jaclaz

Ok, let's clarify things (in ten points): 1) Spinrite will ONLY run under DOS, being it either MS-DOS 6.22 or MS-DOS 7.1 (the one that comes with wndows 9x/ME), it will NOT run under ANY flavour of windows, be it 9x/ME or NT/2k/XP/2003 2) from the PHOTOREC documentation: So, if the files are NOT in the list above, PHOTOREC is of NO use.3) There are tens if not hundreds of Data Recovery programs out there that run from both DOS or NT/2k/XP, each of them has it's ups and downs, MOST are NOT freeware. 4) Sometimes a certain program will recover only a part of data, whilst another will recover another part. 5) There is no "best" program, as a rule of thumb, DOS based ones are better than NT/2K/XP based ones, due to the direct access DOS can provide to hardware (linux offers the same advantage), but a program run under NT/2K/XP could be more effective in some cases 6) Each and every program NEEDS to be used by a competent person to maximize results. 7) There are so many things that might have gone wrong on those disks that it is impossible to give specific advice, though I'll try to my best do so. 8) Theoretically it is POSSIBLE to use an USB ZIP drive under DOS, even if Iomega says it is not possible. There are reports on the net that this has been achieved, though there is no single way to do so, due to the incredible number of factors that might concur to success or fail (motherboard bus, BIOS, poorly implemented USB specs, Processor speed, etc.). NONE of the methods, EVEN if working are PROVED solutions safe enough to be used for such a delicate task as data recovery is. 9) As said before the MAIN thing in data recovery, EXPECIALLY if you are not an expert at it, is to NEVER work on original data, ALWAYS work on a copy (image) of the data. 10) If the data to be recovered is only "marginally" important, and you wish to make some experience, go ahead on a DIY job, being prepared to lose a LOT of time to study and learn how to do it; if data to be recovered is "important" you should evaluate the option to ask for professional help. Back to your problem what I would do (mind that this is my personal advice, no warranty implied): 1) Make TWO images of the disk, using the programs I linked to in my previous post (or use, if you have it, another imaging tool) 2) Mount the image as a Virtual drive under windows 2K/XP, by means of these: Driver: http://chitchat.at.infoseek.co.jp/vmware/vdk.html GUI (by yours truly): http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...ts/VDM/vdm.html 3) Experiment freely with TESTDISK on it 4) If nothing comes out of it, try this FREEWARE: http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm 5) If nothing comes out of it, try with the evaluation versions of these (PAYWARE) apps (in order of my personal preference): File Scavenger: http://www.quetek.com/prod02.htm GetDataBack: http://www.runtime.org/ (as said above there are MANY more) There are even better (in my opinion) apps from x-ways: http://www.x-ways.net/ and DFSEE: http://www.dfsee.com/ but I would not use them if you are a beginner. Roadkil's DiskImage is a win32 GUI application, it "should" see your ZIP, maybe it does not. RAWDISK is a win32 CONSOLE application, you DO NOT start it by double clicking it, you must start it opening a console window, navigate to the directory where the exe is, the typing the name of the exe and hitting enter, it will give you basic help about the parameters you need to pass it. (btw, same applies to testdisk and photorec, though they can also start by double click, it is MUCH better to start them from console) Another FREEWARE GUI diskimaging solution is this one: editdisk/diskexplorer http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA013937/ed...sk/index_e.html Another FREEWARE CONSOLE diskimaging solution is this one: dsfok: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~nulifetv/freezip/freeware/ (again these might work or might not) jaclaz

hmm...., sometimes this happens (but I cannot say if it is the case) when the original install drive changed, or sometimes it has been reported as a possible Registry corruption by some installed program. You can try to do the following: 1) Go to hardware Manager while docked and with both mouse and keyboard detected. 2) Remove related entries (do not disable them, remove 'em) 3) Reboot computer while still docked 4) The Hardware wizard should come up, reinstall drivers 5) Switch the machine off 6) Undock and boot it 7) Re-dock it and boot it If those are USB, it could be this problem: http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/.../10/255047.aspx (there is a possible registry hack to fix it) jaclaz

As a rule of thumb, the older the OS, the faster it will be on newer machines, UNLESS there are driver problems(like poorly or unsupported hardware). Quite naturally the enhanced features of newish OS's require more resources. PLEASE NOT another Windows98 is faster than XP, yes, but it is outdated flame war, we already had one: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=37402 (all 45 pages of it) (or go directly to my post there: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=37402&st=411#) jaclaz

Looky here: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=47812 jaclaz

From the little I know, DELL motherboards usually are just "normal" OEM motherboards, maybe you can find the original BIOS on the actual manufacturer site. Or you might want to have a look here: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Chip/4378/ http://www.wimsbios.com/phpBB2/viewforum.p...7ccb5c44b3ab905 Cannot say if it will help, though.. jaclaz

I think you are making some confusion, trying to do EVERYTHING at once. Booting from a DOS (or windows 9x) boot disk can you see your external drive with a GOOD, KNOWN WORKING Zip 750 disks, FORMATTED as FAT16? I would say no, as you need to make a "special" bootdisk, USB enabled (if your ZIP 750 is USB): http://www.stefan2000.com/usbstorage/ http://www.stefan2000.com/darkehorse/PC/DO...r_boot_disk.ZIP Read here also: http://www.bootdisk.com/usb.htm So, first try to achieve the above, THEN, if it works, add Spinrite to your boot disk. Spinrite does NOT need any filesystem driver (like sysinternals NTFSDOS or the Datapol NTFS4DOS) as it reads the disk directly. Personally, before going that way, if the problem is to recover files from the damaged ZIP disks, I would try before Photorec (the accompanying apllication of TESTDISK): http://www.cgsecurity.org/testdisk.html (latest releases are capable of recovering almost any file) In ANY case, BEFORE ANY recovery attempt, I would do an image (or better, two) of the disks with utilities like: http://www.roadkil.net/DiskImg.html http://www.stud.uni-hannover.de/user/73174/RawDisk/ So if the Recovery gets messed up, you still have a copy of the original data to try another recovery utility. jaclaz

Usually win98 drivers are "customized" on the device. Please post the EXACT make/brand whatever information you have on the manufacturer and/or WHERE you bought it. Or you can try "randomly" these: http://www.cablestogo.com/help/ctg_drivers.asp http://www.argosy.com.tw/techsupport/usb11.htm (just search on google for "USB to IDE" drivers) jaclaz

Freeware ones: http://www.dirms.com/ jaclaz

VERY interesting find. Thanks. I am wondering if there is any OpenSource "one-sector" bootmanager that could be customized to this effect. The only one I found is Partita, here: http://www.pedrofreire.com/crea1_en.htm that, though freeware, is NOT Open Source. I haven't enough knowledge of assembly to make a new one. Should any willing programmer be interested, there is this "base": EXTIPL largely used in Linux and BSD projects: http://www.tsden.org/ryutaroh/extipl/extipl.html which is released under a GNU license. jaclaz

@enuffsaid this is exactly the point I was trying to make: Everyone should read ALL the info that is available, and judge by himself. Moreover, there is NO ever BEST setting for everything and for every use one can make of a PC. The only differences between us is that: 1) I don't claim to be the only expert in the world 2) I produce some documentation to backup the theory 3) I do not "hint" that other people are "dumb": 4) I do not assume blatantly that other people experience is based on So all in all, the difference is that I respect others and their opinions, while you do not. jaclaz

Yes, I'll do it next release, thanks. Out of topic, but not much, have you seen this kind of things, (can be handy for security AFTER booting): http://www.usbgeek.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0022 (but it can be found cheaper elsewhere) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...-702-001&depa=0 This guy has written "alternative" drivers for it: http://blogs.patchadvisor.com/bryan/archiv...01/27/1066.aspx as the built -in ones seem "flaky": http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/archives/ar...4.html#00000316 jaclaz

From your post I gather you did not remove the C:\windows ( should be the WinXP install) keeping just the: C:\winnt (should be the Win2k main install) jaclaz

Sorry to say this, but I think is too late for anything. The only solution could be this one: http://www.elcomsoft.com/aefsdr.html jaclaz

Sorry, I did not get it in your first post, my bad. However you are lucky if your BIOS can read an NTFS formatted stick. If you are interested, read my tutorial here: http://home.graffiti.net/jaclaz:graffiti.n...B/USBstick.html You could find out what is the problem in the Partitioning. Jaclaz

Unfortunately, at the moment it is NOT possible (at least not with Public Domain/ Freeware/Open Source tools). But it is possible with: DOS/WIN9x/ME BartPE WinPE Linux Please read these: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=40538 http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=26612 http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=44352 http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=31465 http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=46943 Yes, LOOOOONG read! jaclaz

enuffsaid: 1) As said in my post those links were already posted by me (on another thread) 2) Unless told not to by an Administrator of this board I will continue to post those links EVERY TIME I think it fit 3) Are you the one and only person in the world to be trusted (on your word only) on this topic? Do you detain the ultimate TRUTH? 4) Who are the "we" who have supposedly "established" ANYTHING? You and KoolDrew? 5) In the other thread, the ONLY support you gave to your OPINION, or to be more exact to KoolDrew's OPINION was your word, and a link to a Linux article with this comment by KoolDrew: 6) As said in the other thread: 7) No one, EVER, said the the articles linked are the "most reliable sources" and EVERYTHING you find on the internet, or read, or are told has to be interpreted, analysed and tested. 8) At least those links are SOURCES, maybe not 100% accurate, but, let me say, MUCH better than simply your "word" for it. jaclaz

Just for the record, I posted here links to a couple of alternatives to xchm: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showto...ndpost&p=332273 The first is pretty useless, whilst the second is interesting jaclaz

As already posted elsewhere, these articles give a good idea on how to manage the swap file: http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm http://www.petri.co.il/pagefile_optimization.htm http://www.adriansrojakpot.com/Speed_Demon...mization_01.htm jaclaz

Maybe unneeded, but found some interesting info here: http://hollow-refuge.net/Bold/viewtopic.php?t=229 jaclaz

...also this might be interesting: http://winadmin.sourceforge.net/warmzip.html jaclaz

No, you need to have a bootable record (image of a bootable floppy). Please refrain from posting wrong info. @DanceMan Complete tutorial is here: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~rossstew/drs/sec3.html start navigation from here: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~rossstew/drs/bootcd.html Old but Win98 is old too. It makes use of Easy-Cd, but with Nero it works all the same, see here: http://www.auldfart.co.uk/howto/customboot.html jaclaz

That is EXACTLY what is supposed to happen. NEVER power up a PSU WITHOUT proper load. Computer PSU's are SWITCHING power supplies, they need a load (power consumption) to work. Some (more expensive ones) will have a protection circuit if switched on with nothing connected to it, some (cheaper ones) will have not, and they will just blow. Read here: http://web2.murraystate.edu/andy.batts/ps/powersupply.htm If you want to test a PSU you NEED a LOAD. jaclaz

Well, with hex editor you can edit ANY file. Resource Hacker or PE explorer are limited to PE format files, so that you cannot use them on IO.SYS, which is NOT a PE file, see here: http://www.madchat.org/vxdevl/papers/winsy...file/pefile.htm Problem is do you know WHAT to edit inside the IO.SYS file? jaclaz

win PE is a "so-called" Pre-installation Environment, aimed to OEM and professionals for the install of NT based systems XP/Server 2003. It is perfectly unuseful to use it to install a DOS based system. It could probably be done, but it will take longer than directly installing Windows 98. Could you elaborate better on the question? jaclaz

Do you mean: Backup; format; reinstall from scratch...? Otherwise it seems pretty unuseful, to back-up, format and reload (from backup), you did a lot of work to have a system that is identical to the one you had before! jaclaz