Ok, hears the story.

I had Mandriva 2006 installed for a while on /dev/hdb (slave), but I never used it. So I blew the data off that drive and built a NTFS partition in it's place.
Everything is fine until this point.

Now the Bootloader is still loading from /dev/hda (master), but there's no linux to start. So there's no point in having that right?
So following the advice of other, and having seen this work myself, I ran fixboot and fixmbr from the Windows XP Repair console.

After restarting NTDLR is missing. Nothing works.

So then I grab the drive and put it in another computer, and look at it with Partition Magic and Windows Disk Manager.

Apparently fixboot or fixmbr has converted it to FAT (not FAT32), and it's size is 10.1 megs.
There's only 1 partition.

So what programs and actions would you guys recommend to get my data back. I know it's on there, and it's a matter of getting the NTFS partition back.
I don't care if I need to reinstall windows, but I want the data.

I thought I would reply while my brain is searching for the correct link.

UNDER NO circumstances do you attempt to open the target in a read writeable condition pls.

step 1 the simple way....load a knoppix or kanotix cd and click on the icons and see if your data is visible ....if so make your other partition read writeable and copy the data to the good one

or if you have enough ram.....use knoppix with the cheatcode toram then use your burner with k3b from knoppix in ram to burn your data


report back if your data not visible and hopefully someone will have the tutorial link by then

some links for the harder way

http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/doc...on-Rescue.html

http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-mini/Partition.html

http://slackware.osuosl.org/slackwar...cue-mini-HOWTO

Moved: This thread is more suitable in General Forum Name Here> and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

OK, so now I have Mandriva 2005 LE running on my other drive, and I can view the drive (very messed up)
As this post show, this drive is in terrible shape. I'm thinking it might be fixable if I move the start of the partition over. Back to where is was when lilo was installed.

2 files are in tact in the recycled folder. The drive has been mounted with no options. It refuses to mount with '-t ntfs'.

an output of fdisk -l looks like this:
Disk /dev/hda: 163.9 GB, 163928604672 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19929 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 19929 160079661 7 HPFS/NTFS

An output of ls -l:
ls: . : Input/output error
ls: ? ar@.ç/: No such file or directory
ls: ?m?/b.?0: No such file or directory
total 922148
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 88 Feb 8 1980 >??]'?.@?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jun 16 1988 ?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 513 Jan 1 1981 ?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 10 Jan 3 1980 ,?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1313536 Jan 3 1981 !?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1313536 Jan 3 1981 !?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1313536 Jan 3 1981 !?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1310720 Jan 3 1981 !?.?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 513 May 9 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 513 May 9 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 513 May 9 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 513 May 9 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 513 May 9 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 513 May 9 1980 ?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 240 Jun 30 1980 ?~-???.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 112 Feb 29 1980 ????$?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 7 Jan 3 1980 ?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 7 Jan 3 1980 ?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 7 Jan 3 1980 ?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 7 Jan 3 1980 ?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.£*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.£*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.£*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.£*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.£*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.£*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.£*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.£*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ???*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ???*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 268435456 Aug 1 1985 ?.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 268435456 Aug 1 1985 ?.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jul 16 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jan 1 1980 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 20 Jan 1 1980 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 20 Jan 1 1980 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 544 Dec 31 1979 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jan 9 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jan 9 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 0 Jan 9 1981 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2032127 Jan 2 1988 ???.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 257 Feb 6 1980 ???.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 257 Feb 6 1980 ???.??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 18 Jan 1 1980 ?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 83886080 Jan 1 1981 ?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 83886080 Jan 1 1981 ?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 83886080 Jan 1 1981 ?.???*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 16777216 Aug 1 1980 ?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 16777216 Aug 1 1980 ?.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 9 Jan 3 1980 ??.?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 176 Apr 30 1980 ????2?.ç$*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 104 Feb 24 1980 ?2??v?.á>*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 128 Mar 16 1980 4æ?óp?.`:*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 132 Mar 20 1980 4#?äj?. 6*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.á*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 204 May 28 1980 ?ªó?[?.`a*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1281 Jan 1 1980 ?.b\?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1281 Jan 1 1980 ?.b\?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 64 Jan 16 1980 b¢????. ?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 64 Jan 16 1980 bò????.ç?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 172 Apr 28 1980 ????"?.ç?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2 Jan 3 1980 ç.p*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 11 Jan 3 1980 d?.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1 Jan 3 1980 d.4*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 268 Jul 28 1980 ?,d?>?.ç-*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 152 Apr 8 1980 }?d?u?.?=*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 156 Apr 12 1980 ??|e!?.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 112 Feb 29 1980 ??¡e??.@?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2 Jan 3 1980 ?.é*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 88 Feb 8 1980 ?%é (?.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2 Jan 3 1980 ê.h*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 176 Apr 30 1980 ???eq?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 88 Feb 8 1980 >??ez?.?@*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 172 Apr 28 1980 gà?é+?.á?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 108 Feb 28 1980 gì?v7?.ç(*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 108 Feb 28 1980 ?hqtx?.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 5 Jan 3 1980 ?.î*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 5 Jan 3 1980 ?.î*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 3 Jan 3 1980 î.\*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 3 Jan 3 1980 î.\*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 3 Jan 3 1980 î.\*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 3 Jan 3 1980 î.\*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 3 Jan 3 1980 î.\*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 3 Jan 3 1980 î.\*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 3 Jan 3 1980 î.\*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 96 Feb 16 1980 ?í0}??.á?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 268 Jul 28 1980 î??h??.??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 108 Feb 28 1980 îmz???*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 176 Apr 30 1980 ~k½?:?. **
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 3 Jan 3 1980 £.l*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 3 Jan 3 1980 £.l*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 108 Feb 28 1980 l??{6?.?'*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 104 Feb 28 1980 ?&?n.?. "*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.ñ*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.ñ*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 6 Jan 3 1980 ?.ñ*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 108 Feb 28 1980 ?n?c)?.@?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 4 Jan 3 1980 ñ.t*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 4 Jan 3 1980 ñ.t*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 4 Jan 3 1980 ñ.t*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 204 May 28 1980 ?,ô???*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 132 Mar 20 1980 ??ö#??. ?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 108 Feb 28 1980 ô?æ?n?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 108 Feb 28 1980 ô???h?.?4*
drwxr--r-- 2 root root 4096 Jan 7 22:08 Recycled/
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 108 Feb 28 1980 ?u??0?.@#*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 240 Jun 30 1980 ü~3???*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 88 Feb 8 1980 ?ué89?.á)*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 4 Jan 3 1980 ¿.x*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 4 Jan 3 1980 ¿.x*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2 Jan 3 1980 x.h*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2 Jan 3 1980 x.h*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2 Jan 3 1980 x.h*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2 Jan 3 1980 x.h*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 160 Apr 16 1980 ???y&?.ç?*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 104 Feb 28 1980 ???zf?.`3*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 104 Feb 28 1980 ???zl?.á7*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 83886080 Jan 1 1981 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1313536 Jan 3 1981 !?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1313536 Jan 3 1981 !?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1313536 Jan 3 1981 !?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2032127 Jan 1 1988 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2032127 Jan 1 1988 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1572864 Dec 31 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1572864 Dec 31 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1572864 Dec 31 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1572864 Dec 31 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1572864 Dec 31 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1572864 Dec 31 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1572864 Dec 31 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1572864 Dec 31 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 1572864 Dec 31 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2032127 Jan 1 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2032127 Jan 1 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2032127 Jan 1 1980 ?. ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 2032127 Jan 1 1980 ?. ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-r-xr--r-- 1 root root 257 Jan 1 1980 ??*
-rwxr--r-- 1 root root 268 Jul 28 1980 `(j??.@?*
dr-xr--r-- 9 root root 0 Dec 31 1980 ë]? u$.vw /

Thanks for your help

I got it fixed with testdisk.