Partition problem

[MoE70]

Hi

I've tried create a partition in windows using Windows Disk Management from the Control Panel and as soon as I clicked 'make a new partition' I got the blue screen of death and the computer restarted

Now every time I try to load windows (on a different HDD) I get the blue screen of death. The only way I can get past it is by unplugging the drive I tried to create a new partition on.

I tried to plug the hard drive after windows loads but it doesn't show up -obviously-

I tried to delete the partition using windows installer. popped in a windows installation disk but it freezes before it gets to the part where it gives the option to delete or make new partitions

I've got important data on that HDD, is there a way to delete that partition that's causing a problem or fix it some how?

[Nightwalker83]

I'm not sure but Partition Magic might be useful! Have you tried it?

[MoE70]

No. But I cant get the hard drive to show up on windows at all, because if I plug it in, windows will freeze on start up.

[Nightwalker83]

What brand/type of drive is it?

[JayCR]

try the following:

• if you still have a windows 98 disk (and an ancient computer that still has a Floppy Disk Drive), access the floppy disk and use the command option, then enter chkdsk X: (where X: is the hard drive letter)
• see if you can access the regular windows version in safe mode by using the F8 key as your computer is starting up, if you get into safe mode, then you can run scandisk and check the hard drive and you should also be able to run Partition Magic
• presuming this is a second hard drive, you can always buy an external drive enclosure, they are cheap and never come in wrong. You can then connect the drive to the PC using USB, which may give you a bit more use when trying to remove the partition

If any of these work, brilliant, but if not, then you may have to try removing the drivers windows has for the drive.

Look forward to seeing if any of that works!

[Pradeep1210]

Is your BIOS acting up?
After plugging that harddisk, open the BIOS and verify that that disk is not taking precedence over your existing disk where Windows is installed. Ensure that the First Boot Device is set to harddisk where your windows is installed.

Some BIOSes also support low level disk format. If yours does, just fomat that harddisk from there, and retry partitioning it from within windows.

[JayCR]

pradeep, he has to be careful and cant perform a low level format as he has Data on there that he wants to be able to get off.

[AsmIscool]

Get yourself one of the many Linux live distro's. Available on the cover of most computer magazines. Plug your drive in and see if you can boot from that. If you can then get your data off that drive as quickly as you can.

[Pradeep1210]

pradeep, he has to be careful and cant perform a low level format as he has Data on there that he wants to be able to get off.

I assume the data is already lost since he as attempted to delete/create partitions on it without backing up the data somewhere. Data Recovery tools may be able to help to some extent though.

[JayCR]

not necessarily, as when these programs create partitions you can wipe the disk at creation, or it will otherwise put the partitions in the free space leaving your data intact. But on the basis that he may have data on there he shouldnt just perform a format until all other methods have been explored. sometimes during creation the FAT or NTFS structure gets written incorrectly, thus the problem accessing, but it can be rebuilt, and repaired.

I only use data recovery and a format when it becomes necessary, and speaking from experience, it can cause a lot of undue stress when other methods can work.

EDIT**

http://www.partition-recovery.com/ try the Active@ partition recovery. If you can actually get the computer to boot and connect the HD via USB or connected via IDE/SATA then try trunning this program.

[MoE70]

thanks you all for your suggestions. i think the linux solution might be the easiest to try so i will do that tomorrow and let you know how it goes