Corrupt master file table.

[Cortexian]

CHKDSK aborted.

Anyhow, I just threw a "server" together from some of my extra components. Everything worked at least a week ago, however, I have now run into a problem.

I have an 80GB and 200GB IDE hard drives in this computer, I formated the 80GB and I'm now using it as my main C: drive. The 200GB has a TON of files on it (over 100GB worth) that I need, I had it plugged into another computer last week and it was working fine.

Now the 200GB hard drive gives me this error when I try to access it:

"D:\ is not accessible.

The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable."

When I run CHKDSK /f on it, it gives me:

"The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is 200GB.
Corrupt master file table. CHKDSK aborted."

So, I think I'm fucked, but is there anyway to fix the MFT without formatting or destroying any of my data?

[Amit]

Well i doubt you're fucked since you can boot into Knoppix and transfer those files to another hard drive. That's how i recovered my files when my two hard drives failed.

[Cortexian]

Yea well, I don't have a storage device big enough to backup all my data... I want to fix my MFT, not backup my data, if at all possible...

[Amit]

Hmm, well I don't think there's a way to fix it.

[Cortexian]

Anyone else? I REALLY need the files off here... I'll resort to recovery ifI have to, but I'd rather just fix the MFT.

[StankBacon]

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

says that is able to fix it.

or try Here (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=fix+mft&btnG=Google+Search)

[CrAsHOvErRide]

If the 200GB is C:/ (HDD(0)Partition(0)) you can use Windows XP/Vista whatever CD to repair the boot sector...not the recovery thing but really repair without deleting any files.

[Cortexian]

If the 200GB is C:/ (HDD(0)Partition(0)) you can use Windows XP/Vista whatever CD to repair the boot sector...not the recovery thing but really repair without deleting any files.
200GB is not the primary hard drive, it's just a secondary file storage drive.

I'll try the thing Bacon suggested.

[Kybo_Ren]

The problem isn't the boot sector, it's the MFT. Before doing anything make an image of the drive in linux with dd (run it through gzip if you'd like) so you don't lose data.
If the MFT mirror is still intact you can use TestDisk to repair it.

[Cortexian]

The problem isn't the boot sector, it's the MFT. Before doing anything make an image of the drive in linux with dd (run it through gzip if you'd like) so you don't lose data.
If the MFT mirror is still intact you can use TestDisk to repair it.
MFT Mirror is corrupt as well.

[Idjiki]

I'm not sure where you are with this but the thread below may help. I'd also suggest getting your hard drive manufacturer's diagostic utility.

Henderson was able to get his data back with the tool he mentions by OnTrack.
It could also be some funky drivers that your system is using though I'd have to see your event logs and what drivers you are using. Maybe try to update all device drivers just to remove that as a possibility.

From the thread at: http://www.pcmech.com/forum/printthread.php?t=127465


henderson197704-09-2005 08:32 AM
GetDataBack was one of the better data recovery tools I tried, but none cam close to the powerful RawRecovery in Ontrack's EasyRecovery software. It scans the drive in RAW mode, so it ignores any (previous) operating system(s) and recovers data based on file extension (.doc, .xls, .exe, etc..). It does that by creating a signature for each file extension, which is made up of a Hexadecimal (usually the header) and the offset. It recovered upto 200 of the most popular file extensions which was great but, I need to recover the following files: .rar, .iso, .bin, .cue, etc... So I used WinHex (www.winhex.com (http://www.winhex.com/)) to create a signature for each file extension that I wanted to recover.

I got far more data back using Ontrack EasyRecovery's RAWRecovery than all the other data recovery tools I tried (and I tried loads!).

I find it frustrating that there appears to be no way to backup JUST the $MFT, afterall it's just a database like any other. I really didn't want to have to backup all my data onto another 200GB hard drive, but if there's NO way to backup the $MFT then I have no choice because I do not want to run the risk of this happening again. Granted, it may be impossible to back it up while Windows is running, but there must be a way to back it up at boot-time or as read-only perhaps. Any further suggestions please?

[Cortexian]

I have GetDataBack, probably going to end up using it to recover the really important stuff.

I was just hoping that I could repair or rebuild the MFT instead of formating.

[DrDoom]

There comes a time when we all must say farewell
take a step backward to move two forward

Recover and rebuild.

[Idjiki]

the only other option i've used was Apricorn EZ Gig II to get good access to the hdd's.

You might try that to create a bootable disk
or

Bart's PE
there are probably even utilities you can slipstream into the Bart's PE that can give you better access than Windows can.

Is there any way that you can share your event logs? Even informational events can clue you in to a larger problem so include the whole log from System and Application for as far back as your logs go (hopefully they are not at defaults).

Links added: (I haven't used these apps so I can't say for sure what will work or not or actually make it worse...back-up your system's OS drive first)
http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Best/repair-mbr-mft.html

http://3d2f.com/tags/mft/recovery/tool/

[Cortexian]

The hard drive crashed during the time it wasn't in a computer, between the time I took it out from the one it was in, and put it in this new server. There are no event logs that will indicate what caused the crash.

[Idjiki]

The hard drive crashed during the time it wasn't in a computer, between the time I took it out from the one it was in, and put it in this new server. There are no event logs that will indicate what caused the crash.

c'est la vie

try those tools or just recover and rebuild...