Boot Issues 1

[Shindel]

So I tried to dual boot my computer with windows 95 so I can play an old DOS game that I cannot on Windows XP. When I did not fully finish the processes (due to not having all of the materials) I tried to boot up my computer with Windows XP I get this message :

"Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press any key"

When I used the Recovery Tool from the Windows XP and tried DIR threw the C: nuthing comes up.

I @ssume that my boot record or MBR is messed up and all I need is a boot disk for Windows XP. Am I wrong or am I going to have to reinstall Windows XP. PLEASE HELP. I dont have any back up of my data and have lots of data!!!

But I have Windows XP, not pro!

 

[linney]

Attempting to install 95 after you have XP already installed results in the XP boot files being overwritten on your C: drive. These will have to be recreated. See if you can recreate it with the Bootcfg command from the Recover Console.

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

A Discussion About the Bootcfg Command and Its Uses

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q291/9/80.asp

HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP(Q305595)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP (Q314079)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/79.asp

The booting process.

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=3952

To find the above article from the sites main page you have to click on their link called "To go to the article, click here".

also see this one.

http://www.devhood.com/tutorials/tutorial_details.aspx?tutorial_id=313

Multibooting with Windows XP

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/multiboot.mspx

How To Create a Multiple-Boot System in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306559&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Reviewing and Correcting Boot.ini Settings on x86-based Systems

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...Windows/XP/all/reskit/en-us/prmc_str_masc.asp

HOW TO: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP (Q289022)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q289/0/22.asp

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[wolluf]

Bit more info would be helpful (assuming you've not sorted it with linney's catalogue).

How did you 'try' to set up dual boot? Win95 will only install on fat/fat32 (OSR2 or later) - so presumably you have a fat32 partition. Did you try to install into XP partition or elsewhere?. If into XP partition, then you'll need to boot into recovery console (see linney's link) and from the command prompt, type fixboot. Type exit to reboot, and XP should load.

 

[Shindel]

Thanks for all the information and help!!!

I did already have WinXP installed and unfortanally I was not able to select what drive Win95 was being installed to! I did however try the fixboot command and that did not work. I asked my instructor at school and he said I have reformat and he is a computer technition. So if reformating is my only solution, is it possible to recover my data with any 3rd party program. I do have a extra 40gig HD with nuthing installed on to it, so if it helps, I can put XP on that one and try to do something!!!

Any suggestions???

 

[wolluf]

again - more info please!

How did you do the 95 install? Did you try to install it directly onto current XP drive (without partitioning/formatting?) If this is the case, then all your data is still there (although I'm a bit surprised fixboot didn't work, if this is the case). To access this data, just slave the drive in another machine. Or try linney's repair reinstall link:-

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

(if the XP installation is still there, this should reinstate it).

If you have partitioned/formatted the drive before starting 95 install (again - if this is case, was it ntfs before or fat32), then to recover data you'll need to slave the drive to another machine (don't do anything that writes data to the drive) and use a data recovery app (GetDataBack is generally pretty good - but not free - in this situation, not sure if any free ones will work).

 

[electronicsfreak]

This may or might not help and might have been included in one of linneys links. Im not sure so im going to post it just in case. Load in recovery mode and run sfc/scannow and see if that helps.

 

[wolluf]

electronicsfreak - you're obsessed with sfc /scannow!!

Its totally irrelevant to this situation because:-

1. Shindel can't boot into XP at all currently (it only runs in windows, not in recovery mode).

2. Its function is to check (and replace if necessary) system files. Shindel is interested in recovering data.

 

[linney]

Is your hard drive being seen in the Bios?



Data recovery.

PC Inspector

http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

Plenty of other recovery software listed here.

http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Disk_Management/Error_Checking_and_Repair/

http://www.restorer2000.com

http://www.runtime.org/hints.htm

You might be able to make use of BartPE (a mini XP self contained on a bootable CD and run from CD).

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

The same might be possible with a parallel install of XP to your spare drive.

266465 - HOW TO: Perform a Parallel Installation of Windows 2000

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;266465&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

You can do the same with XP. Don't install any unnecessary programs just some virus scanners, keep the parallel installation as simple as possible while you try to save data from the other drive.

Or the paragraph in this article.

"To install Windows XP to a new folder (to perform a parallel installation):"

How to install or upgrade to Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

If it all gets too much there is always repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files and programs will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP (Q308421)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/4/21.asp

 

[Shindel]

Ok, I got it to boot up now!!!

I had to install a driver for windows to be able to recgonize my SATA then I did fixboot and fixmbr.

But I can not connect to the internet now. I have a wifi-b card for my sk8v motherboard from Asus. I have a feeling something is corrupted for my network settings. I also tried to plug in a cable to my computer to see if it is my wireless settings but I still am not connected. Any help would be appreciated.

Thank for all the help everyone gave me!!!

 

[linney]

WinXP Connectivity Issues
faq779-4625

How to troubleshoot wireless network connections in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313242/EN-US/?FR=1

How to troubleshoot TCP/IP connectivity with Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=314067

How to troubleshoot network connectivity problems

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325487&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

How to determine and recover from Winsock2 corruption

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811259

 

[Shindel]

linney you are my friend a life saver!!! Thank for all you help threw my idiotic event. I am in your dept. I however dont have time to try and fix this at the moment, but I will as soon as I get time. Thank you very much!!!!

 

[linney]

Any time. Your welcome.

 

[Shindel]

Well the reseting of the winstock does not work for my internet connection issues. I am just prolly just going to try to install windows over its self or just reformat. Im at school currently and will probably do it tonite or wednesday night. So if any other suggestions comes up, that would be great to try instead of installing everything all over again.

Thanks for all your help guys!!!1 Been a huge help!

 

[linney]

Do you have a Router?

Router won't let me connect to internet
thread779-1057496

assigning an ip address
thread779-1114812

Did you run the Network Diagnostics from the Help and Support program?

Were there any clues in your Event Viewer?

If the Registry is hopelessly corrupted and you have no recent backups a re-install may be the only solution.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

After that lot it is time to save valuable data and start from scratch with a format and clean install.

 

[Shindel]

Ok I did a reinstall or repair and everything works out fine now. But it is just WAY too slow. I am just going to reformat my HD and start fresh!!!

Thank for all the help. It is much appreciated!

 

[Netherwolf]

In the future, you have two options.

1. Install Win95 (You don't have 98SE??) on the first partition of the primary hard drive. Install Windows XP Pro afterwards on another partition/drive.

2. VDMSound. Try it. You'll like it.

-NW