Saving files from a sinking ship.

[Computer_Commando]

Is this a standard response to fixmbr?
Caution
This computer appears to have a non-standard or invalid master boot record,
FIXMBR may damage your partition tales if you proceed.
This could cause all the partitions on the current hard disc to become inaccessible.
If you are not having problems accessing your drive, do not continue.
Are you sure you want to write a new MBR?

No, not a "Standard Response".  However, since you have previously received the message:  "The Volume Appears To Contain One or More Unrecoverable Problems", that's likely what it's referring to.  Since you are having problems, I would continue.  Since it's not working, you have nothing to lose, except maybe the Ubutu boot loader, which you would have to resolve later.  I know nothing about Ubuntu.

[Eddie31]

Fixmbr and fixboot were successful. When I restarted I got this message...

ntldr is missing. press any key to restart.  (have not seen this before)

then after restarting:

pxe-e61 media test failure, check cable       
pxe-m0f:exiting pxe rom
operating system not found.   (had seen this prior to fixmbr and fixboot)

Tried Ubuntu, I can access what is referred to as 18.1 GB media .(properties call it vfat (FAT12)
The items inside are unopenable documents that have what look like word logos. and are called different letters of the alphabet. I tried copying them onto the hard drive and this did not work

My question is.

Are these my work?
If so, what has happened to them?
And can I get them back to normal?

[Eddie31]

Ok. Ive just plugged the hard drive into my home comp. And I can access F, which was giving me the I/O error before. However there is nothing in there. Is it possible that fixmbr or fixboot could have wiped my work? Getting a bit worried now.

[Eddie31]

Update:
Checked properties of F. Used space - 2.93 mb. Free 7.16 mb- so it hasnt wiped everything (or anything?) But why are the contents invisible?

[Computer_Commando]

The Ship is Sunk
You probably lost everything.  Reinstall OS and programs.  Make sure you have all original CD's and/or drivers.
You keep no backups of your work? 
You torpedoed yourself.
I keep triple backups on different media.

[dahlarbear]

If conventional wisdom fails, try TestDisk data recovery.  It can be invoked from different media and different operating systems (including Windows XP).

It is also available within SystemRescueCd.

[Geek-9pm]

FixMBR is not a fix for lost data. It fixes a damaged MBR. Not likely to be the problem.
As patio said, do NOT use a USB adapter. They are wimpy at best.

You want to convert from 2.5 IDE to the standard 3.5 IDE connector. That way you can slave it in your desktop and see what there is to see.

Watch here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNxBiIWBXUM&feature=player_embedded