Help Major Crash

[TSR2]

Bob,

The drive is on its way out. The partition table has gone or been damaged. The data may be there but you can't see it, and neither can Windows. Its sees the devices, but none of the detail of it which is held in the boot sector. If there is anything critical on it, you may be able to get it recovered. My Advice would be to remove it and keep it safe if you need to recover it, or destroy it as it will be about as much use as a chocolate fileguard.

[nigelb]

Yes, but it not good news since it shows the entire disk is available and therefore there are no files on it! Run check disk and see if the index blocks can be recovered.

[TSR2]

Yes, but it not good news since it shows the entire disk is available and therefore there are no files on it! Run check disk and see if the index blocks can be recovered.

Definately don't run checkdisk on it.... check disk will compare the MFT with whats on the disk and could end up erasing anything thats there. Remove it and put it somewhere safe if there is anything that needs to be recovered. If its not critical, then by all means have a play, but if there is anything important on there, give the disk to the professionals.

[ianhind]

Maybe I am missing something but it appears the problem is not a reassigned drive letter but the computer not properly recognizing Drive E.

We didn't know that at the time. The extra subsequent info confirms the later diagnosis, but I was trying to start with the easiest solution.

[nigelb]

Well CHKDSK might make the situation worse it's true. But a data recovery service is going to charge an arm and a leg to recover anything (at least they do on this side of the pond). You might want to read the following:

http://ask-leo.com/how_can_i_reuse_or_e ... drive.html
http://ask-leo.com/disk_crash_a_backup_ ... story.html

Worth a try, especially the suggestion to unplug the computer for five minutes which won't cost a penny. Most of the other solutions involve purchasing some software such as SpinRite.

[Quixoticish]

Try sticking the disk in a couple of well sealed zip-lock bags and leave in the freezer overnight. I've done this many times with hard drives that are failing and it seems to bring them to life just long enough to read from the supposedly dead or damaged sectors to get anything critical off them before it goes kaput completely.

[nigelb]

Maybe I am missing something but it appears the problem is not a reassigned drive letter but the computer not properly recognizing Drive E.

We didn't know that at the time. The extra subsequent info confirms the later diagnosis, but I was trying to start with the easiest solution.

OFFTOPIC
I don't want to start anything, but if you read the first post carefully we did know. The E drive had been renamed, not reassigned to another drive letter. Still, starting with the easiest solutions was fine - just to make sure that was not the problem, but then I felt the thread had strayed from the real problem, which is why I posted. Did not intend to ruffle any feathers, and if I have, I apologize.

[bobdawkins]

well chaps, after following fridge suggestion, and others, powered up, it still did not bring a single thing up to try and save, every single item has gone, the curious thing is wouldn't allow me to do a complete format said something about blocks, ?!!! so reinstalled FS9 after doing a quick format, went onto FS9 and in the part where you select aircraft airport weather and time it still showed a couple of airport's that was an addon, but they are not showing in the addon folder, All aircraft are gone all 300+, but other scenery addons (Flight Environment,Ground Environment,) still showing when you run FS9 But if I go into-- My Computer/Local Disc (C:)/Documents and Settings/BOB/Application Data/Microsoft/FS9/Scenery cfg and it shows for instance all my addons in here ie (just a small selection, this is why they are still showing in FS9 I presume) :o :o

[Area.070]
Title=DIEGO GARCIA
Active=FALSE
Layer=58
Local=Addon Scenery\DIEGO GARCIA
Remote=
Required=FALSE
[Area.071]
Title=CitationX Animations
Local=Addon Scenery\CitationX_Anims
Active=TRUE
Layer=60
Required=FALSE
Remote=
[Area.072]
Title=CitationX Animations
Local=Addon Scenery\CitationX_Anims
Active=TRUE
Layer=7
Required=FALSE
Remote=
[Area.073]
Title=Wake Island (PWAK)
Local=Addon Scenery\Wake Island (PWAK)
Remote=
Active=TRUE
Required=FALSE
Layer=72
:brick: :brick: :doho:

[TSR2]

Bob, the reason it wouldn't let you do a complete format is because the disk is a goner. Best thing you could do with it is bin it. The "Something about blocks" indicates the disk is well and truely dead. ;-)

[bobdawkins]

thanks for that, got some sort of FS9 going, see how it goes for the time being, when I can afford new drive will install as it was before, unemployed at the moment, can I put a new hard drive in without interfering with Local Disc C,