Deleted boot partition help

mfield

I'm after deleting the boot partition on my XP PC HD.

I have taken the HD out and all files are there. Is there anyway I can re-instate the boot partition without having to do a fresh install? Any help would be great!

m.

Dartz

mfield wrote: »

I'm after deleting the boot partition on my XP PC HD.

I have taken the HD out and all files are there. Is there anyway I can re-instate the boot partition without having to do a fresh install? Any help would be great!

m.

Do you have an XP install CD? If so, just put that in and do a fixboot.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/bootcons_fixboot.mspx?mfr=true

No CD?

Download http://www.xubuntu.org.
Burn to a live CD. Boot the system from that and transfer your files across to an external HDD. That'll save your files anyway.

mfield

Dartz wrote: »

Do you have an XP install CD? If so, just put that in and do a fixboot.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/bootcons_fixboot.mspx?mfr=true

No CD?

Download http://www.xubuntu.org.
Burn to a live CD. Boot the system from that and transfer your files across to an external HDD. That'll save your files anyway.

I have an XP CD but it won't allow me to repair.

5uspect

If you skip past the recovery console option there is also the option to do a repair install in the OS install screen. This should get your system back on its legs.

Obviously back up your data first, just in case.

Fysh

mfield wrote: »

I have an XP CD but it won't allow me to repair.

What happens when you try to get at the recovery console?

mfield

5uspect wrote: »

If you skip past the recovery console option there is also the option to do a repair install in the OS install screen. This should get your system back on its legs.

Obviously back up your data first, just in case.

Thanks 5uspect but the option to repair is not listed to recover on OS install screen

Fysh

mfield wrote: »

Thanks 5uspect but the option to repair is not listed to recover on OS install screen

The repair installation option is kind of hidden - you have to go through the normal installation route instead of the recovery console path. The installer should check your hard drive for any existing installations and then offers the repair install.

5uspect

^what he said.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

cpu-dude

mfield wrote:

I'm after deleting the boot partition on my XP PC HD.

I have taken the HD out and all files are there. Is there anyway I can re-instate the boot partition without having to do a fresh install?

1 - Insert CD and Boot to the XP Installation (see below)



2 - Press R for the Recovery Console

3 - Select your Windows (press 1 and Enter), type in the Admin password (usually blank) and press Enter.

4 - Type FIXBOOT and press Enter, then press Y to confirm.



5 - Type FIXMBR and press Enter, then press Y to confirm.

6 _ Type EXIT and the PC will restart (don't forget to remove the CD).

mfield

cpu-dude wrote: »

1 - Insert CD and Boot to the XP Installation (see below)



2 - Press R for the Recovery Console

3 - Select your Windows (press 1 and Enter), type in the Admin password (usually blank) and press Enter.

4 - Type FIXBOOT and press Enter, then press Y to confirm.



5 - Type FIXMBR and press Enter, then press Y to confirm.

6 _ Type EXIT and the PC will restart (don't forget to remove the CD).

Thanks for that CPU, I did all that but when the PC rebooted it is saying -

NTLDR is missing
Press any key to restart

cpu-dude

mfield wrote: »

Thanks for that CPU, I did all that but when the PC rebooted it is saying -

NTLDR is missing
Press any key to restart

How many partitions have you on your computer? You need to do a FIXBOOT and FIXMBR pointed to the correct drive (if it's not C:, you run FIXBOOT or E: etc.).

mfield

cpu-dude wrote: »

How many partitions have you on your computer? You need to do a FIXBOOT and FIXMBR pointed to the correct drive (if it's not C:, you run FIXBOOT or E: etc.).

I only have one partition, although there are some small partitions that came pre-installed from dell such as diagnostics but the windows directory is in C:

Fysh

mfield wrote: »

I only have one partition, although there are some small partitions that came pre-installed from dell such as diagnostics but the windows directory is in C:

If you're missing ntldr you should be able to fix it from the recovery console - you can copy ntldr and ntdetect from the i386 folder on your windows install disc to the root of your hard drive. Reboot and that should sort it - if you need the exact command go to support.microsoft.com and search for "ntldr missing windows xp", the relevant support article should be listed then

cpu-dude

Fysh wrote: »

If you're missing ntldr you should be able to fix it from the recovery console - you can copy ntldr and ntdetect from the i386 folder on your windows install disc to the root of your hard drive. Reboot and that should sort it - if you need the exact command go to support.microsoft.com and search for "ntldr missing windows xp", the relevant support article should be listed then

I know the error says it's missing but it's just the first file it detects missing, I believe the MBR is pointed to the wrong partition.

If you run a Windows Repair Install, it should sort the problem out.

mfield

Thanks so far lads - we'll get there, I hope

Anywho, I have booted into install XP and there are four partitions

which has windows installed on it.

C: which is 8mb and is unknown file format

F: which is 3585mb and is FAT32

and then there is Partition 1, which has no drive letter, is FAT and 55mb

I am also not getting an option to repair.

The only options I get are to set up XP, create a partition to delete a partition.

Total confusement!

cpu-dude

mfield wrote: »

Thanks so far lads - we'll get there, I hope

Anywho, I have booted into install XP and there are four partitions

which has windows installed on it.

C: which is 8mb and is unknown file format

F: which is 3585mb and is FAT32

and then there is Partition 1, which has no drive letter, is FAT and 55mb

I am also not getting an option to repair.

The only options I get are to set up XP, create a partition to delete a partition.

Total confusement!

Ok, you need to repeat my original steps but run FIXBOOT and FIXMBR instead.

Gavin Cotter

Just something I spotted cpu dude.
You don't need to run that fixmbr program at all.That's only needed on the primary hard drive, not an system partition.I'm not correcting your or anything, just making you aware of it's usage.

mfield

cpu-dude wrote: »

Ok, you need to repeat my original steps but run FIXBOOT and FIXMBR instead.

Many thanks for this cpu, I'll have a go at this in the morning and let you know how I get on!

mfield

cpu-dude wrote: »

Ok, you need to repeat my original steps but run FIXBOOT and FIXMBR instead.

Still getting the same error

NTLDR is missing
Press any key to restart

cpu-dude

mfield wrote: »

Still getting the same error

NTLDR is missing
Press any key to restart

What is on this F: Partition?

mfield

cpu-dude wrote: »

What is on this F: Partition?

I dunno, but to put you in the picture.


The reason all this happened is because I booted up to a Windows 98 boot disk and went into fdisk because I wanted to format an external drive.

I selected create DOS partition and created as primary partition.

I obviously did this to the wrong drive and when I rebooted the machine, all this crap started.

Yes, I am an idiot

cpu-dude

mfield wrote: »

I dunno, but to put you in the picture.


The reason all this happened is because I booted up to a Windows 98 boot disk and went into fdisk because I wanted to format an external drive.

I selected create DOS partition and created as primary partition.

I obviously did this to the wrong drive and when I rebooted the machine, all this crap started.

Yes, I am an idiot

Now that bit of information would have been nice at the start

It's very possible you formatted your XP partition, FDISK is an outdated awkward little bugger.

Most likely it wouldn't detect the USB external drive because well, it's the Windows 98 Boot Disk.

When you run the XP install CD, how much free space do the partitions have?

mfield

I dunno how to screen grab, but here's whate comes up


-: Partition1 [FAT] 55MB (47MB free)
Partition2 [NTFS] 72638MB (55714MB free)
C: Partition4 [Unknown] 8MB (7MB free)
F: Partition3 [FAT32] 3585MB (1919MB free)
Unpartitioned space 8MB

cpu-dude

mfield wrote: »

I dunno how to screen grab, but here's whate comes up


-: Partition1 [FAT] 55MB (47MB free)
Partition2 [NTFS] 72638MB (55714MB free)
C: Partition4 [Unknown] 8MB (7MB free)
F: Partition3 [FAT32] 3585MB (1919MB free)
Unpartitioned space 8MB

Do you know which partition for sure that you installed Windows XP on?

Vanbis

mfield wrote: »

Thanks so far lads - we'll get there, I hope

Anywho, I have booted into install XP and there are four partitions

which has windows installed on it.

cpu-dude wrote: »

Do you know which partition for sure that you installed Windows XP on?

I think you will find his answer above, Windows is installed on

cpu-dude

Vanbis wrote: »

I think you will find his answer above, Windows is installed on

I'm aware of that but since the FDISK encounter and the messyness of his current setup, I wanted to make sure.

Will you try once again to do a FIXBOOT for Partition 2 and reboot. Also, make sure your external drive is plugged out.

mfield

cpu-dude wrote: »

I'm aware of that but since the FDISK encounter and the messyness of his current setup, I wanted to make sure.

Will you try once again to do a FIXBOOT for Partition 2 and reboot. Also, make sure your external drive is plugged out.

Did that. When I do FIXBOOT on partition it tells me the target partition is C:

I presume that's right, yeah?

So anyway, I did that and we're back to NTLDR is missing

I'm off to grab my gun.......

cpu-dude

mfield wrote: »

Did that. When I do FIXBOOT on partition it tells me the target partition is C:

I presume that's right, yeah?

So anyway, I did that and we're back to NTLDR is missing

I'm off to grab my gun.......

You need to type FIXBOOT and then it will say the Target Partition is

mfield

cpu-dude wrote: »

You need to type FIXBOOT and then it will say the Target Partition is

Did that and still the same NTLDR is missing crap!!

cpu-dude

mfield wrote: »

Did that and still the same NTLDR is missing crap!!

Partition 1 and 4 appear to be practically empty, it looks like you may have formatted one or both of them causing you to loose your XP Boot files. I suggest you delete them (then restart the PC) and attempt to Repair Install Windows XP again on the new C: partition (which will appear when you remove the two small partitions). This way, it should appear like this...

C: Partition1 [NTFS] 72638MB (55714MB free)
Partition3 [FAT32] 3585MB (1919MB free)
Unpartitioned space 71MB

XP should then make the C: partition active and boot from there (a FIXBOOT and FIXMBR may be necessary afterwards again).

mfield

cpu-dude wrote: »

Partition 1 and 4 appear to be practically empty, it looks like you may have formatted one or both of them causing you to loose your XP Boot files. I suggest you delete them (then restart the PC) and attempt to Repair Install Windows XP again on the new C: partition (which will appear when you remove the two small partitions). This way, it should appear like this...

C: Partition1 [NTFS] 72638MB (55714MB free)
Partition3 [FAT32] 3585MB (1919MB free)
Unpartitioned space 71MB

XP should then make the C: partition active and boot from there (a FIXBOOT and FIXMBR may be necessary afterwards again).

OK, I have as you say above except it's C: and E:


Now when I reboot I get

No boot device available -
strike F1 to retry boot, F3 for setup utility


Also, there is still no option to repair in the Windows setup screen

cpu-dude

mfield wrote: »

OK, I have as you say above except it's C: and E:


Now when I reboot I get

No boot device available -
strike F1 to retry boot, F3 for setup utility


Also, there is still no option to repair in the Windows setup screen

When you put in the XP CD, let it boot from it - the very first screen you get is this:



Press Enter to install Windows XP and then select to install it on the C: Drive (your current Windows). Like below:



Now you get this screen by selecting to install XP over your current active partition, the C: drive. Just press R to repair it.

mfield

You're not going to believe this but when I select to overwrite the current windows partition, the only options I am given are -

Do a quick format
Do a full format
Leave the current file system intact

No repair option

cpu-dude

mfield wrote: »

You're not going to believe this but when I select to overwrite the current windows partition, the only options I am given are -

Do a quick format
Do a full format
Leave the current file system intact

No repair option

What about the other partition? Like I said, it's possible it was formatted and it's also possible that the installation doesn't detect Windows on the drive (usually it goes by there being a C:\WINDOWS folder).

If the other partition is the same, I suggest running the installation but select "Leave the current system intact" - it should still repair Windows without deleting any data.

mfield

cpu-dude wrote: »

What about the other partition? Like I said, it's possible it was formatted and it's also possible that the installation doesn't detect Windows on the drive (usually it goes by there being a C:\WINDOWS folder).

If the other partition is the same, I suggest running the installation but select "Leave the current system intact" - it should still repair Windows without deleting any data.

It's asking me where it should copy the Windows XP files and allowing me to change the directory name, the default being \WINDOWS.

Will I let it run? I haven't taken a backup, might be a good idea to do that first?!

Gavin Cotter

Cpu dude you got him to delete his dell utility partition.


-: Partition1 [FAT] 55MB (47MB free) dell utility partition
Partition2 [NTFS] 72638MB (55714MB free) windows xp
C: Partition4 [Unknown] 8MB (7MB free) this doesn't matter
F: Partition3 [FAT32] 3585MB (1919MB free) factory restore image ("DSR")
Unpartitioned space 8MB


Don't install windows just stop what your doing now as you will delete your windows installation.

I'm writing a reply out for you now, so don't bother doing anything.

cpu-dude

Gavin Cotter wrote: »

Cpu dude you got him to delete his dell utility partition.


-: Partition1 [FAT] 55MB (47MB free) dell utility partition
Partition2 [NTFS] 72638MB (55714MB free) windows xp
C: Partition4 [Unknown] 8MB (7MB free) this doesn't matter
F: Partition3 [FAT32] 3585MB (1919MB free) factory restore image ("DSR")
Unpartitioned space 8MB


Don't install windows just stop what your doing now as you will delete your windows installation.

I'm writing a reply out for you now, so don't bother doing anything.

What I told him to do was correct, those small partitions don't do anything useful and won't in this case either - those were perfectly safe to remove (especially since they only 63MB's in space and very little space used in them). Just because Dell put it there, doesn't mean it's not safe to remove them. I've clean up enough Dell partitions in my day to know this.

OP, let it run to /WINDOWS - just as long as you choose to leave the current system intact. It won't delete or format anything in this case.

Gavin Cotter

What you told him to do was delete his dell utility partition.I realise you didn't know what it was, as you wouldn't have told him to delete it.
As a result of doing this, he can't just press f11 and restore his computer to factory default.
No need to tell me what you've done in "your day".

Gavin Cotter

mfield if the xp cd your using is not the same as the one you have installed, i.e. one is pro, the other is home, you won't have a repair option available to you.

You could try the following if your not already fed up.

Boot from your xp cd and choose recovery console.
Type bootcfg /list

It should look like this.

[PHP][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
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons[/PHP]

Take note of what partition it says windows is installed on.

Post the info back here.

mfield

Gavin Cotter wrote: »

mfield if the xp cd your using is not the same as the one you have installed, i.e. one is pro, the other is home, you won't have a repair option available to you.

You could try the following if your not already fed up.

Boot from your xp cd and choose recovery console.
Type bootcfg /list

It should look like this.

[PHP][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
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons[/PHP]

Take note of what partition it says windows is installed on.

Post the info back here.

It says there are currently no boot entries to display

Gavin Cotter

Issue a dir command to see if there are any files on that partition.
Issue the command bootcfg /rebuild and hope that it finds an Windows xp installation.

[1] C:\Windows
Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All):
Press Y hit ENTER.
Enter Load Identifier: (Custom description for an operating system loading from the Boot menu)
Type the name of your operating system, and then press ENTER
Enter Operating System Load Options: (that is: /fastdetect)
Type /fastdetect, and then press ENTER.

Hope all goes to plan.

mfield

Gavin Cotter wrote: »

Issue a dir command to see if there are any files on that partition.
Issue the command bootcfg /rebuild and hope that it finds an Windows xp installation.




Hope all goes to plan.

Fair play to you dude, it worked a treat! NICE ONE!

Many thanks for all your help CPU & Gavin! I owe ye both a beer!

Captain Furball

Delighted you got it working again.
I had similar problems a few weeks ago too -same thing happened.