Windows XP Corrupted My Filesystem, Now What?

Hey guys, I recently re-installed WinXP and I backed up all my data to one drive. Then, I installed the new OS and but the drive with the backups back into the system. When WinXP booted, I could see only one folder and then all the subfolders had gibberish for names. So, I booted up Knoppix and found that all the files were fine and still there with the correct names. After this, I booted back into WinXP and it ran a scan on the whole backup drive. It said there were some errors and they could not be fixed. When WinXP got booted up again, I tried to look at the drive again and now found the one file I could open was still named correctly but it was an unknown file extension instead of a folder icon. Fearing the worst, I opened up knoppix again and it cannot read the drive either, it is an unknown file type as well.

What can I do?! I really need this data since its my bookmarks, email, and other important irreplaceable stuff. Help is greatly appreciated!

 

"After this, I booted back into WinXP and it ran a scan on the whole backup drive. It said there were some errors and they could not be fixed. "

Exactly how did you 'scan' the drive? The specific error messages would also help.

 

Windows XP did it automatically right after I rebooted before it loaded the GUI interface. I dont recall the exact errors but I still dont understand how it made the folder into an unknown file. In knoppix again, it still takes up the same amount of space as before its just I cannot open it like a folder anymore. Can I name the file something different so it is able to be opened as a folder? Also, what should I do to make sure that the hard drive is functioning alright?

 

My ( what may be ) wild ideas. But I believe that his may well be Human error. ( But maybe not too )

I take it that you put the new XP on a new HD. Is that correct ?

Then reconnected the old one after the install of XP on the new HD. Is that correct ?

If the old drive still had a Primary partition with the OS still on it, there may be the problem. I think even if set to SLAVE it would still cause trouble.

And the problem may well be that XP just does not know where to find the stuff.

I may be WILD guessing here. But I would bet that if the old HD had been connected when you installed the new you would have wound up with a Dual Boot.

BillyBob

 

Thats exactly what happened, I tried a slipstreamed disk before my original XP disk to install and it tried installing to that disk. I stopped it half-way through and used the regular Windows-XP for the next install which is when I disconnected the disc. I wasnt even thinking about that.

Now that we know what the problem was, is there any way to get my data back? Also, why is the folder and unknown file type now?