1

Topic: Unable to see Sub-Folders of the Windows Folders on Windows XP

Hi All,

I downloaded the 32 bit  iso file to create the Live USB, yesterday, which works fine.

However, I can see the C: (/dev/sda1) partition but I can't see the Sub-folders of the Windows folder. The other folders/sub-folders, e.g. Programs, I can see.

In Terminal, if I use the ls command, after using cd to make the Windows folder the current folder, I get an "input/output error" message.

Thanks, Michael.

2

Re: Unable to see Sub-Folders of the Windows Folders on Windows XP

I'm not sure understand your question.

Would you be able to provide the list of commands and the output you see and report back in this thread?

Note that while running from the GParted Live USB you can enable networking and use the browser to view this thread so that you might copy and paste text from the terminal window.  If you are unsure of how to use GParted Live you might look at the GParted Live Manual.

3

Re: Unable to see Sub-Folders of the Windows Folders on Windows XP

gedakc wrote:

I'm not sure understand your question.

Would you be able to provide the list of commands and the output you see and report back in this thread?

Note that while running from the GParted Live USB you can enable networking and use the browser to view this thread so that you might copy and paste text from the terminal window.  If you are unsure of how to use GParted Live you might look at the GParted Live Manual.

All the necessary details have been provided in my original post.

Thank you, Michael.

4

Re: Unable to see Sub-Folders of the Windows Folders on Windows XP

Please, take into account that the GParted screen shows the various drives and partitions (i.e. /dev/sda, /dev/sda1, /dev/sda2 etc), not the various folders or sub-folders that belong to the specific file system of the partition.
To see the filesystem content, you have to use a file manager (included in the livecd).

I guess that this issue concerns the livecd, so I move the thread to the GParted Live forum.

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***

5

Re: Unable to see Sub-Folders of the Windows Folders on Windows XP

cusco-travel-services wrote:

I can see the C: (/dev/sda1) partition but I can't see the Sub-folders of the Windows folder. The other folders/sub-folders, e.g. Programs, I can see.

In Terminal, if I use the ls command, after using cd to make the Windows folder the current folder, I get an "input/output error" message.

You need to make a mount point for /dev/sda1. See the instructions / documentation in the website.

If you mount /dev/sda1 in, say, /mnt/sda1, then you could use 'cd' and 'ls' starting from /mnt/sda1 (not /dev/sda1).

You should also use adequate upper/lower-case for your paths; in Windows it doesn't matter, but in Linux it does.

6

Re: Unable to see Sub-Folders of the Windows Folders on Windows XP

Full details of the problem are as follows.

My landlord's PC can't complete the initialisation of the Operating System (OS) due to a damaged File System.

When Windows XP Professional attempts to start, an error message indicates a file (Windows\AppPatch\drvmain.sdb) is damaged and that to repair it the Original CD-ROM should be used to initiate a Repar of the Installation.

However, unfortunately, my landlord doesn't have that CD and nor do I have a copy.

Using GParted Live, I was able to obtain the following details.

Check and repair file system (ntfs) on /dev/sda1  00:00:01    ( ERROR )

calibrate /dev/sda1  00:00:00    ( SUCCESS )

path: /dev/sda1
start: 63
end: 32772599
size: 32772537 (15.63 GiB)
check file system on /dev/sda1 for errors and (if possible) fix them  00:00:01    ( ERROR )

ntfsresize -i -f -v /dev/sda1

ntfsresize v2014.2.15AR.1 (libntfs-3g)
Device name : /dev/sda1
NTFS volume version: 3.1
Cluster size : 4096 bytes
Current volume size: 16779538944 bytes (16780 MB)
Current device size: 16779538944 bytes (16780 MB)
Checking for bad sectors ...
Checking filesystem consistency ...
100.00 percent completed
Accounting clusters ...
Cluster accounting failed at 101901 (0x18e0d): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101902 (0x18e0e): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101903 (0x18e0f): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101904 (0x18e10): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101905 (0x18e11): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101906 (0x18e12): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101907 (0x18e13): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101908 (0x18e14): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101909 (0x18e15): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101910 (0x18e16): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101911 (0x18e17): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 101912 (0x18e18): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596926 (0x185dfe): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596927 (0x185dff): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596928 (0x185e00): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596929 (0x185e01): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596930 (0x185e02): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596931 (0x185e03): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596932 (0x185e04): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596933 (0x185e05): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596934 (0x185e06): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596935 (0x185e07): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596936 (0x185e08): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1596937 (0x185e09): missing cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1603961 (0x187979): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1604195 (0x187a63): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1604270 (0x187aae): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1604804 (0x187cc4): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1605595 (0x187fdb): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 1605598 (0x187fde): extra cluster in $Bitmap
Filesystem check failed! Totally 30 cluster accounting mismatches.
ERROR: NTFS is inconsistent. Run chkdsk /f on Windows then reboot it TWICE!
The usage of the /f parameter is very IMPORTANT! No modification was
and will be made to NTFS by this software until it gets repaired.

Some of the information I found on the Internet, however, indicates that "chkdsk /f" can sometimes make things worse.

So, before I try to use that as a final option, I was wanting to know what actually happens when a person chooses the Repair option for an installation from an Original CD-ROM? Does the Repair process actually use "chkdsk /f" also? And then, what happens next?


Using the ntfsfix utility, which is included with GParted Live, the following information was obtained.

ntfsfix /dev/sda1
Mounting volume... OK
Processing of $MFT and $MFTMirr completed successfully.
Checking the alternate boot sector... OK
NTFS volume version is 3.1.
NTFS partition /dev/sda1 was processed successfully.

Using the testdisk utility, the following was obtained.

OS: Linux, kernel 3.14-1-486 (#1 Debian 3.14.5-1 (2014-06-05)) i686
Compiler: GCC 4.8
Compilation date: 2014-04-13T17:18:51
ext2fs lib: 1.42.10, ntfs lib: libntfs-3g, reiserfs lib: none, ewf lib: none
/dev/sda: LBA, HPA, LBA48, DCO support
/dev/sda: size       156301488 sectors
/dev/sda: user_max   156301488 sectors
/dev/sda: native_max 156301488 sectors
/dev/sda: dco        156301488 sectors
/dev/sdb: LBA, HPA, DCO support
/dev/sdb: size       78242976 sectors
/dev/sdb: user_max   78242976 sectors
/dev/sdb: native_max 78242976 sectors
/dev/sdb: dco        78242976 sectors
Warning: can't get size for Disk /dev/mapper/control - 0 B - 1 sectors, sector size=512
Warning: can't get size for Disk /dev/md - 0 B - 1 sectors (RO), sector size=512
Hard disk list
Disk /dev/sda - 80 GB / 74 GiB - CHS 9729 255 63, sector size=512 - ST380011A, S/N:3JV4GSQS, FW:3.06
Disk /dev/sdb - 40 GB / 37 GiB - CHS 4870 255 63, sector size=512 - SAMSUNG SP0411N/R, S/N:S0DBJ10YA17865, FW:TW100-13
Disk /dev/sdc - 2021 MB / 1927 MiB - CHS 1010 63 62, sector size=512 - SanDisk U3 Cruzer Micro, FW:8.02

Partition table type (auto): Intel
Disk /dev/sdb - 40 GB / 37 GiB - SAMSUNG SP0411N/R
Partition table type: Intel

Analyse Disk /dev/sdb - 40 GB / 37 GiB - CHS 4870 255 63
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
NTFS at 0/1/1
NTFS at 2040/1/1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=6
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=4
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=6
Current partition structure:
 1 * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
 2 E extended LBA          2040   0  1  4868 254 63   45447885
 5 L HPFS - NTFS           2040   1  1  4868 254 63   45447822
ntfs_attr_pread_i: ntfs_pread failed: Input/output error
Failed to read index block: Input/output error

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 40 GB / 37 GiB - CHS 4870 255 63
NTFS at 0/1/1
filesystem size           32772537
sectors_per_cluster       8
mft_lcn                   786432
mftmirr_lcn               2048283
clusters_per_mft_record   -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
     HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
NTFS at 2040/1/1
filesystem size           45447822
sectors_per_cluster       8
mft_lcn                   786432
mftmirr_lcn               2840488
clusters_per_mft_record   -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
     HPFS - NTFS           2040   1  1  4868 254 63   45447822
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 23 GB / 21 GiB
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=4
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=3
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=4

Results
   * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
   L HPFS - NTFS           2040   1  1  4868 254 63   45447822
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 23 GB / 21 GiB
ntfs_device_testdisk_io_ioctl() unimplemented
file_pread(5,16,buffer,16386327(1020/0/28)) read err: Partial read
file_pread(5,1,buffer,16386328(1020/0/29)) read err: Input/output error
file_pread(5,6,buffer,16386329(1020/0/30)) read err: Input/output error


dir_partition inode=5
   * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
Directory /
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 .
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 ..
    4000 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:24 Archivos de programa
    3531 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:00 Documents and Settings
   11352 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:28 MSOCache
    3529 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 16-Jun-2014 23:28 System Volume Information
      28 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0  4-Feb-2014 10:55 WINDOWS
    7431 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 AUTOEXEC.BAT
    1863 -r--r--r--     0      0      4952 14-Apr-2008 12:00 Bootfont.bin
    7430 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 CONFIG.SYS
    7432 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 IO.SYS
    7433 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 MSDOS.SYS
    3495 -r--r--r--     0      0     47564 14-Apr-2008 12:00 NTDETECT.COM
    3523 -r--r--r--     0      0       211 19-May-2006 22:46 boot.ini
    3491 -r--r--r--     0      0    251168 14-Apr-2008 12:00 ntldr
      27 -r--r--r--     0      0 352321536  4-Feb-2014 10:54 pagefile.sys

dir_partition inode=28
   * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
file_pread(5,16,buffer,16386335(1020/0/36)) read err: Input/output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,16386335(1020/0/36)) read err: Input/output error
ntfs_readdir failed for cluster 28
Directory /WINDOWS
      28 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0  4-Feb-2014 10:55 .
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 ..
Directory /
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 .
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 ..
    4000 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:24 Archivos de programa
    3531 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:00 Documents and Settings
   11352 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:28 MSOCache
    3529 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 16-Jun-2014 23:28 System Volume Information
      28 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0  4-Feb-2014 10:55 WINDOWS
    7431 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 AUTOEXEC.BAT
    1863 -r--r--r--     0      0      4952 14-Apr-2008 12:00 Bootfont.bin
    7430 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 CONFIG.SYS
    7432 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 IO.SYS
    7433 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 MSDOS.SYS
    3495 -r--r--r--     0      0     47564 14-Apr-2008 12:00 NTDETECT.COM
    3523 -r--r--r--     0      0       211 19-May-2006 22:46 boot.ini
    3491 -r--r--r--     0      0    251168 14-Apr-2008 12:00 ntldr
      27 -r--r--r--     0      0 352321536  4-Feb-2014 10:54 pagefile.sys
add_ext_part_i386: max
add_ext_part_i386: min

interface_write()
 1 * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
 2 E extended LBA          2040   0  1  4868 254 63   45447885
 5 L HPFS - NTFS           2040   1  1  4868 254 63   45447822

search_part()
Disk /dev/sdb - 40 GB / 37 GiB - CHS 4870 255 63
NTFS at 0/1/1
filesystem size           32772537
sectors_per_cluster       8
mft_lcn                   786432
mftmirr_lcn               2048283
clusters_per_mft_record   -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
     HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
file_pread(5,16,buffer,16386315(1020/0/16)) read err: Partial read
NTFS at 2039/254/63
filesystem size           32772537
sectors_per_cluster       8
mft_lcn                   786432
mftmirr_lcn               2048283
clusters_per_mft_record   -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
     HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS found using backup sector, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
NTFS at 2040/1/1
filesystem size           45447822
sectors_per_cluster       8
mft_lcn                   786432
mftmirr_lcn               2840488
clusters_per_mft_record   -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
     HPFS - NTFS           2040   1  1  4868 254 63   45447822
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 23 GB / 21 GiB
NTFS at 4868/254/63
filesystem size           45447822
sectors_per_cluster       8
mft_lcn                   786432
mftmirr_lcn               2840488
clusters_per_mft_record   -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
     HPFS - NTFS           2040   1  1  4868 254 63   45447822
     NTFS found using backup sector, blocksize=4096, 23 GB / 21 GiB
NTFS at 4868/254/63
filesystem size           45447822
sectors_per_cluster       8
mft_lcn                   786432
mftmirr_lcn               2840488
clusters_per_mft_record   -10
clusters_per_index_record 1
NTFS: Can't read MFT
     HPFS - NTFS           4868 254 63  7697 253 62   45447822
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 23 GB / 21 GiB
This partition ends after the disk limits. (start=78220484, size=45447822, end=123668305, disk end=78242976)
Disk /dev/sdb - 40 GB / 37 GiB - CHS 4870 255 63
Check the harddisk size: HD jumpers settings, BIOS detection...
The harddisk (40 GB / 37 GiB) seems too small! (< 63 GB / 58 GiB)
The following partition can't be recovered:
     HPFS - NTFS           4868 254 63  7697 253 62   45447822
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 23 GB / 21 GiB
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=4
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=3
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=4

Results
   * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
   L HPFS - NTFS           2040   1  1  4868 254 63   45447822
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 23 GB / 21 GiB
ntfs_device_testdisk_io_ioctl() unimplemented
file_pread(5,16,buffer,16386327(1020/0/28)) read err: Partial read
file_pread(5,1,buffer,16386328(1020/0/29)) read err: Input/output error
file_pread(5,6,buffer,16386329(1020/0/30)) read err: Input/output error


dir_partition inode=5
   * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
Directory /
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 .
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 ..
    4000 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:24 Archivos de programa
    3531 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:00 Documents and Settings
   11352 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:28 MSOCache
    3529 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 16-Jun-2014 23:28 System Volume Information
      28 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0  4-Feb-2014 10:55 WINDOWS
    7431 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 AUTOEXEC.BAT
    1863 -r--r--r--     0      0      4952 14-Apr-2008 12:00 Bootfont.bin
    7430 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 CONFIG.SYS
    7432 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 IO.SYS
    7433 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 MSDOS.SYS
    3495 -r--r--r--     0      0 ntfs_attr_pread_i: ntfs_pread failed: Input/output error
Failed to read index block: Input/output error
    47564 14-Apr-2008 12:00 NTDETECT.COM
    3523 -r--r--r--     0      0       211 19-May-2006 22:46 boot.ini
    3491 -r--r--r--     0      0    251168 14-Apr-2008 12:00 ntldr
      27 -r--r--r--     0      0 352321536  4-Feb-2014 10:54 pagefile.sys

dir_partition inode=28
   * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
file_pread(5,16,buffer,16386335(1020/0/36)) read err: Input/output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,16386335(1020/0/36)) read err: Input/output error
ntfs_readdir failed for cluster 28
Directory /WINDOWS
      28 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0  4-Feb-2014 10:55 .
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 ..
Directory /
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 .
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 ..
    4000 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:24 Archivos de programa
    3531 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:00 Documents and Settings
   11352 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:28 MSOCache
    3529 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 16-Jun-2014 23:28 System Volume Information
      28 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0  4-Feb-2014 10:55 WINDOWS
    7431 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 AUTOEXEC.BAT
    1863 -r--r--r--     0      0      4952 14-Apr-2008 12:00 Bootfont.bin
    7430 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 CONFIG.SYS
    7432 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 IO.SYS
    7433 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 MSDOS.SYS
    3495 -r--r--r--     0      0     47564 14-Apr-2008 12:00 NTDETECT.COM
    3523 -r--r--r--     0      0       211 19-May-2006 22:46 boot.ini
    3491 -r--r--r--     0      0    251168 14-Apr-2008 12:00 ntldr
      27 -r--r--r--     0      0 352321536  4-Feb-2014 10:54 pagefile.sys
add_ext_part_i386: max
add_ext_part_i386: min

interface_write()
 1 * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
 2 E extended LBA          2040   0  1  4868 254 63   45447885
 5 L HPFS - NTFS           2040   1  1  4868 254 63   45447822
ntfs_attr_pread_i: ntfs_pread failed: Input/output error
Failed to read index block: Input/output error
simulate write!

write_mbr_i386: starting...
write_all_log_i386: starting...
write_all_log_i386: CHS: 2040/0/1,lba=32772600

Interface Advanced
Geometry from i386 MBR: head=255 sector=63
NTFS at 0/1/1
NTFS at 2040/1/1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=6
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=8 nbr=4
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=16 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=32 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=64 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=128 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=240 nbr=1
get_geometry_from_list_part_aux head=255 nbr=6
 1 * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
 2 E extended LBA          2040   0  1  4868 254 63   45447885
 5 L HPFS - NTFS           2040   1  1  4868 254 63   45447822
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 23 GB / 21 GiB
ntfs_device_testdisk_io_ioctl() unimplemented
file_pread(5,16,buffer,16386327(1020/0/28)) read err: Partial read
file_pread(5,1,buffer,16386328(1020/0/29)) read err: Input/output error
file_pread(5,6,buffer,16386329(1020/0/30)) read err: Input/output error


dir_partition inode=5
 1 * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
Directory /
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 .
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 ..
    4000 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:24 Archivos de programa
    3531 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:00 Documents and Settings
   11352 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:28 MSOCache
    3529 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 16-Jun-2014 23:28 System Volume Information
      28 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0  4-Feb-2014 10:55 WINDOWS
    7431 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 AUTOEXEC.BAT
    1863 -r--r--r--     0      0      4952 14-Apr-2008 12:00 Bootfont.bin
    7430 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 CONFIG.SYS
    7432 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 IO.SYS
    7433 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 MSDOS.SYS
    3495 -r--r--r--     0      0     47564 14-Apr-2008 12:00 NTDETECT.COM
    3523 -r--r--r--     0      0       211 19-May-2006 22:46 boot.ini
    3491 -r--r--r--     0      0    251168 14-Apr-2008 12:00 ntldr
      27 -r--r--r--     0      0 352321536  4-Feb-2014 10:54 pagefile.sys

dir_partition inode=28
 1 * HPFS - NTFS              0   1  1  2039 254 63   32772537
     NTFS, blocksize=4096, 16 GB / 15 GiB
file_pread(5,16,buffer,16386335(1020/0/36)) read err: Input/output error
file_pread(5,1,buffer,16386335(1020/0/36)) read err: Input/output error
ntfs_readdir failed for cluster 28
Directory /WINDOWS
      28 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0  4-Feb-2014 10:55 .
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 ..
Directory /
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 .
       5 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:29 ..
    4000 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 29-Jan-2014 16:24 Archivos de programa
    3531 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:00 Documents and Settings
   11352 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 19-May-2006 23:28 MSOCache
    3529 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0 16-Jun-2014 23:28 System Volume Information
      28 dr-xr-xr-x     0      0         0  4-Feb-2014 10:55 WINDOWS
    7431 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 AUTOEXEC.BAT
    1863 -r--r--r--     0      0      4952 14-Apr-2008 12:00 Bootfont.bin
    7430 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 CONFIG.SYS
    7432 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 IO.SYS
    7433 -r--r--r--     0      0         0 19-May-2006 22:52 MSDOS.SYS
    3495 -r--r--r--     0      0     47564 14-Apr-2008 12:00 NTDETECT.COM
    3523 -r--r--r--     0      0       211 19-May-2006 22:46 boot.ini
    3491 -r--r--r--     0      0    251168 14-Apr-2008 12:00 ntldr
      27 -r--r--r--     0      0 352321536  4-Feb-2014 10:54 pagefile.sys

TestDisk exited normally.

As can be seen from the above there is an error occurring when trying to access the Windows directory.

I placed the Hard Drive into my own PC and downloaded the GetDataBack for NTFS utility with which I was able to see the files and directories residing in the Windows directory.

Using the DiskExplorer for NTFS utility, I was able to view the File Entry Details for the drvmain.sdb file without any error occurring but when I attempted the same thing, for the Windows directory, a "Bad sectors handling" dialogue window was displayed. In total there was 8 or 9 bad sectors that the Disk Explorer utility encountered for the Windows directory which is probably the reason the OS won't initiate. I don't know how the MFT (Master File Table) entries operate but I am guessing that the entry for the Windows directory is related to the entry for the drvmain.sdb file and if the entry for the Windows directory is damaged in anyway, then, any files or directories residing within it will not be able to be "seen" by the OS.

So, is using "chkdsk /f" the correct or only solution to try for this scenario to enable the OS to start?

Thank you, Michael.

7

Re: Unable to see Sub-Folders of the Windows Folders on Windows XP

"chkdsk /f" is used to fix "software" errors, i.e. bad data kept in the file table entries etc.
In this case, there is probably hardware error, one or more bad sectors in the MFT.
The MFT is kept in 2 copies in the partition, so the operating system could repair the damaged entry by the 2nd copy data.
In this case, the command "chkdsk /f /r" could be more appropriate, I think. It checks the drive surface for bad sectors and makes a bad sector list to prevent the system to allocate them to files or directories.

A safe way to proceed, can be to make a "clone" of the hard drive using a cloning software like clonezilla, or the Linux dd command (it is needed to include the command line option to ignore bad sectors, otherwise no copy is possible). This manner, you are able to "go back" and retry, if the attempt fails.

If the hard drive hardware is really damaged, then you could think about replacing it by cloning it to some new one. In this case the bad sector list is transferred to the new drive. Newer windows versions are able to rescan the partition and remake this bad sector list, but xp doesn't do it. The chkdsk /f command for the new drive could help to fix the inconsistency, however the "clone" backup is a safety factor in the case the command isn't good for the specific case.

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***