get back a Hidden partition

[Swedeman]

Aloha,

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000 laptop running XP Windows Media Center addition, I had Dell send me the install CD so I could have it in case the hard drive failed. Since this thing had tons of junk on it, I formatted the C drive and loaded everything back with the CD. I totally forgot about the hidden partition that has the Recovery stuff where I had to just press F2 on boot up to restore my laptop. The partition is still there but I messed up my MBR so I don't have the F2 option anymore. Any way to fix the MBR to see the hidden partition so I have the F2 option again? Wasn't one of my brighter moves..............

[Swedeman]

I found this link from another site (sorry). This is the info I was looking for. Thanks to all who looked at my post, even tho no one seemed to know the answer. Hope this link will help others in the future.
Thanks again everyone.

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfor...sage.id=239868

[fink]

Thanks for letting us know.

[Nix]

LOL. Thats me who posted the 2nd and 3rd last posts in that thread.

I'm registered as Nniixx on that site.

[councillor]

Have Dell boy explain it to a CD/DVD, I havn't used (or have) a floppie in yrs.

[Swedeman]

FYI, I went to this site:

http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm

I downloaded the dsrfix.zip, burnt a CD (requires a DVD-RW) with the dsrfix.iso, booted up with it, it stops at a "A:\" prompt, I typed "dsrfix /f c:\" and it worked. I now have my ctrl F11 command back (on boot up you'll get a blue bar at the top that will read WWW.DELL or something like that, at the time you do the ctrl F11 command).
It was really simple to fix. I'm saving that CD for future mess ups........

[Nix]

All Ctrl + F11 does for me is give me some message about Loading PBR4 done. and then hangs.

I'm guessing it's because it's looking for files on that hidden partition that are no longer there in my case because chkdisk picked them up as corrupt.

When you get to the restore option, can you drop back to a DOS prompt ? I'd be curious to know what files and directories are listed when you do a DIR command at the prompt.

[Swedeman]

when the "www.dell.com" blue bar shows up at the top, I hit ctrl F11 and it runs a quick dos file then goes to a nice blue background with a window that says "Welcome to the Dell system recovery tool...."
It has one tap labeled "Restore System" with a radio button "restore", and a tap below that that says "Reboot Your Computer" with a radio button "Reboot".
The Restore system tap also reads "To restore your operation system and software to the way it was when you first recieved your computer from Dell, click Restore button below"
The Reboot tap also reads "To exit from the system recovery tool without making any changes to your computer, click the Reboot button".
Don't want to "Restore" till after Christmas. I have files I want to share when I go on my vacation to Oregon.
Didn't go to a dos prompt other then the quick one it ran first before the window.

[councillor]

Posted by Nix!!

restore option, can you drop back to a DOS prompt ? I'd be curious to know what files

Isn't it wierd that with all the talk (well action taken to not install any floppie drives) toward the removal of DOS ----- every OEM has to go back to DOS for repairs.

"Below -- is everything I could find on partition recovery.....Ok!!

===========
Here's some tools to recover your partition, if there's nothing YOU can do. You need a specialized lab to do that but it will cost you and depends on the area where you live.

FREE TOOLS

PC INSPECTOR
http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm
File Recovery is a data recovery program that supports the FAT 12/16/32 and NTFS file systems. The current version 3.x replaces the previous version 2.x, which is now over 6 years old.

Restoration
http://hccweb1.bai.ne.jp/~hcj58401/REST2514.EXE
For 9x/NT/2K/XP. Restore deleted files that are no longer in the Recycle Bin!

Tool to check and undelete partition
Works with the following partitions:
- FAT12 FAT16 FAT32
- Linux
- Linux SWAP (version 1 and 2)
- NTFS (Windows NT)
- BeFS (BeOS)
- UFS (BSD)
- Netware
- RaiserFS
http://www.cgsecurity.org//testdisk.html
--------

NOT FREE

EasyRecovery DataRecovery is a simple, yet powerful tool that recovers data that is lost, inaccessible or deleted. It's the ultimate do-it-yourself solution for nearly all causes of data loss (except physical hardware or system problems) where your hard drive and system are fully functional.
http://www.ontrack.com/easyrecoverydatarecovery/

File Rescue 2.5
Web:http://www.file-rescue.com/

GetDataBack for FAT
GetDataBack will help you retrieve your files if the hard drive's partition table, boot record, FAT, or root directory have been damaged by a virus, formatting, fdisk or power failure. GetDataBack can even recover your data when the drive is no longer recognized by Windows.

GetDataBack for NTFS
Recover your files when the data is no longer accessible due to formatting, fdisk, virus attack, power or software failure. Get everything back even when the drive's partition table, boot record, Master File Table or root directory is lost or corrupt.
Hard Drives
Partitions
Floppy Drives
Drive Images
Zip/Jaz Drives
http://www.runtime.org/

Norton Utilities/SystemWorks
The Norton Protected Recycle Bin helps you recover deleted and overwritten files.
The UnErase wizard helps you retrieve files you've accidentally deleted.
http://www.symantec.com/nu/nu_9x/features.html

For NTFS
http://www.restorer2000.com/r2k.htm

Data Recovery
http://www.dtidata.com/
Fast File Undelete
http://www.dtidata.com/products_ff_undelete.asp

Undelete
http://www.quantumsoft.co.uk/undelete.stm

File Recover 2000
http://www.filerecover.com/

R-Tools
http://www.r-tt.com/

File Restore
If you've deleted your data and you want to get it back, you need FileRestore.
FileRestore is a simple, easy-to-use tool for recovering files that have been lost or deleted from your Windows system. Designed for Windows XP, 2000, NT, Me, and 9x
http://www.winternals.com/products/r...ilerestore.asp

Disk Commander
In virtually any situation where you need to recover lost data from a Windows system, Disk Commander is the solution. Disk Commander performs a wide range of data recovery operations.
http://www.winternals.com/products/r...kcommander.asp

DFSee
http://www.dfsee.com/
As a tool to 'UNDELETE' files that have been accidentaly deleted.
This feature is implemented for HPFS and NTFS only.

MRECOVER
http://kristenonline.com/lain/cih/mrecintro.htm

Emergency Undelete
I believe this is free
For Win2000 and NT may work on XP
http://www.c2000.com/software/#win2000

Back2Life
http://www.simtel.net/pub/pd/57588.html

Hard Drive Mechanic
http://www.highergroundsoftware.com/6.html
It's true. Even if you just re-formatted your entire hard drive, you can still get all of your data back because, unlike what most people believe, formatting does NOT erase your files! With Hard Drive Mechanic's Unformat Feature, you can restore all of your valuable data in about 10 minutes!
demo version:
http://www.highergroundsoftware.com/downloads2.htm

Filerecovery for Windows
http://www.lc-tech.com/filerecovery.asp
Filerecovery for Windows® is a safe and affordable do-it-yourself data recovery solution that is designed to recover deleted files from all types of media such as Hard Drives, Floppy Drives, SmartMedia, CompactFlash, Memory Sticks, and other types of removable media.

Undelete
http:/www.executive.com/consumer/undelete/undelete.asp
You know how upsetting it is to accidentally delete a file that you need—it takes just a moment to lose hours of work. Undelete file-recovery utility captures ALL deleted files including those that typically bypass the Recycle Bin. You can even recover files you purged from our Recovery Bin. With our Emergency Undelete feature, you can recover files deleted prior to Undelete being installed on your system (provided they have not been written over). Buy Undelete and you'll never again be at the mercy of lost data.

Fast File Recovery
http://savemyfiles.com/fastfile.htm
A definite must for the PC guru! It will allow the user to perform all data recovery tasks associated with disks which are not physically damaged.

File Scavenge
http://www.quetek.com/prod01.htm
File Scavenge is the most comprehensive, award-winning file undelete and data recovery for NTFS volumes on Windows NT, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Active UNERASER
http://www.uneraser.com/undelete.htm
Active UNERASER is a compact and powerful undelete utility that can recover deleted files and folders on FAT12, FAT16, FAT32 and NTFS systems. It can even restore files from deleted and re-formatted partitions.

Undelete 3.0
http://www.pcconnection.com/scripts/...duct_id=309884
Undelete 3.0 restores accidentally deleted files within seconds from anywhere on your system. Version 3.0 includes new SecureDelete, full Windows XP support and expanded search options.

FinalData Data Recovery
http://www1.finaldata.com/
FinalData Data Recovery Solution will recover files that have been lost by quick formatting, FDISK, FAT damage, MBR damage or directory destruction. It recovers data from FAT12/16/32, NTFS, and EXT2, EXT3.

BadCopy Pro
http://www.jufsoft.com/badcopy/
BadCopy Pro is a leading data recovery tool for floppy disk, CD-ROM, CD-R/W and other storage media. It can effectively recover and rescue corrupted or lost data from damaged, unreadable or defective disks. Various damage situations and all file types are supported.

Directory Snoop
http://www.briggsoft.com/dsnoop.htm
Directory Snoop is a low-level forensic utility that can recover erased files in an emergency, wipe sensitive data, and search for hidden data at the cluster level. Step through your File Allocation Table (FAT) and map individual clusters back to the file that owns them. Purge orphaned (and possibly sensitive) file names right out of the directory structure. $29 shareware for Windows 95 through XP (NTFS drives not supported).

------------------------------------
Or Data Recovery Services

http://www.ontrack.com/datarecovery/
Ontrack offers a full range of data recovery solutions to address your data loss needs. Unlike other data recovery companies, Ontrack provides exclusive and patented solutions that do not require you to send in your media for recovery. In situations where the hardware is functioning normally, our patented Remote Data Recovery service and EasyRecovery software solutions can solve your data loss needs safely and effectively in a matter of hours. If another company claims that there is no alternative to shipping your drive, it's because they don't offer an alternative. For situations in which the hardware is physically failing, our In-Lab services will utilize our Class 100 clean-rooms to retrieve your mission critical data.

or

FLAT RATE DATA RECOVERY PRICING INCLUDES!
http://www.i-t-s.com/datarec/datarec_pricing.htm

or

Total Recall
http://www.recallusa.com/
Our recovery and forensic technology is used by support and call centers as well as data recovery providers world-wide.

ESS Data Recovery
http://www.savemyfiles.com/
ESS Data Recovery, Inc. has been removing barriers in the data recovery and computer forensics market ever since its inception.......

[Nix]

I guess because DOS stands for Disk Operating System and when push comes to shove operating at the disk level is quite often what needs to be done - ie without the interference of a GUI.

Anyway, thanks for that extensive list of recovery tools, that's really quite amazing how many you have listed.

Ironically the only directory that is still intact on that partition is the IMG one that contains the Ghost image files.

It's the list and contents of the other directories that I"m interested in.

I know how to expose the directory to Windows using PTEDIT or PTEDIT32 which are readily downloadable, but If I need to get hol of the missing files in order to try and re-build.

Given CHKDISK wrote all the .CHK files to the FOUND.000 directory I'm not sure of my chances to restore the original files.

I have found a couple of sites that have the contents of the RECOVER.BAT file, and references to a BIN directory and SRC1 through SRC4 directories, but no where that list them all, their contents and has them to download.

Maybe Dell disapprove of diseminating this info.

[Swedeman]

Nix, where did you find the recovery.bat file and other info you mention?