Do you know the procedure required to recover the image saved with Carbonite? If so then you can use that to recover to the point of the last image you created. If it is similar to Acronis True Image you should have been prompted to create an emergency recovery disk, then use that to initiate the recovery of the full image.

When you saw "C drive NONE" were you in any kind of Windows or was this a black DOS type screen during the startup process? Did you get a POST beep as the computer attempted to start?

Your second hard drive does not need an operating system, it is just an extension of your storage capablilities.

Remember, you can always borrow a Windows XP CD and install from it. BEING SURE to use the product key stuck to the side of your computer tower, NOT the one that came with a CD you may have to borrow. This is perfectly legal and acceptable, your product key is tied to the motherboard in that computer.

Thanks for replying Owbist, I leave my PC on about 99% of the time, it was fine the night before, but the black dos screen was there the next morning. I do get the post beep when I try to start it.

I was not prompted to make a recovery disk when I started with Carbonite I hope I remember my password. I am fanatical about making recovery discs etc and would have made one if I had been prompted to do so. I did receive an email from Carbonite that my pc has not been backed up for 2 weeks.

I do have access to an XP disk and will try that with my key number, it will take a day or so before I can get it.

Sidnee

you should be able to contact carbonite and talk to them about your problem they will help you in how to take steps to use the carbonite recovery, you are paying for that service so take advantage of it.

if you end up not able to do anything to save your data I would try putting in a linux live cd and boot directly from the cd and try to save the data off the pc.

Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer
Geek to Live: Rescue files with a boot CD

there are other tutorials out there if you google it

Sidney I made reference to using another XP CD in case total disaster overcame you and the computer. Using this method you lose everything on the computer but it remains an option if all else fails.

Of course if you require an emergency CD to start Carbonite then wiping using another XP CD then installing Carbonite, then restore the backup you have created would work. Long way round but at times we have to do what we have to do. Either way you seem to have all your data safely saved. As Raven notes, contacting Carbonite might be very beneficial.

Such as antivirus, Malware, Zone Alarm, etc?

What good is the Carbonite back up if I lose everything, what I mean to say is, I have to re-install everything? That will take forever.

Can you tell I am confused? I thought I would be able to install over what I had previously installed on the PC. Do you think I am missing something?

I wish there was a way that I could check the hard drive to see if it is faulty, before going into all of the re-installation of all of the programs and such.

Sidnee

OK let's see if we can clear up any confusion.

First, you can check your hard drive. Go here to see a howto on the subject. The manual procedure is quite painless.

If you can use your Carbonite backup to restore your computer you will get everything on the computer up to the dat of the backup - or what ever you instructed Carbonite to take care of.

If you have to use another XP CD to install Windows you definitely lose everything if you wipe the drive. But as I said, this was a last resort answer in your situation.

You could try having your computer tested at PC Pitstop, be sure to run the full set of tests. After completing the test click on each item listed for a fuller explanation and manual method to fix, you do not have to pay but be sure you do not click where money is mentioned.

Owbist, I can not run any of these diagnostics, my PC will go no further than the DOS screen, I am using my sons girlfriend's laptop.

I guess in my attempts to gain some valuable information I forgot to mention it. Sorry to be misleading.

Sid

I recently lost the hard drive on my computer. I had made recovery disks when I first bought the computer and had made backups of all my documents, pictures, music etc. shortly before this happened. If I had had Acronis or some other system that clones the entire drive, I would have had a much easier time. As it was, once I removed the dead drive and installed a new one, I used the recovery disks to reinstall the operating system back to 2002. That meant I had many updates to do over. Fortunately, I had a SP2 disk from MS, so I used that and then over a period of about a week I installed all the more recent updates. Yes, I had to reinstall all my programs, that can't be avoided, but it was not an impossible task. I now have Acronis True Image and have a complete backup on an external hard drive, so if catastrophe strikes again, the job will be much less painful.

If Carbonite does include the operating system, your job should not be difficult at all. Get a new hard drive, install it, and go to work. Good luck!