external usb drive not open win98 HD anymore. Would sure appreciate your assistance!!

pingme2 · 12-20-2008, 12:57 PM

Hi Folks!! So here is the short story:

My old win98, HP, was slowly dying (power on & off, fan growling) and malware prog support disappearing. Have some 1500 files of research in my documents (word files).

Went to a reliable used/new computer shop I deal with and bought a used 2006 a1010n HP with XP home installed. I was sold a BYTECC "backup star" external USB unit (with prog cd) to insert my win98 disk into, to be able to import my old word files into this new HP.

It worked just fine!! Then something or another happened and I wound up re-installing WinXP from the Windows CD I was given. Pretty darned sure that I did not un-plug the ext drive USB when I did this.

When I tried to access the external drive again to import the old Win98 word files, the old win98 windows prog did not start running like it did before---but instead a series off odd ms-dos questions began running. That looked like something I just needed to do, so I went along with it. Cant tell you what thatb dos said and did specifically at this point.

The XP external drive was recognized but nothing would bring up anything in the win98 hd in the external drive. Tried putting the win98 hd back in the old puter to start it up, but it says the win98 exe file was missing, and then the start button finally did stop working.

I have ran no restore progs all to be able to write anything over this win98 disk (but wonder if the XP windows reinstall did).

Well, thats the story. I just need the my documents file. That's it, It would then be nice to use that old HD as a backup but not essential as it is only 10 gigs.

Sure would appreciate you folks assistance. Thanks in advance. Jim.

pingme2 · 12-21-2008, 04:01 PM

Did I say something Bad? Or does no one know what to do? Just need some assistance, not a hands on repair. Did the two TestDisk process (listed below) and both the external and existing XP HD drives appear to be fully functional.

Recover Data from Boot Drive using External USB Enclosure

http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...icles/149.html

Again just want my data on the external USB (old win98) HD drive!!

If this is beyond anyone's knowledge in this forum, and I mean NO offense, please just tell me and I'll try to find another source. Thanks, Jim

**linderman** · 12-22-2008, 01:54 PM

I would try running Getdataback for FAT and see if it can "see" your old win 98 drive contents ............ sounds to me like the XP over wrote something

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...-For-FAT.shtml

keep us posted with your progress

12-20-2008, 12:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
pingme2 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Beautifull Green Washington Posts: 13 OS: winxp, sp3	external usb drive not open win98 HD anymore. Would sure appreciate your assistance!! Hi Folks!! So here is the short story: My old win98, HP, was slowly dying (power on & off, fan growling) and malware prog support disappearing. Have some 1500 files of research in my documents (word files). Went to a reliable used/new computer shop I deal with and bought a used 2006 a1010n HP with XP home installed. I was sold a BYTECC "backup star" external USB unit (with prog cd) to insert my win98 disk into, to be able to import my old word files into this new HP. It worked just fine!! Then something or another happened and I wound up re-installing WinXP from the Windows CD I was given. Pretty darned sure that I did not un-plug the ext drive USB when I did this. When I tried to access the external drive again to import the old Win98 word files, the old win98 windows prog did not start running like it did before---but instead a series off odd ms-dos questions began running. That looked like something I just needed to do, so I went along with it. Cant tell you what thatb dos said and did specifically at this point. The XP external drive was recognized but nothing would bring up anything in the win98 hd in the external drive. Tried putting the win98 hd back in the old puter to start it up, but it says the win98 exe file was missing, and then the start button finally did stop working. I have ran no restore progs all to be able to write anything over this win98 disk (but wonder if the XP windows reinstall did). Well, thats the story. I just need the my documents file. That's it, It would then be nice to use that old HD as a backup but not essential as it is only 10 gigs. Sure would appreciate you folks assistance. Thanks in advance. Jim.

12-21-2008, 04:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
pingme2 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Beautifull Green Washington Posts: 13 OS: winxp, sp3	Re: external usb drive not open win98 HD anymore. Would sure appreciate your assistan Did I say something Bad? Or does no one know what to do? Just need some assistance, not a hands on repair. Did the two TestDisk process (listed below) and both the external and existing XP HD drives appear to be fully functional. Recover Data from Boot Drive using External USB Enclosure http://www.techsupportforum.com/cont...icles/149.html Again just want my data on the external USB (old win98) HD drive!! If this is beyond anyone's knowledge in this forum, and I mean NO offense, please just tell me and I'll try to find another source. Thanks, Jim

12-22-2008, 01:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 19,375 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: external usb drive not open win98 HD anymore. Would sure appreciate your assistan I would try running Getdataback for FAT and see if it can "see" your old win 98 drive contents ............ sounds to me like the XP over wrote something http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...-For-FAT.shtml keep us posted with your progress __________________ Even a Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day ! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial Last edited by linderman; 12-22-2008 at 01:55 PM.