Disk not formatted message BUT...

J

jerry486

New Member
Hi All

Got this problem and I was wondering what solution other people have to this.

I got a netbook for servicing, an X110 from LG.

Problem No 1: Windows loads, 3 secs later blinks with blue screen, gone. Safe mode same.

Problem No 2: Booted other systems from Flash USB (linux mint 8, and mini XP from Hiren's Tools). Disk unable to mount in linux, and UNFORMATTED in XP.

Problem No 3: When using recovery soft under dos (Hirens tools) I can get the whole dir/file tree. All files are SEEN and recoverable. File system is NTFS.

My questions ARE:

1) Why doesn't the OS see those files? What happened (MBR? MFT?)
2) Is there a way to re-build this MFT (or whatever it is) info from scratch?
3) Whats the best way to fix such a problem without loosing data?

My usual method in case of desktop PC's was to stick another hdd into it and export all personal data using easy recovery pro. Then format, install OS and import personal data.

This will be almost impossible with this netbook due to no CD rom. I can boot the tools from a usb stick, but will it see the other usb disk (big one where I will export the recovery) ???
 
Hi,
The problem that you're facing could also be caused by hard disk malfunction. Scan it for bad sectors - you can do it by right clicking the disk in Explorer, and selecting
Properties -> Tools -> Error-checking -> Check Now -> Scan for and attempt to recover bad sectors -> Start.

Thanks
 
1. If the side-by-side installation of XP says the disk "Unformatted", the problem is most likely with boot sectors.

2. The rebuild is possible theoretically, but difficult in practice.
If this is a basic disk, you start with verifying that the parameters in MBR match the volume boot sector, and that the backup boot sector matches the primary boot sector exactly. Refer to MS support documentation for this - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/153973 This route is the fastest if successful.

3. The most reliable way to fix this is to copy the files off with a data recovery software, then reformat the disk, reinstall Windows, and copy the data files back.
 
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