Insert Windows XP CD and Pressing R to repair?

davetrousers

Morning all, my problem (see this thread) is that my C drive got slightly messed up as I switched off the power to my PC too quickly (ie the shut down procedure was still going).

What I have done is bought a new HDD and installed Windows XP onto that, so I now have a fresh install. I have copied all of my photos and most of my MP3s, but cannot copy some "Access is Denied", I also cannot get into C:/documents and Settings........ to retrieve email folders and items saved on my old Desktop.

I have subsequently (removed the new hard drive) reattached the original HDD as the sole HDD, put the windows disc in booted from it and pressed R to repair. However this then goes to a DOS setup and I'm a bit lost now. In my head I expected it to run a programme that would identify the problem and repair it .

Any help would be appreciated.

phxweb

when at the command prompt try this :

chkdsk /f or chkdsk /r ( one will work and one wont)

i cant remember which one it is of the top of my head, this will fix most problems caused by shutting of the power to quickly

davetrousers

phxweb wrote: »

when at the command prompt try this :

chkdsk /f or chkdsk /r ( one will work and one wont)

i cant remember which one it is of the top of my head, this will fix most problems caused by shutting of the power to quickly

Thanks, any ideas how long this might take? On my previous thread, somebody said something about 15 hours to run!

phxweb

depends on how big your hard drive is, but usually an hour max

I repair computers for a living and have never know it to take 15 hours

davetrousers

It's 250GB, probably about 200 GB used

davetrousers

At the end of the chkdsk process should my computer be back to how it was before? Or are there any additional steps?

tronator

davetrousers wrote: »

What I have done is bought a new HDD and installed Windows XP onto that, so I now have a fresh install. I have copied all of my photos and most of my MP3s, but cannot copy some "Access is Denied", I also cannot get into C:/documents and Settings........ to retrieve email folders and items saved on my old Desktop.

You need to login as "administrator" and either copy it from there or change the access rights of the folder you want to access.

simon.griggs

Dear davetrousers,

The repair option for Windows XP that you are talking about is a repair install. Boot your machine with your XP disc in it and tell the machine you want to install XP, not repair it at the first option. When you get to the second option, it should offer you the chance to do a repair install.

I hope this helps.

Simon.

Rich99

If you have windows installed on the new drive, and just want to get all your data off the old one, then these instructions are superfluous. Put both hard drives back in, and boot from the new install. You can then run chkdsk on the old drive just by right clicking on the drive, and going to properties, tools, error checking. That will run chkdsk. However your problem possibly permissions rather than disk errors. Your old profile is only allowed to be read by your old logon. Your new logon does not have permission. Right click on the folder you want to access, and go to properties, security. Click on advanced, owner, and thange the owner to you. After that, make sure you have 'full control' in the permissions window, and you should be able to access all your files.