harddrive crash?

[massimou]

My computer just shut down yesterday and when I start it up it freezes and tells me a system file (...config/system) is missing or damaged. When I start with a windows disc and go into installing a new windows xp installation and when I check the status of the partitions I see that two (of three) are labled "unknown" and appear to be completely empty. I didn't do the installation then though, just check the partition status.
I did not format the drive, I put it into another computer and started it. The problem is when I try to access two of the partitions, it tells me that "they have not been formatted, would you like to format them no?"
Is there anyway to access the files on those partitions? Like a recovery program or something?

[lenti_75]

things like this happens with windows.....you should know by now
as long as you DID NOT TOUCH the partitions, the data should be there. just do a search on line and you find tons of recovering software.
it happened to me like a couple of weeks ago the same, a good drive just disappeared, but I had the data anyway, so a just reformat it again and was just fine.

after recovering the data, reinstall it, if still no luck, make sure the jumper settings are right (sometimes it works for a time even if the setting is wrong).

use anothe rpc if you can, BUT first double check the jumper settings on the back, if teh drive is a eide.

ALWAYS BACK UP YOU DATA........ALWAYS buy another drive or burn it on dvd....

[massimou]

Can you recommend any good recovery software?