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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?