Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
would use a Windows 98 boot disk to boot to an A: prompt and then use the Scanreg
command, view the log, and use an file that was dated long enough ago to hopefully restore
the registry.
• If it was an NT machine, hopefully the user had a NT Emergency Boot Disk specific to that
unit and I would use it and go the "Repair" route.
• After this, I would check with tech support, because I would not want to overlook something
that could help me avoid reloading her original hard drive, as quite a few users never back up
their data.
• If tech support came up with a solution, I would be sure to add it to my notebook so next
time I could resolve the issue more quickly, efficiently, and professionally.
From: Brad Lewandowski
Well, since you said you were going to replace the drive, I see the options as these:
• Boot from a floppy with a full set of DOS utilities, double checking BIOS settings, fdisk, etc.…
• Use Interlnk and Intersvr and start a xfer
• Yank the drive out, change it to a slave, stick it in a functioning computer and xcopy/Ghost
• Maybe the MBR is bad, try copying one over with Sys command...
• God forbid you should send the drive to a 'Data Recovery' place...
From: P. Christensen
• Go to bios and ask the machine to automatically detect the hard drive. Sometimes it loses
the hard drive due to a virus or faulty battery.
• If the machine finds the hard drive, go in and do a virus scan. If the battery made the bios
lose the info, you shouldn't shut off the machine until the hard drive data files are backed up.
Monkey B virus will alter the boot sector and make the hard drive disappear.
• Sometimes you have to be sure that in bios the machine will boot to A and then C and then
make sure it has recognized the C drive in bios and then do a virus scan.
From: Murray Voight
• You need to be able to boot into the system.
• First get a generic boot disk that will allow this.
• If you're able to boot up, then see if you can access the C drive through DOS.
• If you can access the C drive, then you should be able to access the files on the C drive.
• If you can't access the files, then try running a scandisk from the boot floppy.
• If you can't access the BIOS or the C drive through a boot disk, then the next step you need
to do is shut down the computer and pull out the hard drive.
• Once you have the hard drive out you need to douse it in lighter fluid and immediately
expose the non-functioning hard drive to an open flame.
• Although the last step is of great controversy, it will bring great satisfaction to know humans
will always have the last word.
From: Andrzej Bednarz
