I need help now! (WinXP)

[awdrifter]

My comp wouldn't start after I tried to OC it further, so I selected the restore to last know good config, but now it ****ing restored itself to idk how long ago. I lost a **** load of data. I tried to undo the changes in System Restore, it won't ****ing open!!! WTF??? I have a IDE to USB cable, if I take out my main HDD and connect it to another comp, will the data still be there? Do I need any special command to be able to see them? Thanks.

Edit: I just connected my main HDD to my laptop, it looks like all the data are still there. So how do I make those data show up again? Because when I browse my HDD (when it was in my desktop comp) those data are not there. I'm afraid to put this HDD back into my desktop cuz I'm afraid it might delete those data for good.

[Jazz_Data]

My comp wouldn't start after I tried to OC it further, so I selected the restore to last know good config, but now it ****ing restored itself to idk how long ago. I lost a **** load of data. I tried to undo the changes in System Restore, it won't ****ing open!!! WTF??? I have a IDE to USB cable, if I take out my main HDD and connect it to another comp, will the data still be there? Do I need any special command to be able to see them? Thanks.

All your data is still there, just not your settings. So any program you installed is still on your hard drive, just not the registry settings.

You need to reinstall the software that isnt working anymore, but all your data is not lost.

[nn_step]

1) was your Overclock 32M stable?
2) Did you remember to back up

[awdrifter]

No, I OC it through a clockgen (I was testing some new ram and multi settings using CBID). It freezed, so I restarted it by holding the power button, when it tries to start it can't, it just stays in the Windows loading screen for a long time, so I restarted it again. Then it says the system didn't sucessfully start last time (or some **** like that), so I selected "restore to last know good config", then it restored to a really long time ago, not even the sound card drivers are installed. Now is there anyway to undo that? Or am I pretty much ****ed? Thanks for the replies so far, keep them coming.

[nn_step]

First, Return your hardware to STOCK
THEN get a spare hard drive and install a working OS on it

[awdrifter]

Ok, looks like it'll have to wait till tmr then, I don't have a spare right now. :(

[Jazz_Data]

yes you are :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: ed.

Either you reformat so you have a clean OS (suggested solution), or reinstall all your drivers and programs...

Like I said before, all your data is still on your hard drives, all your mp3s and games, its just your registry with all the settings that is from way back.

[awdrifter]

Yeah, I'm a little bit relieved that all my data are still there. I only have a few programs, so that's not too big of a problem, just tedious. So just to confirm before I further f something up, I can plug the HDD back to my comp and it wouldn't delete all my data right? Cuz right now it's connected to my laptop (using a IDE->USB cable). Thanks for the help so far. :)

[nn_step]

as long as you DO NOT format the drive, the data can be recovered without loss

[awdrifter]

Ok, this is weird. When I plug the HDD back into my desktop comp, those newer files doesn't show up. But I can see them when I connect it to my laptop. Is there anyways to fix this (other than a full reformat)? If not, I guess I have no choice. Thanks for the help.

[awdrifter]

If I reset the CMOS on my mobo, will I be able to see all the files?

[Movieman]

Don't do anything until you get a spare drive. Install a clean OS on that drive then have your orginal drive as a slave and all the data will be visable.
Your problem is in windows not in the data.
You can also try a windows disk and do a repair, 2nd option to repair, not the first one you see and you will lose nothing.

[awdrifter]

Ok, looks like I will have to get a HDD tmr before I can do anything then.

[Movieman]

Get out your windows disk, boot to cd, let it load the files and then when you get the option to install or repair, do the repair. I beleive at this time it resets the MBR..You don't lose anything doing it this way. JUST don't do a fresh install on that drive or all is history..I mean POOF,files are gone..

[awdrifter]

Will I need to re-install all the programs after the repair? Thanks.

[Movieman]

Will I need to re-install all the programs after the repair? Thanks.
No, not if you do just a repair..remember it is NOT the repair using repair console that is offerred as an option when the cd first fires up, it is the repair option that is offerred after the cd loads files and then gives you options of repair,new install,etc..

[awdrifter]

Well, I just tried the Windows repair. Now the comp won't even boot into windows. If I select "Last Know Good Config", it still shuts down after it attempts to load Windows. Oh well, I give up (for tonight). Anyways, thanks for the help.

Ok, I just resetted the bios to default, the machine booted successfully, with all the data! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE HELP! YOU GUYS ROCK! :D