Corrupt Partition table?

[Guest]

I have a XP Pro machine which developed a serious problem. I was having
problems with Windows that I thought I might fix with a new boot partition.
However, when I tried to rearrange my partitions to make room, PartitionMagic
errored out as it was finishing the changes to my old boot partition.

I did not notice, but I had left only 6 GB free on that partition. Boot
fails just before I would be asked to log in. This happens even with Safe
Mode. I tried the command prompt mode, but that appears to be safe mode with
a command prompt window. Some users I have talked to seem to think that is
DOS mode, but that does not appear to be available under XP. (Which is
frustrating too.)

The boot partition is where I have Windows set to put a multi-gigabyte swap
file. I have to believe that Windows needs more than 6 GB free to boot. So
I thought that I could resize the boot partition using a PartitionMagic
emergency disk.

When I attempt ANY operation with ANY pre-existing partition, regardless of
type (aside from the extended partition), I get a mysterious "Improper
Dismount" error. I can create new partitions, but I wanted to keep the old
partition until I decrypted some folders on other partitions and exported my
settings. (I do not know why I did not think of doing that before I resized
the partitions.)

As is, I do not even know if I can delete the problem partitions.
Personally, I do not want to loose the data. However, at the moment, even
that is not an option.

I do have a Windows XP Pro SP1 CD somewhere. However, I recently moved and
have not located it. I am worried it is in a cabinet that I can't find the
key for.

Elsewhere, someone suggested using something called Ranish. However, they
would not explain how it would help. Some users there felt my drive had been
hosed.

 

[Rich Barry]

Will, try a Knoppix Live Rescue CD.

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

I have a XP Pro machine which developed a serious problem. I was having
problems with Windows that I thought I might fix with a new boot partition.
However, when I tried to rearrange my partitions to make room, PartitionMagic
errored out as it was finishing the changes to my old boot partition.

I did not notice, but I had left only 6 GB free on that partition. Boot
fails just before I would be asked to log in. This happens even with Safe
Mode. I tried the command prompt mode, but that appears to be safe mode with
a command prompt window. Some users I have talked to seem to think that is
DOS mode, but that does not appear to be available under XP. (Which is
frustrating too.)

The boot partition is where I have Windows set to put a multi-gigabyte swap
file. I have to believe that Windows needs more than 6 GB free to boot. So
I thought that I could resize the boot partition using a PartitionMagic
emergency disk.

When I attempt ANY operation with ANY pre-existing partition, regardless of
type (aside from the extended partition), I get a mysterious "Improper
Dismount" error. I can create new partitions, but I wanted to keep the old
partition until I decrypted some folders on other partitions and exported my
settings. (I do not know why I did not think of doing that before I resized
the partitions.)

As is, I do not even know if I can delete the problem partitions.
Personally, I do not want to loose the data. However, at the moment, even
that is not an option.

I do have a Windows XP Pro SP1 CD somewhere. However, I recently moved and
have not located it. I am worried it is in a cabinet that I can't find the
key for.

Elsewhere, someone suggested using something called Ranish. However, they
would not explain how it would help. Some users there felt my drive had been
hosed.

These links may be of some help :-

The following may be of some help:-
http://www.ntfs.com/partition-recovery-concepts.htm
http://www.shareup.com/Partition_Table_Doctor-download-18630.html
http://www.runtime.org/

 

[Guest]

What is a "Knoppix Live Rescue CD"?
--
Will Pittenger
[will _ pittenger at globespeed dot net]
Send large attachments to [will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com]

Will, try a Knoppix Live Rescue CD.

 

[Guest]

Partition Table Doctor sounds like it might be able to solve the problem --
except for one detail: Windows will not boot on that machine. I am using
someone else's to post this. I can't run Safe Mode or the command prompt. I
can boot a CD or floppy.

 

[GreenieLeBrun]

Partition Table Doctor sounds like it might be able to solve the problem --
except for one detail: Windows will not boot on that machine. I am using
someone else's to post this. I can't run Safe Mode or the command prompt. I
can boot a CD or floppy.
--
Will Pittenger
[will _ pittenger at globespeed dot net]
Send large attachments to [will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com]

These links may be of some help :-

The following may be of some help:-
http://www.ntfs.com/partition-recovery-concepts.htm
http://www.shareup.com/Partition_Table_Doctor-download-18630.html
http://www.runtime.org/

http://www.ptdd.com/ptdmoreinfo.htm apparently you can create a
bootable CD.

 

[Guest]

Is the demo full featured? I have no money to buy it with.
--
Will Pittenger
[will _ pittenger at globespeed dot net]
Send large attachments to [will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com]

Partition Table Doctor sounds like it might be able to solve the problem --
except for one detail: Windows will not boot on that machine. I am using
someone else's to post this. I can't run Safe Mode or the command prompt. I
can boot a CD or floppy.
--
Will Pittenger
[will _ pittenger at globespeed dot net]
Send large attachments to [will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com]

Will Pittenger wrote:
I have a XP Pro machine which developed a serious problem. I was having
problems with Windows that I thought I might fix with a new boot partition.
However, when I tried to rearrange my partitions to make room, PartitionMagic
errored out as it was finishing the changes to my old boot partition.

I did not notice, but I had left only 6 GB free on that partition. Boot
fails just before I would be asked to log in. This happens even with Safe
Mode. I tried the command prompt mode, but that appears to be safe mode with
a command prompt window. Some users I have talked to seem to think that is
DOS mode, but that does not appear to be available under XP. (Which is
frustrating too.)

The boot partition is where I have Windows set to put a multi-gigabyte swap
file. I have to believe that Windows needs more than 6 GB free to boot. So
I thought that I could resize the boot partition using a PartitionMagic
emergency disk.

When I attempt ANY operation with ANY pre-existing partition, regardless of
type (aside from the extended partition), I get a mysterious "Improper
Dismount" error. I can create new partitions, but I wanted to keep the old
partition until I decrypted some folders on other partitions and exported my
settings. (I do not know why I did not think of doing that before I resized
the partitions.)

As is, I do not even know if I can delete the problem partitions.
Personally, I do not want to loose the data. However, at the moment, even
that is not an option.

I do have a Windows XP Pro SP1 CD somewhere. However, I recently moved and
have not located it. I am worried it is in a cabinet that I can't find the
key for.

Elsewhere, someone suggested using something called Ranish. However, they
would not explain how it would help. Some users there felt my drive had been
hosed.
--
Will Pittenger
[will _ pittenger at globespeed dot net]
Send large attachments to [will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com]

These links may be of some help :-

The following may be of some help:-
http://www.ntfs.com/partition-recovery-concepts.htm
http://www.shareup.com/Partition_Table_Doctor-download-18630.html
http://www.runtime.org/

http://www.ptdd.com/ptdmoreinfo.htm apparently you can create a
bootable CD.

 

[Guest]

I have difficulty believing that Knoppix or Gnoppix can help. From what I
can tell, they are simply bootable Linux installations that do not require a
hard drive. How does that help? Does Linux have its own partition manager?
I have never used Linux. My Unix experience is a decade old and I hated it.
--
Will Pittenger
[will _ pittenger at globespeed dot net]
Send large attachments to [will dot pittenger1 at gmail dot com]

Will, try a Knoppix Live Rescue CD.