[SOLVED] Rescue Windows Hard Disk with Linux.... chkdsk

leachim1 · 09-26-2012, 04:54 PM

I have a Dell Laptop which will not boot from the internal drive

I have taken it out and plugged in in via USB to another computer and Windows says it ought to reformat the disk etc

Can't get into it via Repair my Computer as it is not recognized

HOWEVER

I boot a computer with a Linux Live disk (FatDog) and plug it in via USB and all files can be read....

Now - I want to do a CHKDSK on it in the hope I can get it to boot into Windows

How can I do this in Linux ????

frankbell · 09-26-2012, 08:28 PM

From Linux, use fsck (file system check) to check the drive.

These two links provide a much better explanation than I can:

http://askubuntu.com/questions/14722...ed-file-system

http://www.ehow.com/how_6827933_chec...ion-linux.html

Wim Sturkenboom · 09-28-2012, 03:35 AM

If you can read the files from Linux, back them up first before fiddling.

Also, as far as I know, fsck can't check NTFS partitions; but I might be mistaken here.

414N · 09-28-2012, 04:25 AM

I think a fsck.ntfs NTFS filesystem checker should be available if you install ntfsprogs on your Linux distro.
However, as Wim Sturkenboom said, I strongly encourage you too to backup first the files using Linux (at least, the vital ones).
This way you can restore them even if fsck goes bad and you'll have to reformat your partition anyway.

jefro · 09-28-2012, 03:39 PM

Kind of surprised the linux can mount it and windows can't. A lot of times you get the can't mount it because of the checkdisk deal.

leachim1 · 09-28-2012, 04:36 PM

Thanks

Useful info !

Actually, I have just run Ultimate Boot CD and in the Programs list there is Easeus Partition Tool under Disc Tools (or something like that)

In this partition tool there is a CHKDSK facility !!!

Ran that a couple time on the dodgy drive and partition and the damn thing booted when I put it back in the laptop

Amazing when you know how....

Cheers

linux_BSD · 09-28-2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wim Sturkenboom

Also, as far as I know, fsck can't check NTFS partitions; but I might be mistaken here.

PClinuxOS has a monthly magazine for PClinuxOS users with tips and HowTo's in linux usage. But they can be applied to other linux distros except where noted it is done only in pclinuxos. There was an article in the May issue Fix A NTFS Partition With fsck

http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/201205/page06.html

But I suggest people read it thoroughly and do backups of their files ( if they can access them ) before doing anything on the windows partition.

Wim Sturkenboom · 09-29-2012, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 414N

I think a fsck.ntfs NTFS filesystem checker should be available if you install ntfsprogs on your Linux distro.

Not really

Code:

wim@i3-2120:~$ sudo dpkg --get-selections ntfsprogs
[sudo] password for wim: 
ntfsprogs					install
wim@i3-2120:~$ sudo fsck.ntfs
sudo: fsck.ntfs: command not found
wim@i3-2120:~$

Quote:

Originally Posted by linux_BSD

... There was an article in the May issue Fix A NTFS Partition With fsck

Which makes just symlinks to one of the programs that are part of ntfsprogs

Cheating

linux_BSD · 09-29-2012, 02:25 PM

I remember reading an old post, not here at LQ, way back and it said linux tools should be used only to fix linux issues and window's tools should be used for window's issues only. Also, using linux tools like fsck on a window's partition can do more harm.

If that article is truthful about fsck being able to fix NTFS in today's world, then it shows how far the fsck project and linux has come.

Imagine that, linux fixing window's issues. Can windows do the same for linux? I doubt it

jefro · 09-29-2012, 04:23 PM

Good to know Ultimate Boot cd fixed it. That disk has been around a long time and has helped me before.