[swarley92]

This problem had started about 2 weeks ago during a power outage. The computer got shut off by the outage. Then I decided not to turn it back on. The next day I tried to turn it on it gets to the screen "Turned off inproperly... Last Good Config... Safe Mode...etc" then whatever I select it goes to the end of the XP Load Screen then it just restarts to repeat the process over again.

I checked the setting of the PC and the Main Hard Disk appears to be empty but the PC is boot to XP so it can't be empty (It read c: 38126mb 38126mb free). What should I do because I have over 20gb of legally bought music and at least 15 bought movies (from Itunes) and it isn't backed up and I would be horribly if I lost all of it since it cost a great amount of money. I care about nothing but saving my music and movies after it is moved the alternative drive or something I can format I just really want to save the music at all cost.

This happened once before but art the time I didn't have much music so I just formatted it, but to have to start buying/downloading for a 3rd time!!!!!!!! What can/should I do?

 

[swarley92]

To add I have 3 seperate hard drives but my boot files/windows files and my music is stored on c: only I also have a 14gb drive (where movies are stored) and I have a 9gb drive. The computer is a 2002 Dell PC originally with XP Home but changed to XP Pro in the past few years.

 

[ctonmn]

... well, its either the power outage caused the hard drives to format themselves, or the system is portraying wrong info. can you get the computer to run on BIOS?

 

[ssj4Gogeta]

I checked the setting of the PC and the Main Hard Disk appears to be empty but the PC is boot to XP so it can't be empty (It read c: 38126mb 38126mb free).

Where did you check that information?

I'd suggest you boot from an Ubuntu LiveCD (It's a free Linux based operating system which can run directly from the CD) and then try accessing the data. You can download the iso from www.ubuntu.com and then burn it on a CD. Then boot from it.

Select the language and then select "Try Ubuntu without installing" to boot directly from the CD
Once you enter the OS (it'll take some time) from the top bar select "places" then home folder. on the left you can see all your drives (you won't see drive letters though). click on them to try accessing the data.

If you're successful in accessing the data, transfer it to another drive and format.

 

[McNinja]

I was going to recommend using a cloning program and totally forgot about the usefulness of Ubuntu.

I can't remember a good cloning program maybe somebody can

 

[mack1]

Hi swarley92 and welcome to TSF:wave:

Try this. Tap on the F8 key at boot to get to the Advanced Options screen. One item there is to Disable Reboot On System Failure (or similar words). Click on that option and it should stop at the last screen it is able to put up. There should be a stop error message and some error code numbers (large numbers). List the message and numbers here please.

Also, do you have the Windows Pro install CD and does it have the same level SP as your computer (SP1, SP2, or SP3)?

Best regards,
Mack1