Retrieving data from a different partition

D

Daamian

New Member
Hello there,

I have a problem with computer that my friend wanted me to fix, this is an old Dell Pc which run Windows xp. Initial problem was that the windows wouldn't boot and the error was "Unmountable_boot_volume". So I went and did a little bit of research and I found a solution to it which was using the fixboot command when running Windows xp cd recovery. This has somewhat fixed the problem because the windows did boot to a login screen however the mouse and keyboard didn't work after windows has booted it did however work in BIOS. I then did a bit more research but none of the suggested solutions has helped. I knew I could do a fresh installation which would I end up doing anyway however the point was to try and recover some files which were stored on the C drive on the desktop.
So before I was going to do fresh installation I tried to use a repair windows installation function which was available when I run the windows XP cd. However I couldn't complete this because in the middle of the process it would ask me to specify a path for some file which I couldn't do due to not working mouse. Eventually I've decided to format and install a fresh windows on partition D which was available to me. I've managed to login to the system and the point is to retrieve the files from the C drive which I haven't formatted it shows that there is around 20gb used space on the C Drive however if I open the documents and Settings folder located on the C drive it appears that the folder is empty and I can't see any of the files. My question is it possible to recover this files and why aren't they visible to me. I'm also a little bit worried that I might have deleted those files while using the repair function on already installed Windows previously. Hope you guys can help me
Thank you.
 
Unmountable boot volume means there are hard disk errors. All you needed to do was run the hard drive manufacturers disk diagnostic program to see if it could be fixed. What brand of drive is it?
 
Like I've said I have managed to fix the unmountable boot volume error by running the the recovery mode with DOS prompt. I have then used the chkdsk /p followed by a fixboot command which did fix the problem but then I still couldn't login to the windows because the moment windows started to load I would encounter this problem where both my keyboard and mouse would not respond. Thus I have decided to install a fresh windows on a different partition hoping I can access the files stored on C Drive. Now I'm able to login to the Windows but I can't seem to see the files.

Currently there are two Windows XP installed one on C drive and the other one on D drive I was planning on formatting the C drive once I retrieved the file as the PC needed a fresh installation regardless.

I actually haven't rebooted since I've made the installation perhaps I can login to the Windows on the C drive as my mouse and keyboards are fully working now.
 
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In order to see those files, you most likely need to take ownership of those files/folders.
 
When you say you can't see the files on the C: drive what exactly do you mean? In Windows Explorer do you see the 2 drives but only the D: drive has files? If that's the case then you probably rewrote the FAT when you were trying to restore the drive. You may be able to use something like Recuva to see if you can recover the files on the C: drive.

I doubt it's the need to take ownership as you would be able to see the files in Explorer but when you attempted to open them you would get an "access denied" error message.
 
strollin said:
I doubt it's the need to take ownership as you would be able to see the files in Explorer but when you attempted to open them you would get an "access denied" error message.
Click to expand...

I've seen it before to where there were files in a folder but when accessed by a different machine/install it would show 0 files/folders. Only when you took ownership were you able to actually see the files and folders.
 
I've contacted my friend and he said that those files aren't all that important, he is happy that the computer is working thus I'm not going to bother any more. Thanks for your help this can be closed.
 
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