How to resolve NTFS Partitions Problems

ntfs-partitions The first sector of NTFS partitions is used as the partition boot sector. It contains the information which allows the OS to read the partition. Without it, the partition cannot be accessed.

NTFS has a backup copy of the boot sector on the last sector of the partition which can allow recovery programs to restore it. The FAT also has the boot sector, and resides on the first sector of this partition. The difference is that FAT does not have a backup copy of this information; Recovery is much more difficult than NTFS.

The first file stored on an NTFS partition is called the Master File Table (MFT) which is essentially a listing of the names, properties and locations of all the other files in this partition. This is referenced by the operating system to access individual files.

NTFS stores a backup copy of this file. Data restoration software can access or restore a copy of the MFT in order to access files on the partition.

FAT partitions with something similar, called predictably enough the File Allocation Table (FAT). The FAT is also backed up on the disk, and can be restored by software. The major disadvantage of the FAT as compared to the MFT is that it needs to be located on a specific area of the partition to function, so if that area of the disk is damaged, recovery will become more difficult.

When a file is deleted (removed from the recycle bin within Windows), both file systems simply mark the file as deleted. The data is not actually removed from the hard drive, but rather the space it takes up on the disk is now considered to be free. Consequently, if you delete a file accidentally, you have an excellent chance of being able to restore it provided you do not write more information to the disk.

For example, If you two NTFS partitions on the effected disk. When you ran FDISK, it wrote garbage information over certain areas of this disk, including areas of both partitions. As a result, the first partition (the one with your article on it) had lost its partition boot sector, meaning it could not be accessed normally by an operating system. The second partition had merely had crucial system files overwritten, and was unbootable, but still can accessible once you transferred the disk to another computer.

There is a way to fix all of this, and get the data back

One rule to remember when you have lost data, please don’t write anything more to the affected hard drive!

If you have deleted a partition by accident, do not create another partition, just leave it blank.
If you have deleted files from the recycling bin that you realize you need, do notsave anything to the drive. The reason is that hard drives do not actually erase anything, not data or partitions. When you erase a file from the operating system, it is just marked on the drive as having been deleted. When the system needs to store more data on the drive, it will consider files on the drive marked ‘deleted’ as being empty space, and cheerfully copy over them. If that happens then you’re in big trouble.

Another rule applies twice over for partitions; since partition information just presents the operating system with a way of addressing the space available on the drive. If you wipe out a partition everything from it will seem to be gone.

If there is no partition information, no data can be read by the operating system. This does not mean that your data it is not there however, only that means you can’t see it. Data-recovery programs have no such handicap.

What you need to do was to allow FDISK to test the integrity of the drive, which it does by writing a pattern of data to certain areas. Of course, in the case, many of these areas contained partition information and critical system files. The result was one missing partition, due to a destroyed boot sector, and one unbootable (but still readable) XP installation.

How.
First and best thing to do in a data-loss situation is to make sure no more data is written to the drive. Obviously, if you have just the one partition and it’s fried, you can’t boot normally to the operating system. The best option in this situation is to transfer the drive to another computer, preferably one using the same file-system as your damaged partition (such as, the same operating system, or a newer version). See the PCSTATS Beginners Guides sectionfor information on how to move your hard drive to another computer.

Transferring the HDD to another computer has the dual benefit of preventing the drive from being written to accidentally, and potentially allowing you to retrieve information from the disk just by using Windows Explorer to look through file structures.

If you have damaged or erased essential operating system files, but the partition information is still intact Windows will not boot. The HDD can still be read from a different operating system which is one way out of the doom and gloom.

All the processes described from here on are strictly for resolving software issues with your data, like accidentally deleting partitions or files. If your hard drive has a physical problem, if it is making strange noises, shaking, rattling or smoking, nothing here will apply. Turn off your computer, unplug the drive and call a data recovery service if your data are vital.

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Hard disk shortage causes price of common pc repair to soar

Hard disk shortage,PC Repair,hard drive repairAn increasing number of Iowans are finding an unpredicted relationship between surges in Thailand and the price of a typical pc repair.

The cost laptop or computer hard disk drives have skyrocketed because industrial facilities in Thailand, where most of the world’s way to obtain hard disk drives and internal hard disk components originate, were heavily broken by surges that started at the end of This summer.

“Some current hard disk drives are constructed with unobtainium,” quipped Randy Hill, who owns RAHM Corporation., a Marion computer diagnostic and mechanic shop. He stated the cost of 500 gigabyte and more compact hard disk drives convey more than bending within the last two several weeks, and a few of the bigger hard disk drives happen to be “very hard” to locate.

A 500 gigabyte hard disk that cost $70 to $80 to exchange prior to the ton now might cost $133, Hill stated.

Hard disk drives are among the most generally changed computer components.

“If something fails on your pc, it’s usually your hard disk since it’s an analog item ?a it sits there and spins,”stated Dork Lengthy, leader of Area Electronic Recovery in Walford. The organization resells functioning hard disk drives it receives for recycling on eBay after reconditioning them and wiping the information.

Because the shortage started, Lengthy stated purchasers have clicked up nearly every large amount of refurbished hard disk drives the organization placed up from eBay, specially the SATA hard disk drives required for more recent computer systems. The organization has additionally fielded many email queries from regular purchasers searching for hard disk drives.

Hill stated computer shops and merchants typically never carry large inventories of hard disk drives simply because they would rapidly become outdated by technological developments. Prices had generally been decreasing, leading to clients and suppliers to shake their heads when prices all of a sudden bolted up.

The hard disk shortage hasn’t made a dent within the accessibility to new computer systems. Which has transformed the “repair or replace” equation for a lot of computer customers who coping a unsuccessful hard disk, stated Andrew Lehman of R.J. Enders Computer systems in Cedar plank Rapids, which both repairs and develops new computer systems.

“Normally, a hard disk alternative with (data) reload is $175 to $200, “stated Lehman, a specialist. “Now, it’s $250 to $300, and also at $300, you may not are interested a brand new computer or repair that old one?”

Zack Knorr, who owns Computer Paradise in Cedar plank Rapids, agreed. He stated marketing prices of recent computer systems throughout the holidays may be shifting the repair or replace balance toward the “replace” option. He stated the ratio continues to be roughly “50-50” lately between your two options whenever a unsuccessful hard disk was involved.

Computer producers happen to be impacted by the hard disk shortage, but less than repair shops because hard disk makers generally have supply contracts using the producers they recognition first.

Best To Buy is really a leading store of laptop and pcs. Chad Manley, product process manager at Best To Buy in Waterloo, stated supplies happen to be “somewhat limited, but fine typically.” He stated laptop inventories happen to be relatively untouched, and they’re the most popular selling category.

Pc repair companies report relatively couple of cases by which specific hard disk models are entirely not available, even though some stated the amount they might order was limited.

Researching the market firm IDC has indicated probably the most painful duration of shortage is going to be through Feb 2012, even though hard disk inventory situation might not be normal again until 2013, based on a study this month in Computerworld, a number one trade publication.

Western Digital was the hard disk manufacturer affected most by Thailand flooding. It’s predicted a global shortage of 60 million hard disk drives within the final quarter of 2011.

Most of the top PC makers have cautioned since October that they may be limited within their production rates by difficulty acquiring hard disk drives. They incorporated Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Lenovo and Acer. Apple Corp., a number one supplier of microprocessors for Computers, also needs orders because of its items to become affected because PC makers is going to be creating less models.

The development downturn hasn’t had a lot of an impact on among the area’s biggest purchasers of computer systems, the College of Iowa. The UI has lengthy-term supply contracts for pcs and servers, UI speaker Nicole Riehl stated, safeguarding it from alterations in prices. She stated delivery dates on some products have ended up, however the delays haven’t yet triggered any major trouble for the college.

“Long-term, we don’t understand what the impact is going to be,” Riehl stated. “It will rely on producers capability to get production look out onto meet demand – in Thailand or elsewhere.”

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2060-701213-004 WD PCB Circuit Board

HDD Printed circuit board (PCB) with board number 2060-701213-004 is usually used on these Western Digital hard disk drives: WD800GD-75FLC3, DCM HBCAJAB, Western Digital 80GB SATA 3.5″ Hard Drive; WD740GD-50FLC0, DCM HBCAJAB, Western Digital 74.3GB SATA 3.5″ Hard Drive; WD360GD-00FLC0, DCM HBCAJAB, Western Digital 36.7GB SATA 3.5″ Hard Drive; WD740GD-00FLC0, DCM HBCAJAB, Western Digital 74.3GB…

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