0xc000000e Error 2100: HDD0 (HardDisk Drive) initialization error (2)

Hallo.
I have a failed HDD.
In the past I have usually been able to help myself to at least retrieve any data from the HDD.
But this time the problem seems to be different. If it has any bearing, this is the first time since upgrading to Windows 7 and operating for I can't remember how long, since without any issues.
As I always have in the past, this HDD is formatted with a separate partitions (1) for the OS and program files, and (2) for my data. This has usually this been enough to retrieve my data by installing the drive in a second Thinkpad using a second HDD adapter and retrieving the data. These days I also keep most of my data on a NAS but I do have some folders on a D:\ or Data drive which I would like to retrieve.

This time however I cannot even 'see' the drive at all. Not when I try to boot from it, or as a second HDD using an adapter. It is not even visible under Disk Management in case it needed to be initialized (again?) So this time, I seem stuck, unable to help myself:

In the first instance, I get the Error 2100: HDD0 (Hard Disk Drive) initialization error (2) when booting from the drive.
When I press ESC to continue, the computer tries to initialize the HDD or something, and from memory, I think displays an 'unable to boot from any device' screen and shows the status for the devices without any operating systems.

When I try the same with the affected HDD but this time with an installation disc inserted, I do not see the 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD'. By the way unlike before with XP, neither Win7 ThinkPad I have, seems to boot automatically from the optical drive giving you the 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD' option. I have to select F12 to select an optical drive from the BOOT List. Is this normal? If so, it's news to me.

Anyway, and instead boot goes to this screen with the exceptions noted below:



Except that above the Status line read: Title: \Boot\BCD

And the Info line instead reads: An error occurred while trying to read from the boot configuration data.

With the affected HDD I seem to be stuck in this loop unable to progress beyond this screen.

Whereas when I try the same with a different HDD either in of two T6x ThinkPads I have, I do then seem to able to progress to the 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD' option.

Just to be sure I have swapped HDDs and put a T60 HDD into the affected T61p and again seem able to progress to the 'Press any key to boot from CD or DVD' option thus I hope, ruling out any hardware issue in the T61p other than the affected HDD.

Just prior to the failure, the system or typing seemed to hang sometimes for no apparent reason. Changing windows or finding the cursor sometimes took forever. At the time it was very hot and I suspected the heat or possibly malicious software.

In hindsight, I suspect I missed the obvious signs hat the HDD was probably failing and should have backed up.

Can anyone recognise the problem and help me to get the HDD up and running if only, long enough to recover some folders and files?

Golden said:

Rescue the data off the disk using this:
Peppermint Live CD/DVD/USB - Create for Emergency Backup

thanks. I note already that your thread does mention why a disk may become non bootable....

Before I spend too much time on this solution, can anyone, in the meantime, tell me what it actually means when a disk is not at all 'visible' in for example, disk management. Normally, I expect a disk whether bootable or not, to always appear in under disk management....

this HDD does not appear under Disk Management when loaded using a 2nd HDD adapter in a working notebook. can Malware actually do this?

Golden said:

There are several reasons why a disk may not appear under Disk Management, including but not limited to malware. Your first step should be to get any important data of it using the tutorial I linked, before attempting to find a possible solution.

Thanks Golden.
The download link is now for Peppermint 6 and the Peppermint Boot screen and options are now different to screenshot in your guide.

Installer boot menu choices now include:

1. Try Peppermint OS Live
2. Install Peppermint OS
3. Check disc for defects
4. Test Memory
5. Boot from first hard disk

Not sure which to try such that the HDD is not impacted before I get my data off.

I don't know what this means or how bad the prognosis then is, but I suspect that the problem for the PC and Peppermint is that 'No Media Is Found'

By the way, have you heard of freezing a failed HDD? Old wives tale?

Golden said:

There are several reasons why a disk may not appear under Disk Management, including but not limited to malware. Your first step should be to get any important data of it using the tutorial I linked, before attempting to find a possible solution.

Okay. Thanks again for your post(s).

As I suspected Peppermint does not 'see' my failed/corrupt HDD.

I confirmed this by booting into Peppermint using an unaffected ThinkPad and HDD. In Peppermint 6 the partitions appeared under 'Devices'. Whereas when I do the same with the affected HDD I do not see any partitions.

So I am not sure where this leaves me really. Regardless what I do, if for example booting into Peppermint I ways see the DOS error and simply press ESC to continue:

Error 2100: HDD0 (HardDisk Drive) initialization error (2)

I wonder what could be done about initialising the disk if I cannot see it in Disk Management in an affected system. If I could maybe then Peppermint could see the parititions which I am trying to recover

Golden said:

You need specialised help with this issue then. I'll ask jumanji to follow up.

by specialised help, do you mean specialised data recovery services, or someone on Seven Forums like jumanji, who might be able to help?

If the former, I don't think I could afford those kind of services. I'd just have to learn the lesson and rebuild the data slowly. If the latter, that would be much appreciated. thanks

Golden said:

Latter.

oh thanks very much.

for what's its worth the general consensus on the internet maybe that the '2100: HDD0 (HardDisk Drive) initialization error' maybe the end of the road, particular to Lenovo ThinkPads with no solution.

but I am all for trying