Will not boot up

powered it down and rebooted will try the ntfsfix you suggested when it gets going

Edited by 4on4off, 05 July 2012 - 12:23 AM.

Let's try this ... ntfsfix ... after un-mounting sda2:

• At the Puppy Desktop, click on Console.
• At the prompt in the Console window, type:
  
  ntfsfix /dev/sda2
  
  Note the space after ntfsfix.
  
• Press the <ENTER> key.
  What do you see on-screen?

FYI: See a case of success using ntfsfix

• http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic454775.html/page__view__findpost__p__2711450

this is what is on the screen"

# ntfsfix /dev/sda2
Mounting volume...pread: Input/output error
Failed to calculate number of free clusters: input/output error.
Failed
attempting to correct errors...
processing $mft and $mftmirr...
reading $mft...ok
reading $mftmirr...ok
comparing $mftmirr to $mft...ok
processing of $mft and $mftmirr completed successfully.
setting required flags on partition...ok
going to empty the journal ($logfile)...ok
pread: input/output error
failed to calculate number of free clusters: input/output error.
remount failed: input/output error.
#

Got to sack out for work in the morning. Thanks for the help, it is greatly appreciated.

4

# ntfsfix /dev/sda2
Mounting volume...pread: Input/output error
Failed to calculate number of free clusters: input/output error.
Failed

That sounds to me very much like a hard drive problem (bad sectors?) in the sda2 partition.

You have had the drive sda2 successfully mounted "read only":

• I suggest to you, that if you are able to get into that situation once again, that you immediately retrieve copies of important files to an external hard drive before contemplating doing anything else.

You wrote earlier: "I would like to try the ntfs fix and run the chkdsk to see if it will fix the problem and boot normally before copying files ... "
Yes ... BUT*** ... please be aware that this does involve additional RISK to the data. It may under some circumstances make the current situation a whole lot worse: Consider it carefully! I strongly recommend backing up important files before attempting this option.

Edited by AustrAlien, 05 July 2012 - 08:33 AM.

RGR THT and thank you for the heads up.

I was not as prepared as I had thought as I only have a 16g thumb drive and reportedly there is alot more than that which needs to be recovered. So I will have to transfer 16g at a time which will require, I am assuming, mounting and unmounting of the thumb until everything is moved.

Within puppy is there something that needs to be clicked to safely remove the thumb each time?

So it is either that or wait for the new hd and sata to usb adapter cables to be delivered.

Thanks again for the warning.

4

Within puppy is there something that needs to be clicked to safely remove the thumb each time?

If there is, I have not found it yet! You could try right-click > Unmount if it exists?

Simply un-plug the flashdrive whenever you wish ... as long as there is no file transfer taking place at the time!

Edited by AustrAlien, 05 July 2012 - 09:30 PM.

Okay, got the sda2 mounted again and going over the instructions for what to copy.

I notice he has 4 partitions:

sda1: filesystem: nfts size 199mb

sda2: filesystem: nfts size 218.9gb (this one currently mounted and looking at his files)

sda3: filesystem: nfts size 13.7gb

sda4: filesystem: vfat size 103mb

sda1 is likely the small "System Reserved" partition that is created and used by the Windows 7 system.

sda2 would appear by the size of it to be the one and only partition that your nephew uses/that you need to concern yourself with.

sda4 could be a diagnostic partition ... but I am only hazarding a guess there. I pretty sure it is of no interest to you right now.

sda3 I expect is the Compaq "factory restore" partition on the laptop.

Edited by AustrAlien, 05 July 2012 - 10:34 PM.

just popped my thumb in and scanning the size of his user folder. If I got room I think I will just copy that to start then get the registry but I will have to get him over here to see if there anything else of he needs off of it.

Thanks a bunch for point me in this direction. I am still going to invest in some adapter cables and what not. This is new territory for me and I AM DIGGIN' IT!

Thanks a bunch for point me in this direction. ... This is new territory for me and I AM DIGGIN' IT!

No worries!

I know what you mean: It is all good/interesting/useful stuff.

Just an update for those who may be interested.

I only had a 16 gig thumb and his user profile alone is 57g. Time constraints with my work schedule was making it difficult.

My nephew ordered a new hd and I ordered a couple sata/ide to usb 2.0 adapters. I figured we may try to clone the thing using Acronis true image or something similar by hooking both drives up to my pc via the usb adapters. Hoping ofcourse that the issue will not tranfer over.

If that does not work then we will pop the new drive into his laptop and install his os, hook both drives back up to my pc via the usb adapters and transfer his files over.

4

I'm interested.

Re: your plan with Acronis

Acronis is unlikely to be successful: Acronis (along with any other such tool) will falter at the first (or second ...?) hurdle. There is a (better) way when dealing with a problematic hard drive: Clone using ddrescue.

If interested or if you need an alternative (better) way, let me know and I will dig up some links to examples of previous use on the forums.

Edited by AustrAlien, 10 July 2012 - 06:56 PM.

I'm interested.

Re: your plan with Acronis

Acronis is unlikely to be successful: Acronis (along with any other such tool) will falter at the first (or second ...?) hurdle. There is a (better) way when dealing with a problematic hard drive: Clone using ddrescue.

If interested or if you need an alternative (better) way, let me know and I will dig up some links to examples of previous use on the forums.

I am most certainly interested in any options available. When hearing about the cloning it seemed easier than transferring the files and having to reinstall programs. I am concerned though because I do not know if the problem will transfer over with the cloning.

I was talking with a few friends that use Acronis and speak highly of it. I was reading up on it and haven't downloaded it as yet.

Feel free to shoot me some links, it would be greatly appreciated.

4

I am concerned though because I do not know if the problem will transfer over with the cloning.

Nothing for you to be concerned about: The hard drive problem will not "transfer". The only thing of any concern is corruption of Windows system files on the bad HDD ... which will transfer to the clone.

• No corruption of important/necessary Windows files = no problem at all.

If you are using at least one of either Seagate or Western Digital branded HDDs in the system, you can take advantage of the free version of Acronis' imaging and cloning software provided by each of those manufacturers. The Acronis software can be run either from within Windows or from a bootable CD, which can be created once the utility is installed on a Windows system (and it is a wise to create this CD immediately). The bootable CD will be needed if ever the Windows system is not accessible.

• Seagate: DiscWizard
• Western Digital: Acronis True Image WD Edition

================================

DjLizard's data recovery guide
This is the article that originally got me started in data recovery.

Windows ‘File Recovery’ series : Part 4 Recover Files From a Bad Hard Drive Posted on March 10th, 2012 by James Litten
This is very good and very recent, but concerns imaging rather than cloning (very similar process).

Terri13th_BC: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic408466.html
A very successful case, from memory.

breakingbad_BC: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic405580.html
From memory, instructions (many) but no successful conclusion to the topic.

dajap_BC: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic418890.html
From memory, I think this might be a good place for you to start reading the forum links.

That should give you a reasonable introduction to the use of ddrescue.

• UBCD is probably a good tool to use for the job these days, now with Parted Magic and gnu version of ddrescue also included.