Error Loading Operating System after partial partitioning

[Guest]

I recently tried to install Ubuntu linux to dual-boot alongside my Windows XP
Home Edition. I got partway through resizing my windows partition and was
about to create the linux and linux-swap partitions when I backed out of it.
After that, I was getting a "Missing Operating System" message when I tried
booting up my computer. I ran the Recovery Console and tried fixmbr, which
then gave me a warning about having an unidentifiable master boot record. At
this point, I stopped from fixing the master boot record, and upon restart, I
was getting "Error Loading Operating System". When I check the partition in
the live-cd for Ubuntu, the freespace available for the partition is not
available and it shows the drive as being unformatted. Is there any way I
can fix this without completely reformatting my hard drive? And if not, is
there a way to back up all of my files beforehand?

 

[Guest]

First, I hope you have learned a very important lesson. Partitioning Hard
Drives is a little risky on it's own. I myself have done it many times, but I
have never stopped a partition. This is because it is changing the hard
drive. Not the files on the hard drive, but it is way more technical. There
is a reason you can't stop it under normal means. You are supposed to let it
do its thing under risk of data loss. You will have to format your hard drive
and if you're lucky you can download a program that might be able to give you
back one or two files that you had on there previously.

First thing's first. Restart your computer with a boot floppy disk. At
command prompt, type in "fdisk" (without the ""'s) and press enter. If a
screen pops up about Large disk capability or whatever, press ENTER. Use this
program to delete any existing partitions. Then create your partitions (I
suggest you download the fdisk program instructions from the internet, by
searching google). Once finished, you will need to format the drive. Restart
the computer, and when the boot disk loads up again, type in "format C:"
(without the ""'s) and press enter. Do the same for all other partitions.
When finished, insert your Windows XP CD. Take out your floppy disk and
restart the computer. At this point, it does not matter the boot sequence in
your BIOS because no drives except for your CD-Rom drive should be bootable.
After the Windows Installation, Install Ubuntu on the second partition.

Hope this helps, sorry about your files, dude .. tough luck....