[cubfan]

Earlier today I was using my computer and I got the Blue Screen and my computer instantly shut off (so I did not get to see what it said). Now XP is not working. My computer starts up and goes to the Boot Screen where it says "Safe Mode, Safe Mode w/ Networking, Start XP Normally, etc."

When I click "Start Windows Normally/Last Good Configuration" the XP loading screen comes up but then after a minute of loading my PC restarts and goes back to the boot screen.

When I click "Safe Mode/Safe Mode w/ Networking" it brings me to the screen where all the file names pop up. But once it says "SPTD.sys & a347bus.sys - Press ESC to cancel loading", my computer restarts and it goes back to the boot screen.

I've tried using my XP CD to do a repair install but my HDD comes up as "Unpartitioned Space" when I go to the XP Setup part.

...Does anyone know how to fix this?

[cubfan]

Since making my first post I have done a scan with Partition Table Doctor (in DOS) and it said I had ~300 bad sectors. What is the best (DOS) program to repair bad sectors?

[tinkthelizard]

HDD rejenerator is a good program
can be found here
http://www.downloadjunction.com/prod...547/index.html

[tinkthelizard]

Might also be an idea to run a cd bootable version of linux to maybe backup all your files and then re-format your HDD to install the operating system from new.

[cubfan]

Ooo nice idea. I never even thought of that. The last version of Linux Live I had was Lindows. But now my CD is scratched and I can't find it online. What is the best version of Linux besides Lindows?

[tinkthelizard]

Knoppix is the one i always use.
you can download from here to burn an iso to cd
http://www.knoppix.net/

[Rich-M]

Why on earth would you even think about repairing 300 bad sectors when you can buy a 300 gb hard drive for $50-60 these days? It's time when you see something like that.

[cubfan]

I don't care about the hard drive. It's the files on the hard drive that I care about.

[cubfan]

Ok I tried the Linux Boot CD and it detected my HDD. But for some reason it will not let me copy files. I have another HDD plugged in via USB To IDE but everytime I try to copy a file it says that I do not have write permission.

When I right-click and go to Properties->Permissions and try to change it, it does not let me save. Instead, it gives me the error: "Can not change permissions for..."

Is there any other way to give myself write permission?

edit: nvm it was just an NTFS problem. I converted my 2nd drive to FAT32 and it's working.

[Rich-M]

Originally Posted by cubfan

I don't care about the hard drive. It's the files on the hard drive that I care about.

Fine then I would not be using checkdisk on a drive with 300 bad sectors. First step is to slave this drive to a master on another pc, and copy off whatever is important, then replace the drive.