bad hard drive-windows xp wont boot

Getting message that "Pri Master SMART Status BAD, Backup and replace. Press
F1 to resume." When press F1, Windows starts to boot then get message
"Windows did not start successfully". Gives options to start windows in safe
mode, last known good configuration, and normal. Tried all, but just keeps
looping starting with the "Pri Master" message above. How can I backup data
when cant get into windows? Do I try a bootable CD to get into windows and
try to backup files before hard drive totally fails? Or is this the end of
the road?

mera1 wrote:
> Getting message that "Pri Master SMART Status BAD, Backup and replace. Press
> F1 to resume." When press F1, Windows starts to boot then get message
> "Windows did not start successfully". Gives options to start windows in safe
> mode, last known good configuration, and normal. Tried all, but just keeps
> looping starting with the "Pri Master" message above. How can I backup data
> when cant get into windows? Do I try a bootable CD to get into windows and
> try to backup files before hard drive totally fails? Or is this the end of
> the road?

You can transfer the bad drive to another computer. That computer will
boot from its regular drive. And your Windows drive will just be
a data drive to it. Then, you'll need a spare drive, to transfer
the data to. This would require two spare connectors on the computer,
for two disk drives. You could use data recovery software etc.
Remember to check the boot order, before booting the computer,
as the boot order changes when drives are added, and a trip to
the BIOS is needed to correct the boot order. It is important
to boot its "own drive", as it is known to work.

transfer
---->
Another computer --------------+--------------+
| | |
Boots own drive the_bad_drive new_empty_drive

Some of the disk drive companies provide a utility for moving data
from your old drive, to a new drive. Since you'll need a new hard
drive anyway, going to the disk drive manufacturer web site, and
downloading their transfer utility, will give you a way to transfer
the data. You could do the transfer in that case, on your own computer.
All you need, is a spare place to plug an extra hard drive (need a
ribbon cable connector or a place for a SATA cable etc).

transfer
---->
Your computer -----------------+--------------+
| | |
Bootable HDD the_bad_drive new_empty_drive
transfer utility
from drive mfg.

You could try the second method, and if it doesn't work, then the
first method may allow you to try other programs.

For example, using the first method, you could do a surface scan
with a program like this. Doing an error or surface scan, gives
you some idea how messed up the data is.

http://www.hdtune.com/

HTH,
Paul

Multiposted.

Did you read your other posts where you also have answers

http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

"mera1" <mera1@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:331265F1-5979-4E3C-9E48-2286DD89275E@microsoft.com...
> Getting message that "Pri Master SMART Status BAD, Backup and replace. Press
> F1 to resume." When press F1, Windows starts to boot then get message
> "Windows did not start successfully". Gives options to start windows in safe
> mode, last known good configuration, and normal. Tried all, but just keeps
> looping starting with the "Pri Master" message above. How can I backup data
> when cant get into windows? Do I try a bootable CD to get into windows and
> try to backup files before hard drive totally fails? Or is this the end of
> the road?

Boot order changes when you add a drive, really?????

"Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message news:g6ecse$hoa$1@aioe.org...
> mera1 wrote:
>> Getting message that "Pri Master SMART Status BAD, Backup and replace.
>> Press F1 to resume." When press F1, Windows starts to boot then get
>> message "Windows did not start successfully". Gives options to start
>> windows in safe mode, last known good configuration, and normal. Tried
>> all, but just keeps looping starting with the "Pri Master" message above.
>> How can I backup data when cant get into windows? Do I try a bootable CD
>> to get into windows and try to backup files before hard drive totally
>> fails? Or is this the end of the road?
>
> You can transfer the bad drive to another computer. That computer will
> boot from its regular drive. And your Windows drive will just be
> a data drive to it. Then, you'll need a spare drive, to transfer
> the data to. This would require two spare connectors on the computer,
> for two disk drives. You could use data recovery software etc.
> Remember to check the boot order, before booting the computer,
> as the boot order changes when drives are added, and a trip to
> the BIOS is needed to correct the boot order. It is important
> to boot its "own drive", as it is known to work.
>
> transfer
> ---->
> Another computer --------------+--------------+
> | | |
> Boots own drive the_bad_drive new_empty_drive
>
> Some of the disk drive companies provide a utility for moving data
> from your old drive, to a new drive. Since you'll need a new hard
> drive anyway, going to the disk drive manufacturer web site, and
> downloading their transfer utility, will give you a way to transfer
> the data. You could do the transfer in that case, on your own computer.
> All you need, is a spare place to plug an extra hard drive (need a
> ribbon cable connector or a place for a SATA cable etc).
>
> transfer
> ---->
> Your computer -----------------+--------------+
> | | |
> Bootable HDD the_bad_drive new_empty_drive
> transfer utility
> from drive mfg.
>
> You could try the second method, and if it doesn't work, then the
> first method may allow you to try other programs.
>
> For example, using the first method, you could do a surface scan
> with a program like this. Doing an error or surface scan, gives
> you some idea how messed up the data is.
>
> http://www.hdtune.com/
>
> HTH,
> Paul

DL wrote:
> Boot order changes when you add a drive, really?????
>

On some motherboards, the answer is unfortunately, yes.
That is why I take the time to verify it, after
every hardware change.

Some people use an F key, to bring up a mini-menu at
startup, to select a hard drive. And that is a way
to get around the issue (as long as you're present
when the computer is booting). Not every motherboard
documents such an option.

Paul