If you did not see a Repair Install option:

If the Repair Option is not Available

Scroll down to Warning!! #2.

You can try System Restore but in general it only affects the drive that it is used on.

Also you might try using the original XP CD.

I tried using the original xp cd and it wanted to format the drive as well. I'm reading now about how to recover it but I don't know if it's gonna work.

are there any programs that I can use in windows to recover lost partitions or ntfs file records or the mft on my d drive?

This guide is listed in my previous Google search:

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1139

Slaving this drive under a functioning Master with installed Recovery software is another option.

Again this software is listed in this link.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...drive+recovery

These programs cost $$$ so you have to ask yourself what your data is worth.

Again if the hard drive is physically damaged these programs will be no use.

You can run a hard drive diagnostic from the hard drive manufacturer's web site.

I think I may have found something the crazy thing is I installed some data recovery software last night and that's what I'm using it found a bunch of files on the unformated drive.

hope it's my files.

It found all my drive and all my files how should I recover them to the unformatted D Drive?

here they are and they all work I can open and view and play all the files.:

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/8...unter11mg0.png

How do I recover 127gb of stuff to a 20GB hard drive? I was thinking if I recover the last system restore where everything worked then I might be able to recover the whole drive maybe without the files and stuff but I can recover them put them directly on the drive now? Will this work?

Should I format this drive and hope that I can still recover the files?

I found all my files here they are, I can open, view, play all of them:
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/8...unter11mg0.png

but I don't know how to get them back onto my D: drive without formatting which could potentially cause me to lose them

What should I do?

First off do not format. Formatting erases all data.

Please describe the current situation and what you desire:

If you can see and use the files now: why not leave it at that?

Did the drive show back up under the 20 XP?

If you desire to move the files and format the drive you will either need another equal size drive or else start burning to DVD/CD's.

If I've overlooked anything from previous posts please let me know. I just got home from the real world and read your posts.

Making progress anyway!