I tried to restore my Windows XP from a Ghost image stored in a DVD , but the image appears to have some errors, so I went to a fresh XP installation in c:\ drive , it is all right until the setup needs to restart the computer to complete the installation; the computer just display nothing after restart !
I do not want to format my entire hard disk I really need the data in my other partitions.
I managed to install Windows Vista (but RC1 ) but my d:\ and e:\ drives are labeled with :Access Denied.
I took the hard disk off my lab-top and connect it to my desktop PC using USB; same problem: I can access c:\ but not the other drives.
I either need to complete my XP installation, or find a way to access my other partitions.
Thanks in advanced

"I went to a fresh XP installation in c:\ drive"

"I do not want to format my entire hard disk"

When someone says they did a "fresh install", that usually means formatting the HDD (or at least a partition) & installing from scratch. How did you go about it? And what was wrong that made you attempt this in the 1st place?

I just want to format my c:\ partition and reinstall Windows XP.
Formating and copying files is done successfully,then the setup needs to restart the computer, it restarts then just stops there, and I can not continue the rest of the installation- there is just a black screen with a cursor blinking!

try safe mode and check your event log

Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'

I don't know Vista - yet; not likely to for a long time either...

However I'm surmising that file accesss etc. is pretty much like that for the earlier NT style OS - NT/W2K//XP?

This in that if you can't access files/folders from Vista that were made under XP (in your case) you may be able to take ownership of it/them when logged-on as Admin (in Vista)? Did you try this approach?

If you use an XP system (with the problem drive attached somehow...) then this M$-KB will probably guide you through the access-path OK?

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...

and this link is to Vista equivalent path...

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/wi...

And if you trawl/search the M$-KB using:

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows Vista

as the string/search-term you will get the above "hit" and a few more besides...

This link has a few (freebie) download utils that may help here - if allse fais - in terms of gaining access to (some/all) files? Haven't used it/them so can't comment on effectiveness etc...

http://search.techrepublic.com.com/...

I think the M$-KB will do what's required in terms of accessing the files/folders?

Why you can't complete the re-installation of XP? Where are you trying to put it - not in the same partition as Vista presumably? If Vista is at all like XP it will get a little upset if it has to share its partition with another OS - unless its Vista (in this case). I have gotten two copies of XP in the same partition... but few manage to get XP to successfully/peacefully co-habit with any other OS...

Just to be clear, I’ve installed Windows Vista just to check if works, then format its c:\ partition, I don’t want to dual boot- I want just one OS ( XP).

My problem is that I can NOT install Windows XP, I have black screen with a blinking cursor when XP setup restarts the computer to complete its installation. So, I can’t access safe mode or use the recovery console.
I just noticed that after Windows XP setup format and copy files to c:\ it restarts – if I choose to boot from the setup CD if display “Setup is inspecting your computer hardware”, and then immediately the same black screen shows up.

Trvlr: I can't get access to the other partitions in Windows Vista because the previous methods concerns folders and files not partitions.

mmm...

YOur prime concern at this time is data access - presumably so you can get it off the drive and to a safe place...?

With this in mind...

Either try slaving the drive to another working XP system; or a '98 system (if the drive in question is fat32); or use a linux on a CD approach (Knoppix or Ubuntu).

Boot with that CD and you ought to be able to access the drive contents and get data off to optical media? Verify the copies are truly readable etc.... Then set about perhaps starting afresh with XP installation - get rid of Vista from the drive first in this case!

Often (but not always) hang during boot/setup with blinking cursor can be a driver issue; or worst case - RAM...

Just noted this a Dell Inspiron...; have you been in touch with Dell; or at least onto their user-forum. The latter is actually pretty good for help.; Having used it a few times in the past... I feel it's often better than current Bangalore based support (unless you're able to get to the US or Irish based support).

If Vista is in another partition - fine; can you safely access/reformat the c: partition - via a '98 bootdisk (as obviously as fat32); then run the - sys c: - routine to erase the Vista mbr (set it back to dos initially). Then try re-installing XP (to c: ) (which obviously reset the mbr to XP version)? Also if you run Fdisk inspections ('98 bootdisk) do the partitions show - and also are the fat32 or ntfs incidentally?

Regret I am essentially musing a lot as I have no input with Vista - so don't know what it may have done during its arrival to your partition/folders. Likewise as this is n Inspiron... and it ahs (if I recall corectly) an hidden (small) partition at teh start of the drive. And this is used in confunction with aa recovery disk to restore the OS...? Is perhaps what is happening during your re-install anything to do with that partition? I seem to recall it's an additional (the first) Primary)... If you have the recvery disk can you not use that at least to get an OS installed again; then rebuild it to you r preferences (aps/utils etc.) then renew your dvd image?

But FIRST see if you can you data off the system one way or another; Slave the drive to a working system - or the linux on a CD approach? This because I think the recovery disk approach will probably lose all your data for you... depending on how the Dell system for your model works. Dell used to have a couple of reasonably decent tutorials re' those disks... - with suitable warnings based on the approach you opt for from the list they (may) offer...

Vista RC1 expires on May 31, 2007. I don't why you went thru the trouble of installing it? You can't access the other partitions until you take ownership of them & you can't take ownership until you get XP reinstalled.

You never said WHY reinstalling XP was necessary in the 1st place & I don't understand why you didn't just do a repair rather than a fresh install? (I realize that you had to start from scratch after Vista). Try booting off the XP CD again & running a repair:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...

Have to echo "jam's" comments re Vista; but I guess some folks like to try out the newest toys to see if they're all they're cracked up to be...; and there's no harm in that.

I would have thought Vista would have allowed ownership of the partitions in much the same manner as XP; but maybe not???

Bearing in mind this a Dell Inspiron... I am incined to wonder a little about that possible (hidden) additional Primary (used with the recovery CD approach?) on the drive - at the start of it; that may be what's causing some grief?

trvlr:
You are right, I managed to take ownership of partitions in Vista and now I have access to my data :) I will try repatitioning my hard disk after backing up my data since it seemed to be the problem.

jam:
Thanks alot for the info, I didn't know that RC1 will expires this month! I guess I have to be hurry in backing up my data!
Anyway, I had to do a clean XP installation because the Gost image overrites c:\.
Also I couldn't and still can't do a repair because it gives me the black screen after XP setup restarts the computer.

Good to hear you managed it in the end...

As regards backing up data. These days that "ancient" term - "backup" - usually, for most folks, means true/actual copies of data etc., rather than a true backup (using an NT style) util, which is essentially a load of code (cannot be read by the applications etc. that made the data originally); but once restored to a drive is accessible...; requires the backup util to access to the backup-files. Presumably you are doing true copies (to optical media - even tape...?) - and I would encourage you to verify that those copies are valid; as in can be accessed/read by the apps etc. that made the data originally. And with that media being cheap these days, I'd make two sets (and verify both). Once happy with the copies proceed as you indicate in terms of rebuilding the system. And once you are up and running again, keep those (backups) copies current...

Personally I prefer true copies approach as it allows immediate access via any compliant and working installation; whereas the true-back up does not... This even though true copies may appear to take up more space initially...

I'm guessing you are across the backup/copy distinction anyway. However a chat at work recently, with a relatively novice PC user, made me aware that many today are not aware of the difference between a "true back-up" and a copy... And there are probably others "out there Scully" who are similarly unaware...

This little pdf (Maxtor) discusses the two approaches very succinctly (and of course is promoting a Maxtor product presumably)...

Might be of interest to some folks around
here etc...

http://forums.dantz.com/files/32402...