jaclaz

@submix8 You missed the references I gave. http://www.williamaford.com/CloningaHDD.php Which, specifically, leads to here: http://www.xxcopy.com/xxcopy10.htm which provides the EXACT steps needed (if doing everything through XXCOPY) in the words of the Author of the tool himself. What I was additionally hinting is that by using first Partition Logic (or other suitable tool) to do a "dd-like" copy of the old hard disk to the new one, more than a few of the steps can be avoided, if you prefer all the difficulties are for "first run" or "first clone" of XXCOPY, once you have a suitable target you can: jaclaz

Post the contents of the actual .bat (which BTW should really be a .cmd) Here there are some good tips on what to add to the batch to troubleshoot/debug: http://www.robvanderwoude.com/ntat.php jaclaz

Well the actual point is that there are mainly two devices involved, the video card and the display. One of the two must be the culprit or concurring to the issue. In the case I cited, I could replace the monitor with an old CRT one I had around. In your case, it is *something* in the video card. (and yes, I remember vaguely something similar happening about the need of fully powering down a system between the two phases ) Idea! @tomasz86 Even if it's a laptop, why don't you try attaching an external monitor next time? jaclaz

Well, check the manual, look for numebrs on the actual thingy, you need to be sure rather than "thinking". For the mk4 the driver is seemingly: http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/public/soft_first/cf-y_w_t_r_f_s_n8h_os/SATAFloppyConfigUtil_v8.9.0.1023_T8H_XP_ss6784.exe and the controller is "ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller" Now, be nice, find the "right" driver for XP on the panasonic site, and post information (like I did) for it, then someone may be able to help you find a corresponding win2K driver. http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/computer-support-search-downloads.asp jaclaz

So, all in all you need a "cloning app" but not necessarily a "forensic sound" one. And it needs to be able to run in Dos (and Win9x/Me). And it should be able to - periodically - synchronize the "clone" to the running system (otherwise you would soon find yourself with an "outdated" emergency solution. Basically, you are describing XXCOPY: http://www.xxcopy.com/index.htm See: http://www.williamaford.com/CloningaHDD.php A nice thingy that you may also want to experiment with is Partition Logic: http://partitionlogic.org.uk/index.php it should run on *any* system: http://partitionlogic.org.uk/about/index.php with the exception of some SATA disks/contollers, which are not involved in your case. jaclaz

JFYI, this kind of things sometimes (not necessatily your case) may happen also on the "display" side. I have seen this happen (and also another "queer" effect such as NOT being able to see anything in the BIOS setup) with el-cheapo LCD's that are also (I shoudl say "mainly") TV's. In practice the issue is the video card - for any reason - sending signals with a resolution/frequency that the LCD - for any reason - doesn't "hook" correctly. jaclaz

I see. Then all you need is OSCDIMG: http://www.windowsvalley.com/create-windows-vista-and-windows-7-bootable-dvd/ You might need to extract the etfsboot.com from the DVD, and probably also bootfix.bin: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/cesardelatorre/archive/2009/03/08/how-to-create-a-bootable-dvd-windows-7-or-windows-vista.aspx See also: jaclaz

I don't get it. The image posted on the right seems to show how a 3 Gb file is actually on the disc. It is possible that only the indexing records for it are actually written to the DVD (and this would be compatible with the disc shoeing no "written" area as it would probably be too small to be viewable). You can use a disk editor to inspect the device at sector level, personally I would first make a dd-like copy of it and inspect the image. One of these (or both) should do: http://www.dubaron.com/cd2iso/ http://dubaron.com/diskimage/ But if the disc is a DVD (not DVD RW), whatever the reason, it is hosed. I would rather risk "sacrifying" another DVD disc trying to burn it with a surely working burning program (IMGBURN): http://www.imgburn.com/ using ANOTHER "source" (as to be able to exclude actual hardware issues of the drive and verify that it is a possible source/burning app issue). You can also try DVDisaster on the disc that (as a "side" feature) should be able to show you graphically the written areas: http://dvdisaster.net/en/index.html jaclaz

I am not sure to understand. Normally you have a DVD (or .iso) and you make FROM it a USB bootable stick. HOW did you make originally the USB stick? (starting from what?) The "bought online and downloadable" version X13-49120.exe or something similar? Making a DVD is however not particularly difficult (but as said it depends on the Source you have), probably the easiest would be using vlite: http://www.genghiskhent.com/articles/vlitesp1.html jaclaz

@ConfusedChimp Your symptoms are UNlike the ones of either BSY or LBA0. Now it depends only on value of the data on the hard disk and whether you can afford paying a pro to attempt a recovery. If you can/want, now is the right time to do so. If you know that you won't ever have the money for it, you can try the proposed methods, as you have "nothing to lose" see Read-Me-First:#1 and #2: The procedures substantially "reset" some data inside the hard disk "memory". This may "fix" a "generic" data corruption issue or it may not. From what you posted the preoccupying part seems to me that the device "progressively got worse" (stopping being mountable/hot swappable) which is a behaviour that doesn't sound like what corrupted data may cause (which tends to be binary, on/off or working/bricked). BTW it is also possible that something very simple happened, like dirty or corroded/oxidized contacts between PCB and hard disk. Removing the PCB and cleaning contacts before reassembling it won't do any harm so it is well worth a try. jaclaz

Not enough data to compute T8E (mk1) T8E (mk1.5) T8G (mk3) T8H (mk4) Assuming a T8E(mk1) you need to get this file (only the XP version is available on the Panasonic site): "f6fd_8_5_0_1032_d081084.exe" http://pc-dl.panasonic.co.jp/public/soft_first/cf-y_w_t_r_f8e_os/f6fd_8_5_0_1032_d081084.exe Open it with 7-zip, open the file TXTSETUP.OEM and you will find this info: So, it is a "generic" INTEL SATA driver. The actual controller should be a ICH7. Go to the Intel site, and search for the Windows 2000 "AHCI SATA" drivers: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=10609&ProdId=2101〈=eng&OSVersion=Windows%202000%20%20*&DownloadType=Software%20Archives You want to get the file: f6flpy32_57.zip open with 7-zip, etc. txtsetup.oem: jaclaz

Yes, the terms "clone", "copy", "image" and "backup" have always - one way or the other - been mixed it is very easy to get confused when using them. Some clarifications of the terminology (listed in order of "accuracy" or amount of info contained): a clone is something that is IDENTICAL (dd-like or "forensic sound") or AS SIMILAR AS needed to be exchanged for the original <- the target of a clone is another hard disk that can be used to physically replace an image is something that once restored to the original will make it IDENTICAL (dd-like or "forensic sound") or AS SIMILAR AS needed, in such a way that once restored there won't be any difference in the working of the system a copy is usually an image with a number of information to rebuild a working system, not necessarily identical to the original a backup is usually a copy with even less information and of course there are "mixed" or "intermediate" approaches. Do check these two threads: Then we'll see the details/which app or methoid is more suited for your requirements. I understand your "base" requirement, but I need to know the "final" goal, i.e. if the idea is being able to restore a corrupted operating system to a previous working "snapshot" (on same disk/partition/hardware), being able to do "bare metal" recovery, make an actual forensic sound clone/image, etc. jaclaz

The end paragraph before "The Paradox of Technology", the one in italics, starting with: Which in the end, connects us unexpectedly to the Nutrimatic Machine: http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Nutri-Matic_Drink_Synthesizer http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=1385 and - conversely - to the Sirius Cybernetic Corporation: http://hitchhikers.wikia.com/wiki/Sirius_Cybernetics_Corporation whose Marketing Department definition is not very different from the one that is emerging in this thread for the Microsoft Marketing Department . I love concidences . jaclaz

Unless basic math has not been subverted lately - just for the record - being 2.45%=2.45% the condition is called "being equal" or "at the same level". In plain English is something (that was at a lower level) gets to the same level of something else, you say "it has reached" not "it has surpassed". Adding the "Windows Touch" (which should be RT) is a non-orthodox operation (and it hasn't been evidenced in the graph). The actual source: http://netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qpcustomd=0&qptimeframe=W actually talks of "Windows 8 RT Touch" (this only shows how the good Neowin guys are not able to report correctly a string of text) BUT it has OBVIOUSLY mixed some data, as the report is titled: I have seen no desktops shipped with a senselessly underpowered ARM processor, but maybe I missed something? If the good guys @NetMarketShare believe in good faith that the Windows RT is a desktop operating system, they have however bigger problems than those Quality Assurance (see below) may fix . Please note that if we use the same amount of illogical procedure, we can use the 0.02% reported for "Mac OS X (no version reported)" as counter balance for the 0.02% of senselessly inserted in the report for "Windows 8 RT Touch". More generally citing a single report that has this text (top left): is not a good example of scientifical method. If you check the view filtering for "DeviceType=All" aka "Operating System Market Share": http://netmarketshare.com/operating-system-market-share.aspx?qprid=10&qptimeframe=W&qpcustomd= Something interesting happens. The Windows 8 RT Touch that had 0.02% in "Desktop Operating System Market Share" jumps up to 0.07% while Mac OS X 10.8 and Windows 8 that had BOTH 2.45% step down to 2.17%. HOW can this happen (I mean IF data is real AND math is used correctly?) A given fixed amount divided by a larger number increases? jaclaz

Cannot the thingy cdob posted here (as .inf): http://www.911cd.net/forums//index.php?showtopic=24566 for VIA be "converted" to txtsetup.oem format? jaclaz

One of the pillars in the study of ergonomics is this book by Donald Norman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Design_of_Everyday_Things http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Norman The main idea is "affordance" of objects with which you interact. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affordance A plate on a door "affords" to be pushed, it is like it is shouting "hey, push me", a round bar, of a suitable diameter and length "affords" to be gripped by the hand, it's like shouting "hey grip me", etc. Besides the fact that the only thing the NCI "affords" is to be switched off, do check page #29 on google book's preview: http://books.google.it/books?id=w8pM72p_dpoC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false There is a clear example about the "generic risk" the MS guys are taking . jaclaz

...as well as Horny Mike puts horns everywhere... http://www.hornymike.com/ in the case of Phaenius there is no need to add them, as they (some horns I mean) will grow spontaneously out of boredom over the time he will be able to fix (or replace ) that sound card/system. jaclaz

The usually recommended Virtual environment (by me) that can run on *any* hardware/OS (of course within limits) is Qemu. Running under Windows (NT family) there is a nice GUI frontend for it, Qemu Manager, which is strongly recommended : http://www.davereyn.co.uk/download.htm Generally speaking VMware (and VirtualBox) are NOT "ideal" environments to test a bootable CD for the install of a NT based system because they use "proprietary" (virtual) hardware that needs specific drivers. Qemu, on the other hand uses "standard" (virtual) hardware which drivers are already included in any NT OS install, particularly a NT installed in a Qemu VM will use the Microsoft "Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE" which will prevent the common on other VM's STOP ERROR 0x0000007b. Testing a .ISO through an image on a USB stick is an exercise in futility as it implies at least two layers of complexity (grub4dos to map the .iso in "text mode" and a NT driver such as Winvblock or Firadisk for "GUI mode") to which, in your specific case you would need to add a third layer (the PLoP bootmanager to add a USB stack to your BIOS), in practice everything and the contrary of everything can happen in such a setup . Please note how Qemu is slower than other virtual machine solutions, but at the same time it is more "similar" to real hardware. If you are willing to install XP/2003 from USB, take your time on the dedicated forum, several different tools/approaches available: http://www.msfn.org/board/forum/157-install-windows-from-usb/ If you are going to experiment with PLoP, this might come of use: jaclaz

That seems like a (bad) joke. However: http://www.veodin.com/windows-shortcuts/windows-8-explorer-shortcuts/ CTRL+C and CTRL+V are there allright. jaclaz

Yep , and I was referring to the fact that they are two completely different examples. In the case of anything advertised as "contact cleaner", it WILL clean contacts (BUT there may exist more cheap products/chemicals that can clean contacts AS WELL or even BETTER). In the case of anything advertised as "lightning protection", it WON'T actually protect from an actual lightning strike (AND there is NO way on earth that you can protect something connected to a cable from a lightning strike on the cable). I hope you can see the differences. jaclaz

In certain conditions it should be possible to issue a Safe Erase ATA command. See: https://ata.wiki.kernel.org/index.php/ATA_Secure_Erase http://tinyapps.org/docs/wipe_drives_hdparm.html jaclaz

Not really. I was talking of physics impossibilities. You see, a lightning is by definition a burst of voltage ranging in the several hundred thousands/millions volts range. It actually strikes because of this voltage being far superior to the dielectric properties of air. Electricity (just like water and most natural forces) tend to have an implicit , built in, Occam's Razor and will flow following the easier path. When something really high voltage is flowing down a conductor (a cable in this case) you cannot stop it UNLESS the length of the whatever you attempt using for stopping it and it's insulation with respect to the media (air) in which it is immersed has so high dielectric properties as to avoid making an arc outside that *whatever* (or there is an easier way to ground). Will it stop a marginal surge due to a lightning strike in the vicinity? Possibly yes. Will it stop an actual lightining strike? NO, no chance. Have you ever seen with your own eyes (not in a picture/video) a CAT 777? (or driven it? ) Do you have an idea of how big, heavy, sturdy, tough it is? Try stopping the lightning that did this to one of them: http://www.miningmayhem.com/2012/08/lightning-strike-on-777.html jaclaz

@dencorso JFYI, whenever you read "lightning protection" you can be sure that it won't protect anything from an actual lightning. @Phaenius As expected , no way to know whether it is AC or DC, let alone the voltage or frequency if AC. Field telephones have been used as a method of torture : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_telephone and their ringer generator provided around 90 V AC at 20 Hz: http://olive-drab.com/od_electronics_ee8.php jaclaz

Leave alone the fact that it is a 7200.12 for the moment. There are two ATA passwords levels. User and Master (or Max and High) Which one is set on the disk? Is the scope "unlocking the disk" or "unlocking the disk AND recover it's current contents"? jaclaz

The usual note about the use of "legacy" outside of it's meaning as a sort of pejorative term: http://homepage.ntlworld.com./jonathan.deboynepollard/FGA/legacy-is-not-a-pejorative.html jaclaz