Bad Boot Sector error!!!! HELP!!!!

[Thyezer]

I was trying to merge my C & D drives together using PartionMagic, WITHOUT first making a backup.(I KNOW, IKNOW)
Upon completion..... I cannot boot my laptop. I have tried to repair with XP PRO disk, but I don't know what to do? How do I access my folders and possibly save some of my smaller files to disk...or onto the network?

Please help!!!!

 

[gpalmer711]

Using your WINXP cd start the recovery console, check out

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314058&Product=winxp

for details and check out the Fixboot and fixmbr commands. They should see you right.

Greg Palmer

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Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[Thyezer]

The actual error I am receiving is:

I/O error accessing boot sector file
multi(0)disk(0)partition(1)\BOOTSECT.DOS

 

[flyingwolf23]

in your boot.ini file your laptop is looking for boot information in your d drive as referenced by the "partitio(1)" reference in your boot.ini. Well since there is no longer a d partition there is nothing there to boot into. However i wonder why your os was on the d drive. Anywho the above suggestion of the recovery consol should get you going. Just wanted to let you know why this had happened.

Semper Fi

http://www.jnatek.kicks-ass.net

 

[Thyezer]

I checked C:\> type boot.ini and it came up with
[boot loader]
timeout 30
default=C:[operating systems]

What exactly does this tell me?

 

[flyingwolf23]

[boot loader]
timeout = 60
default = multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Microsoft Windows XP Professional New" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS1 = "Microsoft Windows XP Professional Old" /fastdetect

Is mine. as you can see i dual boot xp pro.one is located at c:\windows and the other is located at c:\windows1. I belive that if you modify that file to...

[boot loader]
timeout 30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS = "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

that you should be able to boot into your xp install. However im not absolutly certain that will work or if that is a totaly off the wall idea. Im sure others will let you know wether you should do that or not. Please wait for them. I had a simalar problem as you and that is what i ended up having to do was replace my boot.ini file. I HTH

Semper Fi

http://www.jnatek.kicks-ass.net

 

[gpalmer711]

thyzer,
If you follow the instructions I gave then it will scan your computer and rebuild the Boot.ini file.

If you insist on editing your boot.ini file the the following ( as discussed by flyingwolf) ahould hopefully work.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

Greg Palmer

----------------------------------------
Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[Thyezer]

gpalmer.....I did try all the things you recommended....I looked over the microsoft reference...and tried ther options...but when I boot up it goes to a black screen and gives me two options to boot to (i only have one OS). Both options when selected...come up with the error I have shown previously.

Gpalmer...I appreciate your help but might need a little more hand holding on this one! I don't quite understand what to do and not to do when dealing with the recovery DOS commands.

Thanks in advance!

 

[gpalmer711]

Thyezer, To start the Recovery Console insert the Windows XP installation CD and then Switch your Computer on. Allow the computer to boot into the Windows XP Setup. When The Welcome to Setup Screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.

This will boot your computer to what appears to be a dos prompt.

It will prompt your for the administrator password. This is likely to be blank, unless you have specifically changed it.

After entering you correct password type the following.

Fixboot c:

It should do it's work, when finished remove the CD from the drive and restart your machine.

This should have solved your problem, if not then let us know. You may need to enter the recovery console again and use the fixmbr command.

Greg Palmer

----------------------------------------
Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[Thyezer]

my machine is not prompting me for any password?
I tried the fixboot and it says it completed it...but I am continuing to get the same error.

 

[gpalmer711]

Ok repeat the process but this time type

Fixmbr

when that is completed type

fixboot c:

Greg Palmer

----------------------------------------
Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[Thyezer]

After the fixboot...
I now at reboot get:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

Can I get this file from the XP CD?

How do I add that to my computer from the recovery program?

 

[gpalmer711]

One more thing to try, again in the recovery console type

bootcfg /rebuild

For official MS word on this matter take a look at

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;330184&Product=winxp

Greg Palmer

----------------------------------------
Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[Thyezer]

tried bootcfg /rebuild

Error: Failed to sucessfully scan disks for windows installtions. This error may be caused by a corupt file system, which would prevent Bootcfg from successfully scanning. Use chkdsk to detect any disk errors.


I tried chkdsk /p

NO ERRORS Found!!!!

Any ideas from here....

 

[gpalmer711]

Did you create the Partition Magic Recovery Disks?

Try chkdsk c: /p /r[/]

Greg Palmer

----------------------------------------
Any feed back is appreciated.

 

[Thyezer]

No!!! No recovery disks made. I had just done a full system backup to dvd...but that dvd was destroyed (thrown in trash and burned). If i didn't have bad luck...i wouldn't have any luck at all!!!

Tried chkdsk c: /p /r[/]

finished
no errors found

 

[Freestone]

What does your boot.ini file look like now?

 

[SYAR2003]

My idea what happend is :
Partition magic didn't finish (fact).
The partition table was wasted .
PM sets the partition type to pqrp .
Before running merge partitions you should
Disable virus or boot sector protection
in your computer’s BIOS
PartitionMagic is unable to write to/read from that specific sector on the hard disk.

For Xp use PArtition Magic 8 .
You can install PM8 at another computer
and make the rescue disks from there .
Start with partinfo.

Then you can run

 

[Thyezer]

I am so sorry for not pointing this out earlier....
My system was set up with the D: as the boot drive and my C: as a system drive. I don't know if that makes a difference?

I am trying the PM8 rescue disks now that I am at home...I have PM8 installed here too. Will there be a problem with using these disks made from my home computer with drives C; as boot drive and D: as system? I mean...my laptop was configured wrong in the first place...that was why I attempted to merge the 2 local drives together on it.
(ONE HD)LAPTOP: D: drive = Boot
C: drive = system

(ONE HD)HOME: Crive = Boot
D:drive = System

Can I use the rescue disks that were created on the properly formatted HOME computer on the LAPTOP?

 

[SYAR2003]

Use the partinfo program to examine the
partition(s) ,and ptedit to examine the partition tables.
Doesn't matter where the disks was made.

You can aslo use the pqboot program to
alter part attributes like active/hidden etc.
The boot partition shold be &quot;active&quot; .

SYAR