zero-length partition?

[gsar...@my-deja.com]

My PC was rebooted due to power failure. Now when I rebbot I am getting
following error:

Checking filesystems
Could this be a zero-length partition?
fsck.ext2: Attempt to read block from filesystem resulted
in short read while trying to open /dev/hdb1

*** An error occured during the filesystem check.
*** Dropping you to a shell; the system will reboot
*** when you leave the shell.
Give root password for maintenance

I searched thru various posts on the web and tried to do following
things as a root but none of them seem to work.

# cfdisk hdb
# fdisk /dev/hdb
# fsck /dev/hdb1
# e2fsck /dev/hdb1
# e2fsck -b 8193 /dev/hdb1

Now I have commented out mount entry from /etc/fstab for /dev/hdb1 and
computer boots fine but I need second disk 'cause all my data is on the
that disk.

This computer is running RedHat 7.0 (I upgraded from Redhat 6.2) and
dual-boot with Windows98. Kernel version is 2.2.16-22.

Since my computer can also boot in windows I installed 'Explore2fs' in
windows. I can see all my data on /dev/hdb1 (failed drive).

I can re-install Linux (and Windows98) if required as long as my data
can be safe on the second drive.

Please help. Thanks in advance.

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Before you buy.

[Stefan Talkenberg]

> *** An error occured during the filesystem check.
> *** Dropping you to a shell; the system will reboot
> *** when you leave the shell.
> Give root password for maintenance
>
> I searched thru various posts on the web and tried to do following
> things as a root but none of them seem to work.
>

> # e2fsck -b 8193 /dev/hdb1
>
> Now I have commented out mount entry from /etc/fstab for /dev/hdb1 and
> computer boots fine but I need second disk 'cause all my data is on the
> that disk.

Similar to my prob, could yo notify me if you got a solution?