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HELP!!!!!!!

Started by Dennis, 2010.03.22, 15:06:56

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ivan

Hi Dennis,

If you are concerned with getting your data off the hard disk here is the method I use on clients systems.

You need a USB to hard disk adapter - I use the Ultra ULT40112 usb to ide/sata adapter, but a usb external disk unit will do the same provided you can connect your hard disk to it.

Remove your hard disk from your laptop and fit it to the adapter then plug it into a working OS/2 system - I'm assuming your partitions are all HPFS or JFS.  This should allow them to be seen but not necessarily used.  You should be able to run CHKDSK against each partition and then, hopefully, copy your data to a safe place.

I have used this method many times to recover data for clients - usually windows based.  The one time I had to use it on an OS/2 system disk was a case very similar to yours, the the system partition would not boot and the unbacked up data was on the other partitions.  It transpired that the disk was on its last legs with many bad sectors - I managed to move nearly everything from it over to a new disk.

To answer your last question.  If you are certain that it is only system partition that is screwed then you might be able to just reinstall over it but be aware that that might not work which leaves you in the same state as now.  If you have eCS or MCP DO NOT use fdisk unless you want to loose everything.

If you have the facilities for creating an OS/2 bootable CD with DFSee on it you should be able to check the file systems from the 'actions' menu, but as Raiko says - be careful.

RobertM

Dennis... it still definitely sounds like the drive itself is going or gone... I'd definitely test and if needed, replace the drive.

Dont think I've ever seen Alt-F1 not work... (though I do suspect I know which files are damaged to cause that...)

I would NOT re-install anything on that drive until you have done a backup first, then a thorough hard drive test to ensure it is still fully operational. Attempting to install anything on it, with the failure I suspect is happening, may result in you losing more data.

Best,
Robert


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Kirk's 5 Year Mission Continues at:
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Dennis

Robert
Thanks for your reply. However, I'm wondering how to do a backup if I can't even boot the system? Also, If I have a new HDD installed, how do I move the data from the old HDD to the new one? The computer stores around here don't have a clue about OS/2 and I'm pretty much a non-techie when it comes to most electronics.

Dennis

Dennis

Ivan
Thanks for your reply. I'll see what I can do. I might have a bootable cd laying around somewhere (I hope) that i can use. However, as for another OS/2 system, I have one, but it's not in the greatest of condition. Maybe I should install eCs in a seperate partition on my windoze system and use that??
I'm going to print your response--and RobertMs so I can follow the instructions remotely.

Thanks again.

Dennis

RobertM

Quote from: Dennis on 2010.04.02, 17:06:10
Robert
Thanks for your reply. However, I'm wondering how to do a backup if I can't even boot the system? Also, If I have a new HDD installed, how do I move the data from the old HDD to the new one? The computer stores around here don't have a clue about OS/2 and I'm pretty much a non-techie when it comes to most electronics.

Dennis

Dennis,

(1) Install a backup drive
- (1a) If the backup drive had an NTFS file system on it, you may wish to remove it using dfSee first.

(2) Boot off the OS/2 or eCS boot disk(s) and partition & format that drive... use "compatibility" mode and not LVM mode.

(3) Open a command prompt window (either via exiting the installer to it in an OS/2 install, or picking it from the menu in the Maintenance section on an eCS install)

(4) xcopy from old drive to the new one you just installed.

And... that should do it! :)


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Kirk's 5 Year Mission Continues at:
Star Trek New Voyages
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ivan

Robert,

There is only one problem that I can see with what you describe - this is a notebook drive, therefore he needs something to put the old one in (USB drive unit or a USB-IDE/SATA adapter).

If he has access to an OS/2 based computer with an SATA interface, and the notebook drive is SATA, then there is the possibility of doing as you say.  I still lean towards the USB connection method as it does not create problems with chkdsk that could happen if the defective drive is connected at boot.

Obviously once the drive is seen by a working OS/2 system then xcopy of the data is a simple matter.  It is getting to the stage of the drive being seen by an OS/2 system that is the problem.

RobertM

Quote from: ivan on 2010.04.03, 02:06:30
Robert,

There is only one problem that I can see with what you describe - this is a notebook drive, therefore he needs something to put the old one in (USB drive unit or a USB-IDE/SATA adapter).

If he has access to an OS/2 based computer with an SATA interface, and the notebook drive is SATA, then there is the possibility of doing as you say.  I still lean towards the USB connection method as it does not create problems with chkdsk that could happen if the defective drive is connected at boot.

Obviously once the drive is seen by a working OS/2 system then xcopy of the data is a simple matter.  It is getting to the stage of the drive being seen by an OS/2 system that is the problem.

Ooops... sorry about that. Didnt remember that part. In that case (had similar situations in the past), I simply:

- stick the new drive in the machine, boot from the install disks, partition and format it, then pull it.
- Attach both machines to an OS/2 or eCS bootable machine (with no other drives connected)
- Boot the second machine from the install disks
- xcopy away...

That of course requires another machine. But only a couple added steps to get it all working.


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Kirk's 5 Year Mission Continues at:
Star Trek New Voyages
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ivan

Hi Robert,

I didn't want to imply your advice was wrong - indeed it is not and is the way I keep my original install between various changes of hardware.

The getting of a desktop machine to read a notebook hard drive is the big problem if you don't have the necessary adapter - 44 pin small socket that carries the +5 volt power to a standard 40 pin IDE cable.  Yes it is much simpler if the drive is SATA and the desktop machine has an SATA interface, though I haven't tried that for recovery yet - only transferring my basic install to a new machine.

As I said before the biggest problem Dennis is going to have is the physical access to the problem drive.  Once he has that access life is simple and xcopy, with all the switches, is the answer.

RobertM

Quote from: ivan on 2010.04.03, 21:52:48
Hi Robert,

I didn't want to imply your advice was wrong - indeed it is not and is the way I keep my original install between various changes of hardware.

LoL! I didnt take it in a bad way. And actually, it was wrong for this specific problem - that's what I get for posting before coffee.  ;D

Quote from: ivan on 2010.04.03, 21:52:48
The getting of a desktop machine to read a notebook hard drive is the big problem if you don't have the necessary adapter - 44 pin small socket that carries the +5 volt power to a standard 40 pin IDE cable.  Yes it is much simpler if the drive is SATA and the desktop machine has an SATA interface, though I haven't tried that for recovery yet - only transferring my basic install to a new machine.

As I said before the biggest problem Dennis is going to have is the physical access to the problem drive.  Once he has that access life is simple and xcopy, with all the switches, is the answer.

Well, we picked up a bunch of the adapters for our tech shop for about $3 a piece. I think we got them on eBay. I think NewEgg sells them too - at a slightly higher (though still cheap) price.

Puts things off for a bit till he can get some, but at least it's not expensive hardware he needs.

-R


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Kirk's 5 Year Mission Continues at:
Star Trek New Voyages
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