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Missing Folders and Boot.ini

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by jim.mcleod

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Does anybody have any idea what can cause the loss of boot.ini and loss of folders during a session of Win XP Pro (NTFS) ?

A few weeks ago I lost all folders (about 10 containing 100's of files) c:\a.. to c:\Documents & Settings. When I restarted the computer to let Windows 'sort itself out' it said hal.dll was missing or corrupt and I had to bootcfg /rebuild from the Recovery Consol.

AVG 8.5, Spybot, Malware Bytes & Webroot Antivirus all say the system is clean (except a handfull of tracking cookies)

I tried a number data recovery packages and found loads of items known to be deleted but no sign of those that had gone 'missing'.

I initially attributed my woes to the automatic installation of 'IE8', because that was the only abnormal event that day. When I did a System Restore my folders and sub-folders reappeared but were empty. Also, my IE(7?) would not work, so I'm back on IE8.

My work was backed-up (save 2 files) so I have felt free to do a Defrag and a system file check.

I also installed RegCure and RegisteryBooster which both reported many (different) 'problems' that they claim to have fixed, but still if I create a folder c:\abc it is liable to disappear during a session; in which case boot.ini will also have disappeared.

My main work is in Access but I have done little of that in the last few weeks trying to fix this problem.

Does anybody have any ideas ?

Jim

5 replies

by tmalo627

Boot from your Windows installation CD. When it detects your current installation, choose the option to repair it. Make sure you have your product key ready for this. If you've misplaced your Product Key sticker, you can use Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder to recover it before you begin your repair process.

Hope this helps.

by slayer_

Do it now, something is seriously wrong on your drive.

by kingbackwards

All the stuff you did do, doesn't look like you ran a check disk. (right click on the drive from my computer, click on properties, go under the tools tab its the error checking item)

Your drive could be failing, and easily could cause these issues.

Afterwards, if you can boot to the OS check the log and see if you have any bad sectors or repaired section of the file table.

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