Hello, I originally was only having trouble with my NIC (my machine is a IBM ThinkPad R31) so i figured that I would run a repair install of Windows 2000P as my next step for trouble shooting. While running the repair it reccomended that I convert my file sytem to NTFS, so I seleced yes. It re-booted and appeared to enter another set-up. When I returned my computer appeared to be stuck in sleep mode. I had to do a cold bott to get any activity from the processor. After booting it returned to the install only to get stuck in sleep mode again after a couple of minutes. I tried booting in safe mode and safe mode with a command prompt, but no luck. Does anyone have any idea if there is anything that I can do to salvage my files (I have some imporatant data on this machine), or do I need to run an IBM recovery (thus I assume wiping out all files)? Thank you very much in advance, Adam apalmer@instabanc.com

There are tools for recovering files so don't rebuild if you think you're in danger of loosing data! The only safe way to do anything is to backup! The only real safe way to recover your data is get the hard drive slaved to another machine and access the disk and get back your data using a data recovery tool! Not sure if the IBM recovery will wipe your data! but it's dangerus to trust any rebuild at this stage! One option I have used before is a fresh install but in a new Folder/Directory! e.g. WINNT2 This option should leave data intact with the old structor if you saved files within your operating system structore! But if it was mine I would remove the disk and use the data recovery tools! It depends the cost if you loose the data? I use various Recovery tools and have recoverd many GB's of data this way for busineses and a few home users. If you're in the UK you could send the disk or machine and I'll get it back to you within 10 days. I'll recover as much of your files/Data as possible. Rebuild the O/S, need machine for that! Restore your data to the Hard/Drive, need machine for that! or I can burn your data to CD! You pay for insured recorded postage. If I can't recover the data I'll make no charge! But I always get most if not everything back! Regards John