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DESPERATE HELP needed. Please system crashed 2

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kumar6

Technical User
Nov 30, 2004
22
US
Sir,

I have been trying to use Acronis to reimage an incremental, but it used to crash everytime. For the (nth + 1) time it happened again but this time it was due to a non-acronis true image (ATI) application. My system crashed no wonder but I didnt reproduce using ATI, I unzipped a 700 mb file in my E: and when it was about done, I got a love msg from my computer saying a file was corrupted u need to run chkdsk...yup I knew this was it but this time I had not used ATI at all. This has been the nth crash but for the first time a non-ATI application.

I tried to access, minidump.....I couldnt even log on windows XP screen, so I put my winXP cd and went to repair screen. when I put in my comand cd windows. It said the drive has been corrupted. I tried running chkdsk /p /r. But it used to run till 72% and comeback again to 50%. I know not why. I then reimaged using ATI and got back to square 1.

Maybe I need to tell you some more details abt my system. I have a 160 GB Maxtor harddisk only. I have divided this into 3 drives - C: 70 GB NTFS; D: 20 GB FAT32, E: 70GB NTFS. Now I install only windows, program files in C:. Nothing in D:, and a lot of programs, ATI images and my files in E:.

PLease tell me what I can do next.

I tested the memory using memtest+ for 9 hours with no errors (BIOS-std test).

Help me. I have had enough of reimaging the system the nth time.

Your input is highly appreciated.

Thanks
ramuk
 
Since no one else has answered I'll give this a shot. In brief, it appears that at least one of your partitions has corrupted. Since you can't access your operating system, Windows XP, it's possible that is the corrupted partition. The important partition as I see it is E: the one containing your files. Programs can be reinstalled. If you have another system running Windows XP, you can connect this hard drive as a slave, bring up the other computer, and then see if you can access that partition. If so...then just copy the files you want to keep off the E: drive and onto the master hard drive. Then format the 160GB hard drive and reinstall. If you can't access your files on the the 160 GB hard drive even as a slave, if they are really important there are companies that can retrieve them for you, at a stiff price. Otherwise, chalk it up to experience and remember to back up your data and back it up often. Good Luck!
 
I tried running chkdsk /p /r. But it used to run till 72% and comeback again to 50%."

This might be normal behavior for ChkDsk as it performs several types of checks, some quicker than others, and gives a new progress reading at the start of each specific check. So when you run it make sure you allow it to finish properly.

To run ChkDsk from the Recovery Console use the command ChkDsk /r

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP



Your original thread may help you with your problems with Acronis, did you try any of the links?

Imaging problem
thread779-1100209

Your hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software that you can run from a bootable floppy (or CD) to thoroughly check the condition of your drive.

If you still have problems you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)
 
linney,

I tried ur previous mention of wilder security. They now feel that it is the hardware prob not the acronis.

Now I dont know what to do? I dont mind formatting the C:
but got some data on E:...its gonna be painful i feel to move almost 50 GB of info.

Let me know what else I can do? What do u think is the problem?

thanks
kumar
 
What data is on E: drive that you are worried about, because a format of C: drive will not touch your E: or D: partitions.

Forget about Acronis for the moment and describe what is now occurring with your machine and what problems you need help with.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.



I think my point here would be good to follow up if you can "Your hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software that you can run from a bootable floppy (or CD) to thoroughly check the condition of your drive."
 
linney,

I upgraded(reinstallation) of windows Xp.....still it keeps checking chkdsk. Infact it starts recovering innumerable files during chkdsk. Now as I write, I cannot open notepad, previously I couldnt open windows media player.

Could u tell me what exactly is happening? what else do u think i need to do?


thanks again

kumar
 
Kumar,

Heres what I would do in your situation (As Linney has suggested also)

1) Download Powermax from
Use this to test the Drive.

NOTE: Make sure that you do not wipe the whole drive using this utility other wise you will loose the documents on e:\

2) Reinstall Windows on c:\ following to remove the current c:\ partition and recreating it.

3) Before installing any software etc.. Make sure that the system works as you would expect it to.

4) Run a full chkdsk /p /r on both d: and E: drives, leave them to run fully even if it takes hours.

Once all that has been done completly and without any errors then I would be happy to install software.

Also make sure you look at the acronis website

micker337 said:
I had the very same problem (couldn't do an "Append"), when I first installed Acronis. Go to the Acronis web site and check the FAQ's. It's because some XP "service" is turned off and should be turned on. Very simple fix - I wish I could remember what it is!
source:thread779-1100209


Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.
 
There is a lot of information concerning problems with ChkDsk in this thread which you might like to read.

Chkdsk runs everytime on start up?
thread779-958348
 
linney or anyone,

here is something I see......On the E drive, with chkdsdk, it said it had some bad sectors of around 25GB.......ooooh thats a lot right. I bought it around thanksgiving last year. I have a warranty period of 1 yr. Do u suggest I get a replacement from Maxtor? Is that what it is causing the problem. I also ran a data advisor from Ontrack....It said the file structure test failed.....Surprisingly it said I had 2 partitions only. It said partition 1 is unsupported and under partition2 it said extended table invalid.
Can u put some sense intio it? I dont get it.

Meanwhile I also used a diskeeper to defragment the disk.....On E drive it said there were some system files and it was marked in green. It occupied 1\3rd of the disk....could this be the bad sectors? Is that retrievable?
Also C drive crashed again after I ran scandisk on C:.....well went through yours and palmers advice. Nothing see,ms to go right. Passed all tests on Maxtors Powermax.

Help me please

regards
Kumar
 
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