ak77

Hi,

Here's my problem:

My sister has a Dell Dimension 9150 that has stopped booting to Windows due to a corrupt or missing config file "Windows\System32\Conf\System File". Unfotunately she doesn't posses the Media Centre Edition 2005 Dell OEM CD/DVD so I am unable to attempt to repair it or reinstall the O/S without wiping the data using that method. I don't think Dell ships the disks.

I have removed the hardrive from the Dell and connected it up to my own PC. The SATA drive is recognised in both the CMOS/BIOS and is displaying in windows device manager too. The only problem is that its not displaying in "My Computer" as an accessible drive. I have gone into Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management to try and see if I could import the drive, but its not allowing me that option.

My main drive appears blue (primary partition) and my 2nd drive is beige (simple volume). My sisters SATA drive appeared black - and I've forgotten what that equated to and I have since reconnected it back up to the Dell machines as I was attempting other options.

I need to access this drive purely for the data that is on it. There are a lot of photos on there that are wanted including some of a family friend who was killed 2 days ago in a motorcycle accident and so its essential that I don't do anything that will erase the data upon it.

I'm at a loss as to why I cannot access this drive, so if anyone knows how I can recover the data from it I would be very greatful.

Many thanks,

AK

Terrister

Contact Dell. Most of the time they will send you the OS disk for a fee.

ak77

Hi Terrister,

Send the disk for a fee? That's a damn joke! Having already paid for the PC/Operating system once and have to pay out again for the disk because Dell doesn't ship it with with the machine. Smells like a typical corporate scam to me. This is what I hate about OEM manufacturers like Dell, HP. Always a pain in the backside when it comes to repairing them. I told my sister to let me build her one - wished she'd listened.

I've contacted Dell and will see what they say.

Thanks for the reply,

AK

Terrister

I don't like that they charge for them either.
Let us know what they tell you.

ak77

Hi Terrister,

I've managed to salvage all the data now. I downloaded Knopix, the live linux based O/S, that loads from CD into the RAM. Never used it before, but thankfully it recognised the drive and accessed it too. I then simply copied all the files I could find to a USB hardrive.

With that saved, I should now be free to restore the Dell to factory state. I think thats CTRL+F11. I'll let you know what Dell say anyway, but thankfully I discovered a new way of rescuing files when Windows screws up.

Take care,

AK

Terrister

Good deal. I didn't even think about that option. Thanks for keeping us informed.

DellCA

I'm glad to hear you were able to get your data recovered. LiveCDs are very useful for data recovery (I've done it myself a time or two).

If you haven't already contacted Dell support, I will be more than happy to help you get the Windows reinstallation CD for your system. To get that set up I just need to know some information about the system to make sure I am sending the correct disks (drivers, mainly).

From what you describe, it sounds like a Windows Repair should (but might not) correct the problem. Since you have backed up your data, you could also try the Image Restore function (which is CTRL+F11 at the Dell splash screen just after powering on the computer). This should reload the factory image the system shipped with, assuming the partition it is installed in on the hard drive is still intact.

If you have any other questions about the computer I will be more than happy to answer them.


Larry

ak77

Hi Larry,

Dell are sending the disks out this week FOC thankfully. I actually fixed the PC today by putting in my XP disk and accessing the repair consul. Once in the dos prompt, I performed a checkdisk (chkdsk /p) I think the command is. The scan picked up one or more errors on the drive. Upon reboot the computer loaded Windows XP and everything seems ok.

At least I'll have the proper disk, should a hardrive fail, to perform a complete reinstall, but thankfully it hasn't come to that. It was a pain in the backside, but at least its taught me a few new tricks in repairing PC's and salvaging data.

Thanks for the offer of supplying the disk though. It is appreciated.

All the best,

AK

DellCA

Not a problem, ak77. I'm just glad to hear you got things working again.

If you decide to do a clean format and reinstall of the OS the drivers for your system, in the order they should be installed, are:
* Dell Desktop System Software
* Intel Chipset Software for ICH7 systems
* video driver for your system
* SigmaTel STA9220 audio driver
* Intel 82562GZ 10/100 or Intel 82573L gigabit Ethernet (network) driver (depending on your system)
* Drivers for any other hardware you have installed on the system

The key thing is to install the Dell Desktop System software first, as that is basically part of the chipset for the motherboard. All of the drivers are available from the Dell support website (http://support.dell.com).


Larry
Dell Customer Advocate

twajetmech

Did you initialize the disk in disk management....Start>rightclick on my computer> select manage>select disk management> right click on the disk and select initialize.