pls help: mft corrupt; chkdsk aborted: how can I get back my data?

Question

I've got 3 partitions on my 250GB Maxtor HD (C: programs; D: + E: personal data).
when I upgraded my computer with some more RAM, it got a bit 'hicky' (wouldn't start properly and so on), until it wouldn't start at all. After reinstalling WindowsXP on a second HD, I tried to save my data (D:) still with the new RAM in. But this messed up my computer totally. Since then I have no access at all on D:. When starting the computer it wants to run chkdsk, but without success ('chkdsk aborted').

--> How can I get my data back?
--> Where can I find the second MFT on my disk?
--> How can I copy the 'good' MFT at the place of the bad one?
--> Is there any program out there that could help me (I wouldn't mind a free one)?
--> Am I right, that it was the RAM's fault (not writing back correctly all the datas)?

Thanks for any suggestion

Answer 1

Hey there. Anytime you add RAM, you have to put it in, take it out and put it in again. Restart computer and check to see how it's running. You ususally have to reseat the RAM several times before it will take properly. Been there, done that soooo many times. Just take the new RAM out and reinsert it. Do this several times until your compute is rocking. You may think it's in there fine but if it were you wouldn't be having these problems. Trust me. Just be patient and keep doing this. If it doesn't work in 6 or 7 tries, then you've probally let static electricity get on the RAM chips, rendering them uselesss. Be sure to put one hand on the metal casing of the tower when handling anything inside your computer. Basic. Good Luck :-)

Answer 2

Put back the former RAM modules, and restart, it may very well be that you have a problem with the upgrade RAM and therefor doesn´t complete the BIOS as it should. Pc´s can react strange to wrong configurations.You may need a BIOS update to be able to use the new RAM modules.