System Recovery
System recovery techniques lies somewhere beyond of data recovery service. Our primary task is to recover user files from crashed storage device like a hard drive, but not repair the operating system. However, we can make possible for you the chance of booting originally installed system together with all program files as they were running before drive failure. First what we can offer you for system recovery is a mirrored copy of digital image-footprint of original hard disk drive. Even if some LBA sectors could not be copied from original drive due to nature of data loss such as few tiny scratches for example, there is always possibility to experienced computer technician or even to advanced user for system repair manipulation.
Important Notes:
- You may want to make an extra copy of clone (clone of already recovered HDD-clone) - before making any modification to the system in system recovery efforts. By doing this way you can always roll back to original clone (re-clone again).
- Do not use Restore your software and settings to the original factory settings feature, unless you want a clean setup of operating system with no recovered files on
- Do not use Automated System Recovery (MS Windows ASR). ASR will format the system and boot volumes, making other user data files recovery impossible.
MS Windows System Recovery
Windows has a specific system repair disc available from Microsoft. Windows also has a Windows Recovery Environment available from the Advanced Boot Options menu. Select Repair Your Computer from the Windows Error Recovery screen. The Windows Recovery Environment can also be launched from the Windows DVD or USB stick. Select Repair Your Computer when you see the Install Windows screen.
More details about standard system recovery tools and recovery options:
1. System Restore Tool
If you had MS Windows on crashed hard drive, clone is bootable, but computer is not functioning correctly with clone-HDD, you may use System Restore to restore Windows to a previous state.
System Restore tool does not affect personal files, such as e-mail, documents, or photos.
System Restore takes snapshots of critical system files and stores this information as restore points. If your computer is not functioning correctly with booted Windows from the HDD-clone, you can use these restore points to return Windows XP to a previous state (before drive crash).
Refer to detailed manual about how to use tool directly from Microsoft website (support section). The article's name is "Backup and Restore in Windows 10".
If you are unable to recover your system using System Restore or other tools available to you in Windows, you'll have to try other recovery options.
2. Safe Mode
Safe Mode starts a minimal Windows environment with only the essential drivers and files are loaded. Safe Mode can help you to repair corrupt drivers and other system files. To launch Safe Mode restart your computer then press the F8 key repeatedly after the BIOS message disappears (or the initial BIOS beep) but before the Windows logo appears (usually only a few seconds).
3. Recovery Console
Recovery Console is a command line interface tool for diagnosic and repairing a damaged system (like to fix boot problems).
Should your HDD-clone suffer from catastrophic crash due to corrupted or unrecoverable system data then you will need to use the WinXP installation CD and a Recovery Console to recover.
What can be done in Recovery Console for system recovery:
The Recovery Console helps you gain access to you to replace damaged files and disable or enable services.
Recovering from Bootup problems:
- When the system displays on booting a message of "missing" NTLDR or NTDETECT, you can copy these files via Recovery Console from the CD-ROM.
- If there is a problem with the Boot-sector on the C:-drive, you can use "fixboot" to write a new boot-sector.
- If there is a problem with the Master-Boot-Record of the disk (maybe damaged by a virus), you can use "fixmbr" to write a new MBR.