HELP! Chkdsk /r deleted files.

[Display_Name]

I had a machine running XP Pro SP2 that started complaining about a corrupt
HAL.DLL error. I used MS's KB#314477 and used the XP CD to run a recovery.
The recovery ran fine. I booted from CD, selected Repair existing install,
got to the console, typed bootcfg /rebuild and then did a chkdsk /r. It
successfully got past the HAL.DLL error and was able to boot to Windows.

The problem is that not all my data is there. There is SOME of my data, but
not all. It's like the PC was reset to sometime close to the original
install, but with SOME of my data.

HELP!!! It seems like to reset the MBR to sometime in the past. How can I at
least get my data that is missing? If would have been warned this was a
possible outcome, I would have tried something else. I NEED my data.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: HELP! Chkdsk /r deleted files.


"Display_Name" <DisplayName@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6463B875-1F05-4B74-A829-6805FB7F5786@microsoft.com...
>I had a machine running XP Pro SP2 that started complaining about a corrupt
> HAL.DLL error. I used MS's KB#314477 and used the XP CD to run a recovery.
> The recovery ran fine. I booted from CD, selected Repair existing install,
> got to the console, typed bootcfg /rebuild and then did a chkdsk /r. It
> successfully got past the HAL.DLL error and was able to boot to Windows.
>
> The problem is that not all my data is there. There is SOME of my data,
> but
> not all. It's like the PC was reset to sometime close to the original
> install, but with SOME of my data.
>
> HELP!!! It seems like to reset the MBR to sometime in the past. How can I
> at
> least get my data that is missing? If would have been warned this was a
> possible outcome, I would have tried something else. I NEED my data.
>
> Thanks in advance.

It appears that some of your data files or folders were damaged. Chkdsk
subsequently converted what was partly readable into files which you will
find in dedicated chkdsk folders hanging off C:\. Unfortunately these files
are no longer in a format that you can use. You now need to restore these
files from your backup medium. If you did not back them up then there is
nothing much you can do other than avoid similar incidents in future by
backing up all important files regularly (e.g. weekly) to an independent
medium. A 2.5" disk in an external USB case is a low-cost but highly
effective backup medium. While the loss will be painful, keep in mind that
the whole disk might have crashed, causing a total loss of everything you
had.

 

[db.·.. >]

Re: HELP! Chkdsk /r deleted files.

one of the things chkdsk
does is to synchronize the
master file table to the
file system.

that is why chkdsk should
be run regularly.

the reason you lost some
files/data is because they
were created after the file
system became corrupted.

http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...dg=microsoft.public.office.misc&lang=en&cr=US

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"Display_Name" <DisplayName@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:6463B875-1F05-4B74-A829-6805FB7F5786@microsoft.com...
>I had a machine running XP Pro SP2 that started complaining about a corrupt
> HAL.DLL error. I used MS's KB#314477 and used the XP CD to run a recovery.
> The recovery ran fine. I booted from CD, selected Repair existing install,
> got to the console, typed bootcfg /rebuild and then did a chkdsk /r. It
> successfully got past the HAL.DLL error and was able to boot to Windows.
>
> The problem is that not all my data is there. There is SOME of my data, but
> not all. It's like the PC was reset to sometime close to the original
> install, but with SOME of my data.
>
> HELP!!! It seems like to reset the MBR to sometime in the past. How can I at
> least get my data that is missing? If would have been warned this was a
> possible outcome, I would have tried something else. I NEED my data.
>
> Thanks in advance.

 

[Twayne]

Re: HELP! Chkdsk /r deleted files.

> one of the things chkdsk
> does is to synchronize the
> master file table to the
> file system.
>
> that is why chkdsk should
> be run regularly.
>
> the reason you lost some
> files/data is because they
> were created after the file
> system became corrupted.
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/office/com...dg=microsoft.public.office.misc&lang=en&cr=US

That is very likely the case IMO. Taken far enough in time, and with
the proper damage, chkdsk can sometimes even result in unrecoverable
boot failure. It is always best to consider one's housekeeping methods
before using chkdsk on a system drive and especially with an unfamiliar
owner/PC. Usually I make a dry run if I'm not sure of the state, and
see what the errors look like. Then I try to decide whether to use it
or not. At the same time, it's even MORE important to be creating the
previously mentioned backup files. Always back up all the files that
are critical to you, minimum.
Now is the time for the OP to consider and implement a backup
strategy, even if it's only copying critical files to CD/DVD. It's just
too easy to backup these days to not do so. Too bad so few people
realize it until it's too late. The education either isn't there, or
they always figure it won't happen to them.

Cheers,

Twayne


>
>
> "Display_Name" <DisplayName@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> message news:6463B875-1F05-4B74-A829-6805FB7F5786@microsoft.com...
>> I had a machine running XP Pro SP2 that started complaining about a
>> corrupt HAL.DLL error. I used MS's KB#314477 and used the XP CD to
>> run a recovery. The recovery ran fine. I booted from CD, selected
>> Repair existing install, got to the console, typed bootcfg /rebuild
>> and then did a chkdsk /r. It successfully got past the HAL.DLL error
>> and was able to boot to Windows. The problem is that not all my data
>> is there. There is SOME of my
>> data, but not all. It's like the PC was reset to sometime close to
>> the original install, but with SOME of my data.
>>
>> HELP!!! It seems like to reset the MBR to sometime in the past. How
>> can I at least get my data that is missing? If would have been
>> warned this was a possible outcome, I would have tried something
>> else. I NEED my data. Thanks in advance.