Re: boot problem....ntldr could not open drive...

From: yabbadoo (lsdolby_at_ignore.ntlwor.com)
Date: 01/13/05 

Date: Thu, 13 Jan 2005 00:51:21 -0000

If a correctly made (virus free) boot disk/CD can't recognise the primary
hard drive, it cannot format it.

My aged brain cells recall - several months ago in this NG - reference to a
Seagate disk utility (diagnostic and repair, if memory correct) which worked
on other manufacturer's disks too.

I'm open to correction here, but your description is that of a (s)crap HDD.
(hope you had back-ups!)
Whether the HDD is recoverable is debateable. Try the Seagate site (or
Google) for the diagnostic tool and run it - you can't get in any worse
state than you are already!

You mentioned, early on, the presence of malware - could be a virus has
totally corrupted the boot sector.
Another possibility is terminal (mechanical) drive failure

Other solutions - professional disk recovery service (results not
guaranteed, their charges are)
                          or, just write off that HDD and replace with
another.
Whether or not your SECOND hdd also has malware/virus, you will only
discover when you have a formatted bootable primary hdd and OS. When you get
one, recommend first action is to virus-scan the second HDD, to avoid any
possibility of re-infecting the primary HDD.

Hope this helps, and good luck - Len.

"soyabeans" <soyabeans.1irrpr@pcbanter.net> wrote in message
news:soyabeans.1irrpr@pcbanter.net...
>
> I've finally managed to get a boot disk working....it's an ms dos
> one....
>
> but it doesn't see my hd's, only my cd roms
> so i can't format...
>
> i found this: http://tinyurl.com/4fl8p
>
> which is some1 with the same problem who solved it but she was able to
> format her hd's from the boot disk....
>
>
> --
> soyabeans

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