MBR Corruption in Windows results Error

Every Windows based hard disk consists of a ’starting point’ that stores information related to all the partitions (number, type, and size) and initial boot program. This starting point is known as the Master Boot Record (MBR). Corruption at this starting point results in unbootability of Windows operating system, which makes the data saved in the hard drive partitions inaccessible.

In such cases, if a Windows user wants to access the files saved in the hard drive partitions, then s/he needs to restore the data from an adequate backup. However, if the backup is not deficient, then the user needs to repair MBR by using ‘FIXMBR’ command. However, if the command fails to repair MBR, then the user needs to opt for effective Data Recovery Software to recover data saved in hard drive partitions.

Consider a practical case to elaborate the above problem. You try to boot your Windows XP system and encounter the below error message:

“No bootable partition in table”

After the above error message pops up, your system becomes unbootable and the data saved in the hard drive becomes inaccessible. Additionally, the same error message flashes on your screen every time you try to boot your system.

Cause:

The above error message appears when the MBR is corrupted. Few main causes for corruption in MBR are improper system shutdown, malicious software like virus, operating system malfunction, and human errors.

Resolution:

To get past the above error message and to access the hard drive data, you will need to follow the below steps:

Make sure that the boot sequence in BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is correct.

Disconnect any USB drive connected to your system.

Run ‘FIXMBR’ command to repair MBR.

Format the system and restore data from an updated backup. However, if the backup is unavailable, then you will need to search for a third-party Data Recovery Software. Such recovery tools provide complete Windows Data Recovery by using advanced scanning algorithms. These tools can be downloaded directly from the Internet.

Lets resolve “Directory Services cannot start” problem of Windows

Are you unable to start domain controller in Microsoft Windows 2003 or Windows 2000? Do you encounter blank screen after starting the domain controller? This behavior is generally caused by damaged active directory database, NTFS file system permissions, or NTFS file system.

In such circumstances, you can not start the domain controller and all your valuable data become inaccessible. In order to get your data recovered, you need to opt for Windows Data Recovery, if there is no backup in place.

For example, your computer’s screen might go blank and you encounter the below error message, when you start domain controller:

“LSASS.EXE - System Error, security accounts manager initialization failed because of the following error: Directory Services cannot start. Error status 0xc00002e1.
Please click OK to shutdown this system and reboot into directory services restore mode, check the event log for more detailed information.”

Furthermore, the following events occur in the Application Event Log of Microsoft Windows:

Event ID: 700
Description: ‘NTDS (260) Online defragmentation is beginning a pass on database NTDS.DIT’.

Event ID: 701
Description: “NTDS (268) Online defragmentation has completed a full pass on database ‘C:\WINNT\NTDS\ntds.dit’.”

Event ID: 1168
Description: “Error: 1032 (fffffbf8) has occurred. (internal ID 4042b). Please contact Microsoft product support services for assistance.”

Event ID: 1103
Description: “The windows directory services database could not be initialized and returned error 1032. Unrecoverable error, the directory can’t continue.”

Cause

The above problem occurs in below situations:

The NTFS permissions on root of hard drive are very restrictive.

The NTFS permissions on NTDS (NT Directory Service) folder are very restrictive.

Drive letter of hard drive volume, which contains Active Directory database, has modified.

The Ntds.dit (Active Directory Database) is damaged.

The NT Directory Service folder is compressed.

Resolution

Try out the following methods to work around this problem:

Restore Directory Service using Directory Service Restore Mode option in BIOS.

Format your hard drive, reinstall operating system, and reconfigure the domain controller.

Although, formatting can sort out this problem, but also removes all the data from hard drive and need Windows Recovery to be fixed.

You can easily Recover Windows data with the help of powerful third-party applications, known as Windows Data Recovery Software. The applications are very easy to use and provide absolute recovery using high-end scanning algorithms. They preserve integrity of your valuable data with read-only and non-destructive conduct.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is the most advanced and efficient application that provides assured recovery of all your lost data. The software recovers data from FAT16, FAT32, VFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5 file system partitions. It is designed for Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP, and 2000.

Unable to Access Hard Drive Data ?

Is your Windows computer unbootable? Do you encounter boot errors while trying to boot your system in normal way? This behavior may occur due to corruption to the operating system or boot files of your Microsoft Windows computer. In such situations, a recovery disk may help you to fix all the boot problems of your system and get your system working again. It helps you to prevent data loss situations and need of Windows Data Recovery solutions.

Recovery Disk is a common term for the media that contains backup of favored condition or original factory settings of your computer as configured by the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) or you. The OEM supplied recovery disk is generally shipped with most of the computers to enable you to work around the system issues.

In some situations, the recovery disk may not help you to fix the problem. In a practical scenario, you may encounter the below behaviors while trying to fix the system through Recovery Disk:

  • The system stops responding when you format the Windows hard drive through “Format and Recover” option.
  • You reboot the system and again follow the same process. It completes successfully.
  • After formatting the hard drive, when you boot your system, it gives you two errors stating:
  • Unable to initialize the hard disk
  • Boot disk failure
  • You boot your computer using Windows startup disk. But can not format the boot volume or system partition.
  • Try to create partitions on the drive and get the below error:
  • No fixed disk present
  • Try to rewrite MBR using Fdisk/mbr but encounter “The master boot record has not been updated yet” error message.

You may come across such situations due to corruption or damage to the Windows hard drive. It may occur due to various reasons such as virus infection, user errors, improper system shutdown, and more. It eventually leads to data loss and put you in need of windows data recovery. The same situation of data loss occurs if you can manage to format the hard drive through Recovery Disk.

You can recover your lost data in such cases through Windows Data Recovery Software. The Windows Recovery applications are capable of handing most of the data loss situations and perform absolute recovery through high-end scanning techniques.

NTLDR Missing Error in Windows Server 2003- How to resolve?

Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP are often configured to dual-boot, so as to run special applications, test new operating system, or benefit from the features of two different platforms. Such setups can sometimes get affected and give errors that might prevent Windows 2003 to start, rendering the data inaccessible. This occurs because Windows Server 2003 includes certain startup features that are unrecognizable by Windows XP. Windows Recovery Console can aid a user to run some specific commands to make Windows work again. But if the user fails in his attempts, then he requires a last backup or a Windows Data Recovery utility to restore lost data.

Consider a user using Windows Server 2003 installed in dual-boot configuration with Windows XP. When he tries to start Windows Server 2003, the process fails and the below error pops up:

“Windows Server 2003 could not start because the following files were missing or corrupted:

Windows\System32\Config\System Ntldr MISSING

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows setup from original floppies or boot from CD-ROM.

Select ‘r’ at first screen to repair”

User cannot access data after he receives the above error.

Cause

The above problem is most likely to occur when you install Windows XP after installing Windows Server 2003 or dual-boot after reinstalling Windows XP. Windows Server 2003 startup features are different from that of Windows XP and the shared boot files, which are Ntldr and Ntdetect.com, are replaced.

Solution

For solving the depicted problem, you need to replace the shared boot files. To do this, you can:

  • Boot the computer using Windows installation disc
  • Start Windows Recovery Console
  • Start command prompt and run ‘fixboot’ command
  • Open I386 folder of Windows CD-ROM and copy Ntldr and Ntdetect.com files to the root folder on your hard disk drive

If Windows is still unbootable, reinstall and restore data from backup. And in case of any backup issues, use a Windows Data Recovery Software. These are efficient Windows Data Recovery products that can scan and restore lost, deleted, or missing files and folders from crashed disks.

How to Fix “File: \Boot\Bcd…” Error Message in Windows?

Annoyed, frustrated, and confused because you are unable to overcome a Windows boot error message? You are probably one of those computer users who encounter such error messages regularly. There can be various reasons for the occurrence of a boot error message, including boot loader corruption, file system damage, installing incompatible device driver, virus infection, and operating system malfunction.

The outcome of the error message becomes more fatal when you have some critical data – which you are not able to access – saved in your hard drive. These circumstances force you to access the required data from an updated backup. However, in case the backup file is inaccessible or corrupted, then you can only access your hard drive data using a powerful windows data recovery software.

The detailed analysis of the above scenario can be explained with the help of the below error message that appears when you were in the middle of reading an e-mail. The system froze after the below error message:

“File: \Boot\Bcd

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.”

The error message then appeared every time you tried to boot Windows Vista based system. The message did not allow the system to boot, resulting in inaccessibility of the files saved in the hard drive.

Cause:

The root cause for the occurrence of the above error message is virus infected e-mail. The virus damages the boot\bcd file. Another cause of the error message is missing of Windows boot manager from the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) store.

Resolution:

To isolate the above error message and to access data, you need to follow the below steps:

Perform ‘Startup Repair’ in the ‘System Recovery Options’.

Type the below commands in the ‘System Recovery Options’:

1.bootrec.exe /fixboot

2.bootrec.exe /fixmbr

If the error message persists, then you will need to re-install the Windows Vista operating system. To recover the data after formatting, you can use a Windows Data Recovery application. Such Windows Data Recovery tools can be downloaded from the Internet.

Integrity Issues in NTFS File System

NTFS (New Technology File System) is a self-healing and high-performance file system of Microsoft Windows operating system. It is a recoverable Windows file system, which guarantees the integrity and consistency of the hard drive volume through transaction logging and then recovery techniques. In case of hard drive failure, NTFS file system restores the consistency using Windows Data Recovery process, which accesses the information stored in log file.

The NTFS file system recovery process is exact and ensures absolute restoration of the file system in a consistent state. The transaction logging method of NTFS file system needs a quite small quantity of overhead. This journaled file system assures the integrity of hard drive volumes by automatically executing Windows Recovery operation at the time when program access NTFS file system volume after rebooting the system followed by a failure.

NTFS file system also employs a technique, known as cluster remapping, for minimizing the consequences of bad sectors on NTFS partition.

If either the boot sector or MBR (Master Boot Record) is damaged, you may not access your precious data stored on NTFS file system partition.

How to Recover Data with NTFS

The NTFS handles every I/O operation, which alters the system files on NTFS file system partition as transaction, and it manages every transaction as integral unit. After starting, a transaction is either completes successfully or it is rolled back in the event of disk failure. NTFS returns the volume to its original state, as it was before initiating the transaction.

In order to ensure the completion or roll back of the transaction, NTFS file system records sub-operations of transaction in log file before they’re written on hard drive. Once the transaction is successfully completed, NTFS file system ensures that whole transaction seems on volume, even if hard drive fails.

NTFS file system ensures integrity of volume structure through the transaction logging and the recovery methods. Due to the same, system files remain intact and accessible. But, you may lose your data in case of system failure.

In such situations, Windows Data Recovery Software help you to get your valuable data recovered. They use advanced scanning methods to thoroughly scan entire hard drive and extract all lost, missing, and inaccessible data from it. They Recover Windows Data in a quick, safe, and easy way.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is an advanced and powerful application that works in most of the logical data loss situations. The software works well with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP, and 2000. It recovers data from FAT16, FAT32, VFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5 file system partitions.

How to resolve disk read error in Windows?

Are you encountering disk read errors while trying to boot your Windows computer? Is your Windows hard drive inaccessible and you cannot see anything other than blank black screen? If ‘Yes’, the problem may be caused due to  damaged hard drive. It makes your system unbootable and your crucial data inaccessible. Such conditions lead to severe data loss, if you do not have an updated backup in place. It needs Windows Data Recovery to fix up the problem.

As a practical example, you may come across the below error message when you boot up your Microsoft Windows computer:

“A disk read error occurred. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to restart”

When you press ‘Ctrl + Alt + Del’ keys to reboot the system as suggested in the above error message, it returns you to same screen of the error message. Additionally, you may also get a Blue screen and your system stops responding.

At this point, your system does not boot up with current installation of Microsoft Windows operating system. As an alternate solution, if you try to boot your system using boot CD/DVD of the respective version of MS Windows, you encounter same error message after “Press any key to boot from CD.”

Cause

You may encounter this problem due to any of the below reasons:

  • It may occur due to lose jumper or the controller of hard drive.
  • Hard drive data structures are damaged and system cannot find boot files on the hard drive.
  • Installation of Windows operating system is damaged.
  • If any of the above issues occur, you need to perform Windows Recovery by fixing it to get your data back.

Resolution

Try out following things to work around this issue:

  • Check hard drive controller.
  • Use Chkdsk utility to check hard drive errors and fix them.
  • Format your hard drive and reinstall Windows operating system.

If you format your hard drive or the Chkdsk tool fails to sort out the problem, you need to go for Windows Data Recovery Software to retrieve lost data.

The Windows Data Recovery applications perform thorough scan of the hard drive to retrieve lost data from Windows hard drive. They are completely safe and easy to use with read-only behavior and simple graphical user interface.

How to Handle File Attribute Corruption with Windows Data Recovery

The NTFS (New Technology File System) file system treats every file or directory as a set of various file attributes. The file elements like name of the file, file’s security information, and its data/contents, are all file attributes. Each file attribute is described by attribute type code, optionally by an attribute name. For proper management, security, and access of the files, it is essential for the file attributes to remain intact. In case of corruption or any issues with these attributes, the file may become inaccessible from NTFS partition. At this point, opting for Windows Data Recovery solution becomes a need of the hour.

All the attributes of file that need little space for storage and can thus fit in MFT (Master File Table) file record, are known as resident attributes. For instance, time stamp and file names are always saved in MFT file records. If the attribute can not fit into MFT file record due to its comparatively larger size, and is placed separately, with a pointer in the MFT leading to it, the attribute is nonresident. NTFS file system defines the following file attributes:

1.Standard Information- Stores information like link count and time stamp.

2.Attribute List- Displays location of all the attribute records, which don’t fit in MFT record, and thus acts as a pointer.

3.File Name- Repeatable attribute for short and long file names.

4.Security Descriptor- Contains information about file owner and access privileges.

5.Data- Stores file data. NTFS file system enables multiple data attributes in each file. Every file generally has an unnamed data attribute.

6.Reparse Point- It is used for the mount points of NTFS volume. This is also used by IFS (Installable File System) filter drivers for marking some files as specific to the driver.

7.Index Root- Used for implementing various indexes including folders.

8.Volume Information- Used in $Volume system file and contains version of volume.

9.Volume Name- Contains the label of volume.

In case, any of the above file attributes is damaged, file/folder may become inaccessible and you encounter data loss. At this point, Windows Data Recovery Software come to your rescue.

The Windows Data Recovery applications thoroughly scan the entire NTFS file system volume and extract all lost, missing, and inaccessible files. They Recover Windows in a quick, easy, and safe way.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is the most advanced and efficient tool that recovers lost data in all logical data loss scenarios. The software works well with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP, and 2000. It recovers lost data from FAT16, FAT32, VFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5 file system partitions.

Problem of an Empty Black Screen in Windows XP

Does your computer stops responding upon startup? Do you see an empty black screen after POST (Power-on Self Test) and before Microsoft Windows logo appears screen? This behavior make your system unbootable and you can not stored data from the system. It cause critical data loss situations and need Windows Data Recovery to be handled. You can prevent the need of recovery solutions, if you have a complete and updated backup in place.

In a practical scenario, when you attempt to start your Windows XP computer, it may hang and shows an empty black screen after POST and before Windows XP loads. This behavior occurs every time you try to start your system.

This problem renders all your valuable data inaccessible and require you to find out the cause of this problem. After determining the cause of this issue, you need to perform windows data recovery by sorting it out, to gain access of your significant data.

Grounds of the issue

You may come across this behavior of Microsoft Windows XP, if either of the below conditions is true:

  • You have a floppy disk, a CD, or a DVD in your floppy, CD, or DVD drive when you boot your system.
  • This behavior may also take place if any of the below components of your Windows system are damaged and does not load during boot sequence of your computer:
  1. MBR (Master Boot Record)
  2. Boot Sector
  3. Partition Tables
  4. NTLDR (NT Loader) File

These are very critical data structures of a Windows system, and after corruption to such data structures Windows can not locate and access important files that are required to start your computer.

Solution

In order to fix this problem, go through the underwritten steps:

  • For cause one, you can fix the problem by removing media in floppy, CD, or DVD and then reboot your system.
  • For second cause, examine the damaged component and replace it using Windows XP boot CD.

If the above methods does not work, you are required to opt for Windows Data Recovery Software to get your data recovered.

These are powerful and advanced third party applications, which methodically scan the affected hard drive and extract all missing, lost, and inaccessible data from it. Such Windows Recovery tools are completely safe and easy to use.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is the best ever made and the most widely used application for assured recovery of lost Windows data. It recovers data from FAT16, FAT32, VFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5 file system partitions. The software is compatible with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP, and 2000.

Dual-boot Configuration and Data Loss in Windows XP

Are you unable to boot your Windows XP computer in dual-boot configuration? Are you facing error messages on startup related to missing or damaged system files? If your answer is ‘Yes’ for any of these questions, you can not access your business-critical data from your Windows hard drive. Such situations may lead to severe data loss situations. To retrieve lost data, restore from most recent backup. If the backup is not updated or not available, Windows Data Recovery becomes need of hour.

In a practical scenario, you might come across the below error message when you attempt to boot your MS Windows XP system that is in dual-boot configuration:

“Windows XP could not start because the following files were missing or corrupted:
WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM NTLDR MISSING
You can try to repair this file by starting the Windows Setup program from original floppies or boot from CD-ROM.
Select ‘r’ at first screen to repair”

As stated in the above error message, the system can not boot up and you can not access data from it. Identify the cause of this problem and perform Windows Recovery by resolving it, to gain access of your system:

Cause

The above problem may take place if the below conditions are true:

  • You are using Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 in dual-boot with Microsoft Windows XP and you have installed Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 after installing Microsoft Windows XP.
  • You recently installed Microsoft Windows NT 4.0.
  • Windows NT 4.0 doesn’t detect additional startup characteristics of Microsoft Windows XP, and replaces shared boot files of Windows (Ntdetect.com and Ntldr).

Resolution

In order to sort out this problem, you need to replace Windows XP Ntdetect.com and Ntldr files. You can do it using Windows Recovery Console. If you use MS-DOS for replacing the files, you are required to remove System attribute, Read-only attribute, and Hidden attribute from files.

If the file replacement can not help you to solve the issue, it could be due to damaged Windows data structures. It needs Windows Data Recovery Software to extract lost data from the affected Microsoft Windows hard drive.

The software throughly scan the drive using advanced scanning techniques, to ensure absolute hard drive recovery of lost, deleted, missing, and inaccessible files. The Windows Recovery tools do not demand sound technical skills as they have rich graphical user interface.

Stellar Phoenix Windows Data Recovery is a read-only software that performs perfect recovery in all cases of data loss. The software recovers lost data from FAT16, FAT32, VFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5 file system partitions. It works well with Microsoft Windows 7, Vista, 2003, XP, and 2000.