Can't Access Transferred Drive

[pagreen]

My notebook computer just died, with lots of info on it. Before sending it out to be fixed, I pulled out the hard drive to try to copy the data off. However, I cannot seem to access the drive.

The now-dead notebook used Windows XP Home, and the hard drive, which was formatted as NTFS, has two partitions. I put it in another computer that was also running XP. I installed the notebook drive as the secondary master. The computer recognizes the drive just fine on booting up. After booting, it even "sees" the two partitions from the disk management console. However, no drive letter is assigned to either partition. Nor can I assign a drive letter. Even setting one or the other of the partitions as active does no good.

I also tried booting the computer from the notebook hard drive. However, after starting to boot, the machine resets itself, even when I try to boot in "safe" mode (or even safe with command prompt only).

I am at a loss and am getting desparate. I have the peculiar sense that I am missing something simple. Any suggestions welcome.

 

[micker377]

First, if it was installed with XP, you can't boot with another system. Second, to read it as "slave", you have to take "ownership" of the drive. I don't remember exactly how, you can go to MicroShaft and d/l the instructions.

 

[mikker]

Instead of installing the drive as secondary master, Try changing the jumpers on the drive and making it "primary slave" after installed as a slave drive you should be able to boot from your primary master drive. Then you should be able to copy your files and info from the slave to the master drive.

 

[micker377]

Thanks mikker, I missed the fact that he was trying secondary "master". When booting off the original master, I assumed he was using the second drive as slave.

 

[pagreen]

But I can get the system to boot from the (original) primary master. The problem is that Windows will not assign a drive letter to either partition of the notebook drive. I can see the notebook drive just fine from the Disk Management utility, I just can't access it. Will setting it up as a slave make any difference?

 

[mikker]

Not really sure but it couldn't hurt to give it a try. But I think it would because the secondary master setup is usually intended for a cd or dvd rom.

 

[Freestone]

The fact that the partitions are visible to XP indicates the drive is functional on the secondary IDE interface so there is no need to change its position or jumpers. And, as an aside, there is no position on either IDE interface reserved for any one type of device.

pagreen:

In Disk Management, what type and status is shown for your drive? This information is at the left side of the graphical view, below the icon of the drive. It should indicate Basic and Online.

Did you use a program called GoBack on your now dead notebook?

 

[pagreen]

That's it. I was using Go Back. This morning, I tried to hook the drive to my home computer. This computer also uses Go Back. Apparently, it takes one to know one. In other words, I can now access the drive just fine!

Now, I will try to mirror it so that I have a complete clone.

Thanks all.