Need help w/ boot problem

[moosey]

I have a relative's computer that had the "unmountable_boot_volume" error. It would BSOD after the Win XP boot screen. It would not even start in safe mode. I tried to access C: via a boot CD to back some files up but I could not even access the drive as it said that the drive was not even formatted.

I tried to chkdsk and fixing the boot volume in the Windows recovery console but that did not work. Now it gives the "NTLDR is missing" error. I tried replacing those files in the recovery console and it still gives the same error. When I tried going in w/ the boot CD, C: can now be accessed but there are only the boot files visible and the size is listed as around 10 MB.

At this point, short of a reformat, is there anything that can be done to recover some files from C:?

Thanks

 

[jackschmittusa]

Try running the drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility on it.

 

[moosey]

thanks, i'll give it a try

Well I ran the WD diag tests and here's what came out.
1. I got an error code 0007
2. It failed the "Raw Read Error Rate" as below threshold (thresh= 51, value=1)

Does this mean the drive failed?

 

[Old Hippie]

Can't read or write to the drive and it failed WD's tests.

I'd say it's toast.

 

[ReggieDunlap]

Quick Google Search on the error code and "Raw Read Error Rate" shows the drive is prolly on it's way to failure it not already there. You can try maybe a knopix boot cd or ERD Commander might help to recover files.

 

[moosey]

thanks guys, i'm guessing it's toast.

however, like i had mentioned, after i tried chkdsk and fixboot C: is only recognized as 10mb w/ the ntldr files only on it (using a boot CD). Is there any way to access what was lost on the rest of the drive?