BSoD, Can't boot windows or access SSD, Want to backup data

[Gynoid-Ari]

Computer is a self built, finished approximately three weeks ago with W10 loaded. The SSD was bought late June. I have a secondary OEM with W7.

Issue: At initial Windows installation, I'd get error 0x8000ffff on splashscreen after restarts. This was a week with the drive, didn't notice it afterwards. Computer bluescreened a week ago after attempting to create a system restore point, restarted, and ceased to boot into Windows. When I'd attempt to boot into Windows, I'd get a black screen with a caret. Couldn't boot into safe mode, either.

One guide suggested using command prompt and an installation disc. Command lines sfc /scannow /offbootdir: d\ /offwindir=c :\ resulted in Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service. Tried sfc /scannow only, got to 100% with the same error. Also tried sfc /scannow /offbootdir: d\ /offwindir=c :\windows. No luck there either.

Someone suggested I create a Linux live disc to mount my drive and backup data so I made one for Ubuntu. Used terminal, Sudo fdisk -l brought up my SSD, but sudo mount -t nfts /dev/sda (there was only one listed partition for my SSD) got me an invalid filesystem error. Also tried sudo mount /dev/sda. They also suggested I open GParted to check for my drive and both the drive and file system sere listed as uallocated. It was later mentioned that attempting to mount the drive may cause data loss, so I moved on.

Someone else then suggested I make a boot disc with a live Windows image. Made disc with Rufus with UEFI partition scheme (can't remember exact working, but it's GPT). Got same aforementioned black screen with caret when booting and tested on my secondary computer. It didn't work there either and I didn't want to risk infecting anything with malware.

So since none of the things suggested so far had worked, someone (a third person) suggested I buy a SATA-USB adapter and transfer manually. The SSD doesn't show up under my list of drives and when going through disk management, it is marked as unallocated, just like in Ubuntu.

Some other things I did include:
>Rechecked for the drive while hooked up into self built (after using the SATA adapter) in command prompt. Undetected. Also undetected in BIOS despite being plugged in and being able to find it before using the adapter.
>Performed a SMART test with CrystalDiskInfo. Came back as healthy/good.
>Tried rebuildinf/fixing MBR, again through command prompt. I realized it did nothing after I found out my computer doesn't even detect the drive.

So what I want to know is if there's even a small chance I could recover all data myself. If it's needed information, I have 2 USBs, and an external HDD if I need to use them.

 

[Colif]

What is Error 0x8000ffff

0x8000ffff is a catastrophic error. It appears when you install new software application or update the windows operating system or back up hard-drive data or using system resources.

Problem ‘n’ Solution
The reasons for error 0x8000ffff are improper system settings, a corrupted registry, unnecessary temporary files or a malware/virus infection. The error 0x8000ffff happens when the OS cannot process user commands due to system parameter conflicts. The error 0x8000ffff may be occurred during routine windows processing.

http://techproblems.org/what-is-error-0x8000ffff/

system restore and reset can lock the drive, I wonder if that is what you have done. Try steps one and three here: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/the-drive-where-windows-is-installed-is-locked

 

[Gynoid-Ari]

http://techproblems.org/what-is-error-0x8000ffff/

system restore and reset can lock the drive, I wonder if that is what you have done. Try steps one and three here: http://www.thewindowsclub.com/the-drive-where-windows-i...

Unfortunately, I realized a bit late that I got the wrong error (I keep pictures or sticky notes of errors when possible). It was actually 0xc000009a. I'm not sure how much that changes the situation but it's definitely a lesson in keeping documentation close by..

I can't boot into Windows and the listed options aren't applicable. My drive isn't listed in diskpart. Though, I did realize that the drive wasn't listed in BIOS because I didn't have the SATA cable all the way in, but I think this also means anything I'd done in command prompt before is basically null.

 

[Colif]

"Windows failed fast startup with error status 0xC000009A."

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/d5a966d6-9375-4d7c-b00e-08c7ad60e8f8/windows-failed-fast-startup-with-error-status-0xc000009a?forum=win10itprogeneral

I am not sure its much better Also not sure how to fix it... not seen a failed fast start up error before.

Have you got the latest bios? what are specs of the PC?

All the options on that other link require you to have a win 10 installer to use as boot disc, they all part of advanced start up: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanced-startup-options-boot-windows-10-a.html

 

[Gynoid-Ari]

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/d5a96...

I am not sure its much better Also not sure how to fix it... not seen a failed fast start up error before.

Have you got the latest bios? what are specs of the PC?

All the options on that other link require you to have a win 10 installer to use as boot disc, they all part of advanced start up: http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanced-startu...

Yes. I don't know entirely what's relevant:
Gigabyte G1 Z170XP-SLI
Samsung 850 Series Evo 250GB
Some random Toshiba HDD (I never paid attention to the name)
Intel 6600k
16GB HyperX

I understand how to use the installation disk and I looked at the first linked guide again and my drive is only listed as one partition but also as completely free space.

Here's a photo:
http://i.imgur.com/fJkjQdf.jpg

 

[Colif]

SSD = drive 0 (I recognise that free space figure), so are other 3 partitions the hdd?

It seems all your data is gone, it appears blank to both windows and linux. I don't understand how it just vanished though. SSD lost 4 partitions? something strange going on there

You can try this: http://www.easeus.com/data-recovery/other-recovery-software/SSD-drive-recovery.htm

Most data recovery options aren't as cheap though: https://recoverhdd.com/blog/recovering-data-from-failed-samsung-evo-ssds.html

what I have done for years now is have all my library folders and anything i don't want to lose on a 2nd hdd and only have win 10 and things that I would need to reinstall anyway if I install win 10 again on the C drive itself. That way I don't lose everything in a crash. You have 2 drives, you should do the same in future.

I had 3 hard drives die in quick succession 14 years or so ago, I never forget to have backups somewhere. its easier now with cloud servers, have all my music uploaded to onedrive, that is a worry off my back as for last 15 years I always worried about losing it. Its all on a USB stick too now.

Just as well you weren't running RAID

I hate how half the fixes to this are to dl some software that i don't know and what it will do to "fix" this. most rely on windows working anyway.

 

[Colif]

GPT drives appear to MBR booting methods to be 1 big partition... I wonder. what boot method is your Bios set to? Is it Legacy or UEFI?

I wonder if its not blank at all but your PC set to legacy boot for some reason and cannot see the contents of the GPT drive.

But then I think linux can access GPT drives. Its why its normally a good way to recover data off them if windows fails...

Sorry, thinking out loud

I think problem might be the SSD itself.

 

[Gynoid-Ari]

SSD = drive 0 (I recognise that free space figure), so are other 3 partitions the hdd?

It seems all your data is gone, it appears blank to both windows and linux. I don't understand how it just vanished though. SSD lost 4 partitions? something strange going on there

You can try this: http://www.easeus.com/data-recovery/other-recovery-software/SSD-drive-recovery.htm

Most data recovery options aren't as cheap though: https://recoverhdd.com/blog/recovering-data-from-failed-samsung-evo-ssds.html

what I have done for years now is have all my library folders and anything i don't want to lose on a 2nd hdd and only have win 10 and things that I would need to reinstall anyway if I install win 10 again on the C drive itself. That way I don't lose everything in a crash. You have 2 drives, you should do the same in future.

I had 3 hard drives die in quick succession 14 years or so ago, I never forget to have backups somewhere. its easier now with cloud servers, have all my music uploaded to onedrive, that is a worry off my back as for last 15 years I always worried about losing it. Its all on a USB stick too now.

Just as well you weren't running RAID

I hate how half the fixes to this are to dl some software that i don't know and what it will do to "fix" this. most rely on windows working anyway.

Thanks for this! I got a lot of my files back. Problem is just trying to parse through all the stuff I don't need..