Resolved HDDs became corrupted after low CMOS battery

It's been a long learning process, but I can't say the results are ideal, different, but not ideal. Not all the information given on those links was accurate, so I had to learn along the way.

The WINDOWSXP-KB936929-SP3-X86-ENU.EXE in my SP3 CD was the same as the "Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers" so if you have the cd, you don't need to download the package.

His link to find a boot.ima doesn't lead to a boot.ima, so I downloaded one here: http://mediafire.com/?7kngxwkb1xncn62.

I had to do some research to find out how to burn a bootable cd using imgburn but found clear directions on this YouTube video: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...btweBGlE2W7crlJxZJ5MWCw&bvm=bv.53899372,d.cGE

When I disconnected my backup drive for the repair on my main drive, my Windows OS couldn't be found, so I only got the option of doing a fresh install. When I connected it back up, I was able to choose between the two operating systems.

His directions say to remove the XP cd, yet I couldn't get the install to continue without leaving the cd in and using F12 -- boot to CDROM and then letting it open without pressing any more buttons.

When I got to the black Windows page, telling me to "please wait" I did patiently wait for about 6 hours before restarting my computer. It then restarted and did its configuration, requiring another restart. I looked at msconfig and the editable boot.ini and found them to be reversed of what existed before. I edited the boot.ini to point to partition 2 rather than 3 and then saved it and restarted the computer.

Now, I can't open my main drive.

Here is what the boot.ini on my backup drive looks like:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "Samsung 750" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "Backup" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Here is what msconfig looks like:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 750" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 160" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT= "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

Notice the difference with rdisk as 0 or 1 on the default, and the presence of the recovery console on msconfig.

Maybe I can go back into the recovery console and fix the boot, now, but I wanted to run this by you before messing things up any more than they are already messed up. I look forward to your thoughts.

 

Tony, thanks for pointing out my error. I did fix it. It was a long day, and I was attempting to include everything I learned. I was going to correct it after my cut and paste, but it slipped by me.

 

Thanks for all the help, so far. I disconnected my backup drive then went into recovery console, did fixmbr then bootcfg /rebuild. Now my computer loads normally. I did notice the bios screen loads very slowly when only my primary drive is connected, but that isn't really a problem for me. It loads normally when both drives are connected. My primary drive is a SATA drive, and my backup is IDE with a SATA adapter, if that makes a difference. Now I am ready to address my son's computer. I sense it will be more of a challenge. Everything shows up as non-system disk or disk error. In the BIOS, only the 6GB drive I added shows up. Neither his primary or slave shows up when I connect them. I could connect them in my computer, again, to see if they work, but I'll wait for your advice on that. I can't access the 6GB drive other than through the BIOS, so I'm not sure if we have a hard drive problem or mobo problem or something else. I await your expertise. Thank you.

 

I have to leave for work, now, but I'll order the part this evening.

I do have another unexpected problem, though. I guess in attempting to reduce my startups I must have turned something important off, as nothing is loading other than my hardware removal tool, and I can't even manually start up many of my programs, as they all say the driver isn't installed. I did get microsoft security essentials started, but I can't get online. What was this magic button I must have pressed, and how do I enable it again?

 

In case this is helpful for diagnosing why my programs aren't loading on my primary drive, I also find that when I turn off my computer, I only have access to stop and restart, not standby. Any idea what might be happening?

 

What are your thoughts about doing a system restore to find all my missing drivers?

 

I used CCleaner to disable the extra programs, but now those programs don't even show up on CCleaner, disabled or otherwise. Actually, I believe all was fine with restarts after doing that, but the last thing I remember was following the instructions listed on another recent post to address a slow computer (Evan Omo's directions here: http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-xp/106318-extreeeemly-slow-computer.html). I figured I'd see if I could speed up my computer. Something there may have changed something, but I'm not sure what might have done it.

Also, I did order the USB to SATA/IDE adapter, and it will arrive by next Friday. I noticed most adapters are limited to WinXP or lower or 500GB or lower, so I decided to spend a little more and have a product I can use for a longer period of time (from StarTech.com). It also comes with a 2-year warranty.

 

Here is what I did:
Run Disk Cleanup.
Disable any Windows Services that you don't use by following Black Vipers Services Guide
Download and run Auslogics Disk Defrag.
Download and run Auslogics Registry Defrag.
Download and run Autoruns.
Run AdwCleaner.
Run Junkware Removal Tool.

 

OK, I discovered the problem. I didn't know how to run Autorun, so I messed up. Hopefully, I turned on everything I need to turn on. I guess I'll just find out when I attempt to run something and can't. I notice I can now get stand By when turning off the computer. Be careful in unclicking items on Autorun. If you know how I can make a log of my Autorun information, so you can let me know what else to check, I'll post the information. I can save it in an .arn file and send it to anyone who feels qualified to analyze it, but it is 2.29MB in size.

OK, I did find something that doesn't work. This drive doesn't recognize my CD burner or DVD burner. Any suggestions on what to click back on?

 

How does one know what doesn't need to run? I wish I knew how to attach a log here, so others could help me determine what I can unclick. I never unclicked any MS stuff. It was just all the other hardware and software that wasn't working.

Here are the drivers I unclicked. One is PQNTDrv, which is the PowerQuest Boot Mode Driver, and all others are Conexant drivers: basic2, Fallback, Fsks, HSF_DP, hsf_msft, HSFHWBS2, K56, mdmxsdk, PxHelp20, Rksample, SoftFax, Tones, V12 & winachsf. I don’t know what the PowerQuest Boot Mode is for, and I assumed all the Conexant drivers were for my dial up modem I no longer use. Maybe I should just take out the modem. I’ll check all these items and see if my burners show up. Thank you.

 

After clicking all those drivers, my burners are once again accessible. I'll just leave them all running, unless someone can tell me which ones aren't necessary.

 

Thank you. I already had Arie do that on my computer. I think it is in pretty good shape, but I'm always open to new ways to improve it. I guess I'll be putting this thread on hold till I get the adapter for the other computer.

 

This morning I was notified my adapter status was changed to shipped. When I got to my office, it was already waiting for me. Now that's quick shipping. Beam me up Scotty!!!

OK, here is what I have:
StarTech USB 3.0 to 2.5/3.5in SATA/IDE Converter Part #USB3SSATAIDE (It looks pretty impressive, with 3 different power cables for 120 & 240v and all the necessary connections for any type of hard drive.)
2 IDE hard drives (1-Seagate and 1-Western Digital)
Seagate's recovery program frw_en_1.exe (file recovery for Windows)

I'll wait for your instructions, while I read the adapter instructions, so I don't get ahead of you, but I will bring the Seagate drive to my computer, and we can address that one first.