OT: Computer prob-HD repair

I had almost exactly the same problem a few weeks ago while installing a new SATA drive on a box that previously had only PATA drives. The drive would show up in the boot sequence screens, and in the BIOS setup, but neither Windows nor Windows install could see it. Resetting the BIOS to default settings fixed it, even though the reset didn't make any changes to the BIOS directly related to hard drive settings.

Before messing with the BIOS, have you tried fdisk from DOS?

good luck with that.

Why does all software that people want to do real work have to be free at the same time?

Maybe, JR North Wrote in

If Ned's suggestion doesn't help... you might try Parted Magic:

I backup my systems to multiple drives. I have a stack of 40GB to 250GB drives removed from Dish Network and Direct TV PVRs purchased at swap meets and thrift stores for less than $10. So far I haven't bought one with a defective drive. I did get snookered on one where someone had already removed the drive..........Paul

You will want one of the Linux disk repair CDs that are downloadable from the internet...such as :

Download here:

Gunner

Whenever a Liberal utters the term "Common Sense approach"....grab your wallet, your ass, and your guns because the sombitch is about to do something damned nasty to all three of them.

Why not? Good software, like good sex, should be free.

Outside of my work, I made many thousands of $$ with completely free software. I do not even work hard for this.

As to JR, he may be better off buying another HD, installing his current one as slave, reinstalling an OS on the new HD, and then recovering the data from the old one.

He may also want to stick this HD into another computer.

I would be surprised to see that only the boot sector got corrupted.

I've had luck at times with spinrite. It isn't free, sorry.

Wes

Go to the Mfg.'s site and download their low-level format utility...unless you need the data.

It's been a while since I had a similar problem and my memory is rather faded with DOS now I reckon you need to format the boot sector IIRC the dos command is FDISK/MBR

Not sure if this will help if fdisk cant see the drive.

Depending on how valuable the data is to you, you may want to consider stopping dicking around with the drive (and quite possibly making it worse), and shipping it off to a shop that REALLY knows what their doing, like Seagate Data Recovery, which has saved a few of my customer's asses.

Likewise. He'll be lucky to get any data off either.

Here's Easus Data Recovery, a beta version, given away as freeware:

RWL

I have recovered quite a number of hard drives using DFSee,

Your problem sounds like my experience with the device types on the USB sticks.

Stan

Download the utilities from one of the hard drive makers. Every function you will need is there, and they are free! They don't even have to be the same maker as you're hard drive!

Steve R.

I've done that with a seagate and had it fix the boot sector. All the data was still there afterwards. Karl

There are many thousands of people who write free software programs, whose products are available to all for free.

I am one of them.

I wrote two GNU copyrighted programs which are used by many years. Both are a source of income for me, in two different ways. I provide services based on one program and use another in my internal projects. Both are available for anyone under GPL.

One is inherently designed to be used for money making purposes (Net::eBay perl module) and I am totally fine with people making money with it.

I do not think that I should be compensated for every brain cell movement.

So when you say "whoever... should be compensated", apparently does not quite apply to all people.

I am afraid that I will not grasp this false concept.

Why, I am familiar with the feeling, having written some free software. That people use my product, makes me rather happy even if I am not paid.

There might be some truth to this.

I meant "many people", not "many years", sorry, bad editing.