Cannot access system disk after using MyDefrag

[Lucretia]

Hello,

I have used MyDefrag following recommendations at http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-disk-de-fragmenter.htm.

I did run it on Win 7 64-bit in my main HDD and used the monthly system disk defrag option on the system disk with a Win XP 32-bit system on it that I had mounted in an ultrabay slot. Afterwards, I tried that disk in my main HDD slot and it did not boot. However, it worked still fine as an external/ultrabay HDD until this morning. When I booted my Win 7 system, it detected data corruption on the Win XP 32-bit partition and ran a fix. After this fix, I cannot access that anymore.

Please help me troubleshooting this.

Many thanks!

[Darlis]

The disk could be damaged. You can use CrytalDiskInfo to check the SMART status and HDTune to scan for bad sectors.
TestDisk is a good tool for data recovery.

[Lucretia]

I have now checked the HDD in an external USB drive and both CrystalDiskInfo and HD Tune report no errors.

See below:
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/193/crystaldiskinfohitachi1.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/835/hdtunehitachi100gb.jpg/

[Darlis]

CrystalDiskInfo recognizes two partitions on that drive but you say that you can't access them? Maybe it's a problem with privileges?

[Lucretia]

I cannot access the first partition (here F:) after I formatted that system partition with MyDefrag. In the beginning I could still access it as a non-booting partition but after Windows 7 during start up automatically recognised and addressed some problems with that partition I cannot access it all except when using a LINUX-based live rescue CD-ROM.

Any ideas how I can fix this?

ps: What do you mean by "privileges"?

[Darlis]

I cannot access the first partition (here F:) after I formatted that system partition with MyDefrag.

"Formatting" and "defragmenting" are totally different operations. You cannot format a volume with MyDefrag.
Why can't you access f:? Can't you see the volume? Is there an error message?

ps: What do you mean by "privileges"?

You need certain privileges to access data. When running MyDefrag for example you'll get a dialog asking you to give MyDefrag admin privileges (if not, you've disabled UAC). When Window applied that "fix", it's possible that it has removed "you" from the users that are allowed to access that volume. That would explain why you can still access the volume under Linux (Linux gives a dawn about NFTS user rights).

[Lucretia]

I defragmented it. Sorry!

I can see the volume but I get an error message when I try to access it (click link for picture).

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/585/computerh.jpg/

I ran MyDefrag with admin rights and before the defragmentation no access restrictions applied to the partition.

[Darlis]

Do a right-click on the volume, goto Properties and select the Security tab. You should see your user name in the list. If not, add it. If still can't access it, take over the ownership of the volume (same dialog).

[Lucretia]

I can now access it from my friends computer while being in the external HDD caddy but will it boot when I put it back into my old computer?

Thank you for your help so far!

[Darlis]

I don't know if it'll boot. Maybe you'll have to repair the MBR or set the volume as active. Depends on the error message you get.

[Lucretia]

I have rewritten the MBR with the MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable CD 7.0 and booting works fine now.
http://www.partitionwizard.com/partition-wizard-bootable-cd.html

Once again, thank you for your help!