Member Avatar for DuneRider650

Hey my computer is so completely messed up i decided to backup all my files then reinstall everything over again..but the built in windows xp recovery( that deletes everything and makes it like a new comp again) does not work...it says user partition not found we will create one...so it trys to create a user partition but it cannot and the system reinstall doesnt work. This has never happend before and i really need to reinstall this dang computer.

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This error usually means the factory restore program cannot find the hidden recovery/user partition or the partition table has been changed or damaged. Stop letting the recovery run — further attempts can overwrite data you might still be able to save. The symptom and the OEM-style failure you describe match other reports where the recovery image or partition is missing or the layout no longer matches what the restore tool expects. (daniweb.com)

First priority: preserve the drive. Copying a few files to a USB stick (as suggested) is OK for small important items, but the safest route for a full rescue is to create a full disk image to another healthy drive (so you never work on the only copy). Use a bootable rescue environment (Linux live, Clonezilla, or similar) and image the disk. Example with GNU ddrescue (run from a live session and store the image on a different disk): 

sudo ddrescue -n /dev/sda /mnt/backup/sda.img /mnt/backup/sda.log

The logfile lets you resume and prevents repeated bad reads. If you don’t have another drive, stop and get one before proceeding. (help.ubuntu.com)

Next, try to recover the partition table from the image (or the original if you understand the risk). TestDisk is a proven, free tool for this: run sudo testdisk, pick the disk/image, choose the likely partition table (Intel/PC for XP-era MBR), use Analyse → Quick Search → Deeper Search, and only use Write if you clearly recognize the original partitions. Always work on the image first; writing directly without confidence can make recovery impossible. (en.wikipedia.org)

If partition recovery succeeds you may still need to repair the boot code (XP’s Recovery Console has fixmbr/fixboot) or, if the recovery partition/image is gone, use manufacturer recovery media or a retail XP install to reinstall. If the data is critical and the above steps look risky, professional recovery services are the safest option. pointed out the recovery-media route; combine that practical advice with imaging + TestDisk before you allow any factory restore to run again. (learn.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for alc6379

You're probably going to have to get actual Windows installation CDs from your PC manufacturer. It's a sad fact in life that sometimes the restore utilities included with modern PCs don't work, and you're forced to do a standard OS reinstallation, using the media provided by your PC vendor.

Member Avatar for rasputinj

if you only have a recovery cd, I move stuff off to a usb drive. That is one reason I do not like recovery CDs.

Member Avatar for Lily_06

You can use Partition Table Doctor to recover your data partiton or use EASEUS DataRecoveryWizard to recover your data. Please download the demo edition at: www.ptdd.com www.easeus.com

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