URGENT: Serious HDD Problems

[techhead287]

I need URGENT help here.

I have been attempting to dual-boot Windows XP and Windows 7 on a mid-2004 HP Compaq laptop.
I booted into the Windows 7 setup, and used diskpart to shrink my XP partition. The commands I used were these:

1. list disk
2. select disk 1
3. list volume
4. select volume 1
5. list partition
6. select partition 1
7. shrink desired=25000

After the shrink desired=25000 command, it went straight back to the prompt. I thought that was a little strange, but I continued with setup. When I was prompted to select a drive to install to, there were none. I launched diskpart again and typed list disk. It said there were no disks to display. I rebooted the computer, and it booted into XP as usual. I was taken to the login screen, and I entered my password. I pressed enter, and got a BSOD.
There was no error string, which would usually be something like PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_AREA or IRQL_LESS_OR_NOT_EQUAL. The system rebooted. I shut it down by pressing the power button while the BIOS screen was up. I started up the computer, and the BIOS beeped 3 times and printed out the message of my nightmare:

Fixed Disk Parameter Table or BIOS Error
System Halted

My only choice now was to press the power button to power off the machine, and it did.

This is really bad. I need urgent help.

BSOD HELPERS - PLEASE READ:
Don't tell me to run some tool to get the BSOD crash dump. The HDD is not being recognized, and there is no way of accessing the data now.

Immediate help would be appreciated right now. This thread is high priority!

Please help, please help, please help!
-techhead287

Yes, I know the screen of the computer is messed up.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Techhead mate try this to get some of the data back

BOOTABLEUBUNTU

Make a bootable Ubuntu disk http://www.ubuntu.com/download

Set the BIOS to boot from theoptical when the machine boots it will show you a screen with TRY or INSTALL> select TRY

When it is finished - it takes verylittle time you will get a screen like in the pic .

Open the drive you want > Userand dig down until you get to the data / settings you may be able to copy /paste the material you want to an external source or other installed drive doingthis.

I am not sure if it will but I haverecovered tons of data etc using this method both on "dead" or justplain drives that you cannot get data from using Windows.

 

[techhead287]

What a coincidence! I happen to have 2 Ubuntu 12.04 install CDs in my drawer!

I will try it in the laptop, and post back the results.

 

[techhead287]

Hey, good news.

I started up the PC, and instead of getting the BIOS error, it actually decided to boot into XP.
I am now on the XP desktop. I will post back if anything goes wrong.

 

[techhead287]

It was fine, until I suddenly got a BSOD and saw that same message.

I can't boot into any removable devices (such as an Ubuntu CD) and I can't even get into the BIOS setup.

What should I do now?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hey, good news.

I started up the PC, and instead of getting the BIOS error, it actually decided to boot into XP.
I am now on the XP desktop. I will post back if anything goes wrong.

Thats good news now if I were you I would back up all the data you want ASAP and then do some tests on the drives (spinners). There are two types one which does a general test like Seatools for example I don't know what brand you are using so I cannot advise which but Seatools usually will do most.

The SSD you could try the AS SSD run it is really to find out the read write rates but if it goes belly up may be indicative of it failing. AS SSD Benchmark Free Download

The second is a physical surface test using Partition Wizard Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition. see pics (very handy tool to keep) in one pic you will see the surface test the other you can see how to explore the partitions .

 

[ICIT2LOL]

It was fine, until I suddenly got a BSOD and saw that same message.

I can't boot into any removable devices (such as an Ubuntu CD) and I can't even get into the BIOS setup.

What should I do now?

Hmm I am not sure now no BIOS is not looking good Tech. I suppose you could try renewing the CMOS battery and see if it makes any difference but it certainly looks not good. Being a 10 year old machine just about maybe she has reached the use by date
I might just ask the others for some help mate.

 

[gregrocker]

Boot into BIOS setup to see if the XP drive is detected under storage devices. Set it first to boot. Henceforth attempt to boot any media using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

Reset the BIOS to defaults after noting any SATA controller setting to put it back where it was: How To Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)

Unplug any other drives while you run the maker's Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure extended CD scan or PW CD surface scan suggested by John earlier.

Report back results.

If HDD cannot be found, can another? Try installing WIn7 now following http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html with all other drives unplugged.

 

[matts6887]

It was fine, until I suddenly got a BSOD and saw that same message.

I can't boot into any removable devices (such as an Ubuntu CD) and I can't even get into the BIOS setup.

What should I do now?

Hmm I am not sure now no BIOS is not looking good Tech. I suppose you could try renewing the CMOS battery and see if it makes any difference but it certainly looks not good. Being a 10 year old machine just about maybe she has reached the use by date
I might just ask the others for some help mate.

I concur; removing the cmos battery should clear and return any changes made in the bios to defaults. Doing that might somehow correct the problem by getting it to possibly reconfigure the hard drive in the bios setup which might end up making it work again.

 

[rvcjew]

also to add to the above tips if your system still does not boot after clearing cmos to the bios setup then try taking out the spinner as it may be hanging the boot order atm. I would also even if its working take the drive out and put it in another pc to back it up just in case.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I suppose a last ditch thing would be to do as Greg says and do the clean install on a brand new drive and then recover the data from the old drive either by directly plugging it in or using a USB gadget. (see pic)