Winblows 98 file system is messed up by Partition Magic 5.0 - HELP!

[Voland]

A couple of days ago, I created an NTFS partition and I installed Win2K on it by booting from the Win2K cd. Win2k works, but now my older Windows 98 FAT32 partition doesn't work. When I select (in NT loader) to boot from it, it says "Inavlid System Disk." I booted into Win2k and looked at the FAT32 Windows 98 partition. It has two new folders: FOUND.000 and FOUND.001 each containing about 9000 recovered file fragments. Look like no good. The folders that were on that partition seem to be still there, but now they are files, and I can't open/browse them. So looks like, PM messed up the file system.
Well, if any one has ny suggestion here, PLEASE let me know. I have some valuable data I need on my FAT32 partition, which I would like to recover.
Let me know, if you need more details.

 

[The Stigenator]

try lost and found on that parititon.. might recover something.. but otherwise I think you are screwed.

 

[bonkers325]

if nothing important just nuke it dude
dont go through all the trouble
and one more thing shouldnt u have backed up your stuff before u try to screw around with your harddrive

 

[medic]

From your post I take it there is nothing important on the W2K partition?
I would first try to recover any data I could on the FAT32 partition...try:
Lost & Found like T.G.G mentioned.
or:
Directory Snoop an excellent recovery tool that is shareware but completely functional.

After you try those out, or you have given up there are a few other things you can try...
Those FOUND.000 and FOUND.001 files may be caused by a messed up PM operation or MBR/FAT and as a result Scandisk or Chkdsk was run. When Chkdsk for example runs and finds lost clusters (allocation units) or cross-linked files, (which in some cases will modify the FAT) you will get a prompt that says something like "XXX lost allocation units found...convert lost chains to files?" When you choose Y, it will search the FAT/disk for the proper folder and if the FAT is damaged or the folder is missing then CHKDSK will save each chain as FOUND.000 and in your case it found two X amount of lost clusters in TWO different chains and saved two FOUND.XXX folders.
You should be able to read the FOUND files with a text editor to see if anything can be saved.
The "Invalid System Disk" message isn't surprising now as it usually occurs because of a damaged FAT/MBR or command.com is missing or damaged.
If you have tried all the recovery programs, and you only want to try to boot to C: (W98) again, you could try a FDISK /MBR on the W98 partition or even booting with a W98 disk and running sys c: (DO this only if your W2K partition isn't important, as it could easily screw your ability to get back to W2K)

 

[Atomicman]

FORMAT ALL AND REINSTALL

 

[squirrel dog]

Thats the magic part,win98 disappeared!It sucks,I know.You can tinker around with Part.Magic some more,in hopes of restoral,or you can cut to the chase and do a format/reinstall.

 

[Dameon]

Welcome to ScrewedVille....

Population: You

Have a nice day!

 

[Voland]

Thanks for the feedback. I now see how people become Senior and Platinum members - if you don't have anything useful to say, then there is no need to post. Thanks to CRV and the good guy. I will try those programs and see if anything helps. My win2k partition is not rthat important, so if nothing works, i will reformat FAt32 parttiton and reinstall 98 then do a repair of win2k.