don't get mad.

2. Try to create your own XP CD with SP1. How?
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstream_01.htm

In closing, its best to know that hard disks are temporary storage space. Don't count on stuff always being there.

Your issue is that you self-inflicted the damage, but didn't know this was going to happen.

Bob

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Step 4 - Updating The Windows Share
Mar 8, 2004 5:17AM PST

I've been trying to streamline but I'm getting stuck at step 4.

I do everything to the letter I'm told but when I try to Apply the extracted Service Pack 1a to Windows XP in the XP folder that were copied in the first step using the [Run] dialogue box using the following command:

C:\XP-SP1a\Update\Update.exe -S:C:\XP

This error comes up:

Integrated install failed. The language type or platform for the destination directory and Service Pack 1 must be the same.

I then change the run command line to:

C:\XP-SP1a\Update\Update.exe -S:C:\XP\I386

and get the following error:

Failed to copy some or all of the files necessary for integrated install.

Please check that:
a) No network or copy errors occured during the integration process
b) The format of the destination directory is correct.
The files to be integrated must reside in an i386 and/or ia64 or nec98 directory
(i.e. for an i386 share, if you typed "update /s:c\cdshare", the files must be in the c:\cdshare\i386 directory).

Where am I going wrong?

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If this is about making a slip streamed CD, do tell.
Mar 8, 2004 6:33AM PST

I'm only guessing here that this is the issue.

BUT let it be known that some Microsoft things don't work with drive volumes in odd states/stages. I'd unplug that drive for now until it's time.

Bob

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Re:If this is about making a slip streamed CD, do tell.
Mar 9, 2004 1:45AM PST

But I'm now having problems making the slipstream disc so I can't test out if this is the solution until I can make a slipstream disc. Where am I going wrong with it?

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Read my last reply.
Mar 9, 2004 1:49AM PST

Note what I wrote about that drive in the odd state. Remove it.

Bob