When I try to boot my XP i jut get the screen saying that there was a problem booting. I get options to boot with the last working settings og 3 different safe-modes. When I chose any options it just displays the Win-logo for a few seconds and then re-boots.

So i have tried the recovery console. Problem her is that I can not access anything on c:. I can not change directory or even find any directories. I get an error message when using the ""dir"-command. When trying to create directories i get an "access denied" message. However I can brows my CD-drive.

When I started the console I did not get to choose which drive to recover, and i was not prompted for admin password. Could this be why I get access denied?

I am pretty clueless here and I really need some of the data that is on the drive.
If anyone has similar experiences or any pointers at all, please tell me.

Bjørn

Are you booting a Microsoft XP CD in order to access the Recovery Console?

When you say you get Access Denied messages and that you can browse the CD it appears that you are in Windows? The Recovery Console runs outside of Windows from the boot disk.

You are correct that you should see this:

After you start the Windows Recovery Console, you receive the following message:

Microsoft Windows(R) Recovery Console

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

1: C:\WINDOWS

Which Windows Installation would you like to log on to
(To cancel, press ENTER)?

After you enter the number for the appropriate Windows installation, Windows will then prompt you to enter the Administrator account password.

Just to verify: this is a Microsoft XP CD? Or is this an OEM disk? If the latter what is the make and model of the computer?

Beyond the Recovery Console you could try a Repair Install that should save your programs and data while reinstalling XP. The following is a good guide:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Also slaving the drive in another computer will allow access to your data assuming that the hard drive is mechanically functioning.

Along those lines you can run a diagnostic on your hard drive if you suspect mechanical damage.

Did you have any problems before this?



.

I am running the recovery console from a XP cd, yes. When it starts it says:

"Microsoft Windows(R) Recovery Console

The Recovery Console provides system repair and recovery functionality.
Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

c:\>"

So, no choosing installation and no password prompt. From this command line i can not access my windows folder or any other folders.

When I tried to do a repair install from the CD, it says that the partition is damaged or that I dont have enogh space, so I will have to format.
(I think i have like 5 Gb free on the partition)

Doed this mean that my hard drive is broken? Is there then anyway to restore my data?

Also it is a laptop so inserting the drive into another computer is not really an option.


please if you have any more thoughts.

All you need is a laptop hard drive adapter to slave the drive as seen here:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-5160538.html

Just to verify: you are booting the CD?

What is the make and model of the laptop? The hard drive manufacturer will have a diagnostic boot disk on their web site in order to verify the mechanical integrity of the drive.

Yes, I am booting the CD.
The laptop is no particular make or model. It is ordered by a firm that lets you specify the diferent components and then puts them in a standard casing. The casing howeer is the same as the Siemens Amilo M7400, and the hard drive is a Samsung MP804H 80 Gb.

I suppose I will have a look for that diagnostic boot disk and go shopping for an adapter.

Thank you for the help and the link.

http://www.samsung.com/Products/Hard...ties/hutil.htm