Help! How to Retrieve Files From Unreadable Partition

[spidey]

HELP PLEASE!!

I got 2 partitions C and D. C: is my main drive. Both have OS installed.

A week ago, C: is not starting up. Since then, I'm using D:. When I was trying to retrieve a file stored in C:, a message appeared saying C is not formatted and asked if I want to format it now. I also tried to explore Drive C but same message appears after hanging for some seconds.

HELP, I think my C: got damaged. Is there any way I can RETRIEVE files from that drive? I got tons of important files saved there. My friend suggests Partition Magic. I just don't know if it would work.

Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you.

[sparkax]

What OS is installed on C and on D ?

[Adamsappleone]

Try this tool, it may help;

http://download.cnet.com/Recuva/3000-2242_4-10753287.html

[spidey]

@sparkax
Both have Windows XP as their OS.

[spidey]

@Adamsappleone
I tried Recuva. It displays files I'm not familiar with. Maybe these files are just leftover from damaged drive. I don't know. It does not display my documents, media and other files.
I really need help. Feels like I lost a quarter of my life.

[Adamsappleone]

See if this will help;

http://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/fix-mbr-xp-vista/

[Bob_180_Bob]

Hi,
Try all that has been offered but if you have no success, install a new drive and put you old drive in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours. Then install it as a slave drive and try to copy the info off it then. This works most times but the drive will fail again as soon as it gets warm.

[sparkax]

Do you have the XP installation disk ?