Can you run the Repair option?

Yes, a repair install of Windows will not delete existing programs or data. It just replaces the core Windows files. I would try a repair install before a full reinstall.

To recover data off your system there is also the possibility of using a boot disk. Search for the "Ultimate Boot Disk" and see the various alternatives available.

I entered into where the repair option should be but I don't have that option

My choices are:

- to setup windows xp on the selected item, press enter

- to create a partition in the unpartioned space, press c

- to delete the selected partition, press d

then:

unknown disk

(there is no disk in this drive)

before when i was here there were 3 different options to choose from to install in, now there are none

is my computer gone?

I searched on Google for your error message and found many sites that addressed the problem without losing the data.

Yes I looked on Google as well before coming here. The problem is that I don't have a repair option.

I sent it to a data recovery dude (a reliable one) and he said the HDA is messed up and if I wanted to recover the data I'd have to send it to a clean room place to look into it. But then he said those places are a ripoff cause they charge $1500 or more.

Well, what do I do then? If those places are a rip off and reliable data man can't get it.

He isn't reliable if he does data recovery and can't tell that if you are just getting a blue screen, the heads are not bad. It is a logical problem not a physical one.

He said that the hard drive deteriorated and doesn't boot anymore

He said he could install a new hard drive (and erase my data) for $200.

He also said if I wanted I could take it to a place with a 'clean room' to try and get the data but that they would charge upwards of $1500 to do it and would probably not be able to.

Should I do the clean room? Or just scrap all my pics and make new memories....

Pictures are the kind of thing that can't be re-entered or recreated. It is most likely recoverable. If it's worth it to you, I would send it off just to see if it is recoverable in the first place. Most places will not charge you to tell you what you can get back. I would call around and see who can help. Just be very weary of the places that charge WAY less than the average. Also, some places have Economy services for the cost-conscious people who dont need the data back in a huge hurry. I don't know if you can tell what industry I am in. ;)

i'm not in any hurry, none of the data is for work

but we are debating over whether to spend the bucks for some pictures to get recovered or not, thanks for the replies, esp if you know economy long term places you can pm me

also... the big question is: Windows XP did this in the first place, I did nothing more than install an update from Windows and then the crash

WHY! Why are people not mad at Windows for this type of thing? It seems that people online with the same prob are like: oh well, it's a windows thing, you lose your data but it's no big deal.

where does the data go? outer space?

why can't i ask microsoft for the cash to get a clean room fix

Gomideast - You may have lost your operating system but that doesn't mean you lost your hard drive. This is what I would do.

Step 1 - Open up your machine and see if you can attach a second hard drive. You need the data connection and a power connection. You can get a Western Digital 160 Gig hard drive shipped for less than $60 from places like Newegg.

Step 2 - Pull out the old drive and install your software back on you new drive. Hopefully Dell will let you do this, check with them first.

Step 3 - attach your old drive to your "new" machine as a second hard drive or a slave. Once attached, you should be able to see if the drive is accessable. In other words, the drive might not boot, but it might still have the file structure intact.

By following this process, you've got your machine up and running. You dont run the risk of overwriting your data and you can test for yourself that the drive really is messed up.

Best of luck to you.

That sounds like what I need!

But the computer guy who has the computer says he can't do anything because the old hard drive isn't accessible. He says I need a new hard drive and the old one is too corrupted to access unless I send it to a clean room for thousands.

Should I try it myself anyway?

Thanks so much for all your emails. The computer guy seems like he wouldn't lie about not being able to do it, he seems trustworthy and many people on A's list have given him good reviews. But who knows? It's like going to the car mechanic for me, they could tell me anything and I would be stuck.

Thanks!

If he is right, you still need a new hard drive. It's only going to cost your about $58 and a couple of days. Before you decide to send it out, why not try for yourself?

I've built several computers myself. It's not as hard as people think and checking a hard drive is really pretty simple.