Windows XP Install - HDD & Partitions

skeletonw00t · 13 Jun 2010 at 18:33

Hi all,

I accidently deleted Userinit from my registry while removing a trojan/malware from my PC. Now I cannot boot into windows and I am now trying to repair it.

I use a 1TB samsung partitioned in 4 parts (4x 300 ish and 1 30ish gig partitions).

However, in the the windows XP install menu it only detects one partition (says drive C: 131072meg).

my questions are:

1. Am i right to assume this is to do with the out dated Windows XP's dificulty in detecting partitions above a certain amount?

2. It wont even show an XP install being installed on there so if i format that partition and reinstal XP to it will i lose all data on my other partitions?

3. If i buy windows 7 will it detect all partitions and i will be able to specifically select my C:\ partition and reformat that one only?

Many thanks in advance for any help/advice!

Cheers

SiriusB · 13 Jun 2010 at 20:59

skeletonw00t said:
Hi all,

I accidently deleted Userinit from my registry while removing a trojan/malware from my PC. Now I cannot boot into windows and I am now trying to repair it.

When you say repair, do you mean repair install?

my questions are:

1. Am i right to assume this is to do with the out dated Windows XP's dificulty in detecting partitions above a certain amount?

I am not sure what you mean. It should be able to detect all of your partitions.

2. It wont even show an XP install being installed on there so if i format that partition and reinstal XP to it will i lose all data on my other partitions?

Well if you format of course you will lose everything :/

3. If i buy windows 7 will it detect all partitions and i will be able to specifically select my C:\ partition and reformat that one only?

Hard to say, it could be your partition table is nerfed, so Windows 7 may not have any more luck than XP is having.

If you want to rescue your data, download something like Linux Mint. It lets you run it from the CD in a live environment [runs from the CD, so no installation required]. You can access and view your HDD from there and copy data to an external USB drive.

skeletonw00t · 13 Jun 2010 at 21:30

Hi,

Ive jkust run a windows 7 boot disc and gone into diskpart and listed the partitions for my drive... and it showed 1 partition with 127 GB...

So judging from this would you say i have lost all of my data?

How can this of happened???? Can XP install erase all partitions before you even go to the install part?

I am fuming now as I have lost not only 1 TB of data but also around 5 years of work...

skeletonw00t · 13 Jun 2010 at 22:11

just checked on gparted - all data is gone it has 1 unallocated partition of 931 gig...

is there any way to get the data back?

SiriusB · 13 Jun 2010 at 23:57

Give this article a try: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/15761/recover-data-like-a-forensics-expert-using-an-ubuntu-live-cd/

It assumes you have created a Ubuntu Live CD and have booted into it. The first part of the article describes briefly their particular set up.

I can't guarantee it will work - I have no idea how those partitions got screws up. Suffice it to say you are a fool for having no backups for your alleged 5 years of work. I imagine you wont make that mistake again!

skeletonw00t · 14 Jun 2010 at 08:38

Thanks Sirius!

I'm popping into OC today to buy a new HDD and Windows 7 so my plan is as follows:

1. Take out old HDD
2. Install New HDD
3. Install Windows 7
4. Plug old HDD back in and install "Easus Partition Master" - apparently this can locate deleted/lost partitions.
5. If that fails then install getdataback - apparently this can get pretty much anything back - even partitions that have been formatted - which mine havent.

Do you reckon I should have a pretty good chance of recovering the Data this way?

Also - I am not sure how the partitions got lost but I reckon it had something to do with the Windows XP pro install screen - maybe to do with it being so old and only recognising up to 127GB and it automatically put 127GB into an unallocated space? Strange how it would do this on purely the first stage of the install screen (where it asks you to pick your harddrive where you want to install) as I haven't been asked to format any drive!

Any thoughts?!