HELP!! I can't boot into Windows

[here]

I used gparted to move my primary system partition to the left after
deleting the Dell 16mb FAT diagnostics partition. Now when I try to
boot all I get is a black screen with a blinking underline cursor and
a glowing HD light. Nothing happens, and after about ten minutes I
power down the computer. I tried the Microsoft Recovery Console from
the Windows disk and get the same thing. Is Windows rechecking the
entire partition before loading?

I'm writing this from the ubuntu live CD and would like to save my
Windows system if possible (all my data is backed up). If necessary I
guess I'll just install ubuntu using the entire disk. What to do?

 

[JS]

check the BOOT.INI file located in the
root/boot (Usually C:\) partition.

 

[here]

check the BOOT.INI file located in the
root/boot (Usually C:\) partition.

I can't get to a C: prompt, as I said before all I get is a black
screen and a lit HD light.

 

[Daave]

Comments inline.


That's a useful partition! Why would you delete it?!

And what do you mean by the phrase "to the left"? To the left of *what*?
How many partitions did you have on this drive? How many do you have
now?

Normally, running fixboot or fixmbr from Recovery Console should fix
your issue. See:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6031733.html

Did you configure the BIOS to boot from the CD? (Or did you select F10
or F12 to tell your Dell to boot off the CD?) What do you mean you got
the same thing? What exactly happened? And when did it happen? Did you
get the choice to press R?

I can't get to a C: prompt, as I said before all I get is a black
screen and a lit HD light.

That's not what JS meant.

Simply use Ubuntu's file management program (the equivalent of Windows
Explorer to navigate to the boot.ini file, which is usually located
here:

C:\boot.ini

Open it. Copy the text and include it in your next post.

 

[here]

Comments inline.




That's a useful partition! Why would you delete it?!

And what do you mean by the phrase "to the left"? To the left of *what*?
How many partitions did you have on this drive? How many do you have
now?

Normally, running fixboot or fixmbr from Recovery Console should fix
your issue. See:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6031733.html


Did you configure the BIOS to boot from the CD? (Or did you select F10
or F12 to tell your Dell to boot off the CD?) What do you mean you got
the same thing? What exactly happened? And when did it happen? Did you
get the choice to press R?


That's not what JS meant.

Simply use Ubuntu's file management program (the equivalent of Windows
Explorer to navigate to the boot.ini file, which is usually located
here:

C:\boot.ini

Open it. Copy the text and include it in your next post.

As I said before, and as I'll probably be repeating till I'm blue in
the face is that there is NO WAY I can even use the Windows Recovery
Console. Repeat, I can't even boot into Recovery Console!!!

Here is my boot.ini as I was able to retrieve in ubuntu:

[Boot Loader]

Timeout=5

Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[Operating Systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

 

[here]

Comments inline.

<[email protected]> wrote in message

That's a useful partition! Why would you delete it?!

And what do you mean by the phrase "to the left"? To the left of *what*?
How many partitions did you have on this drive? How many do you have
now?

Normally, running fixboot or fixmbr from Recovery Console should fix
your issue. See:

Did you configure the BIOS to boot from the CD? (Or did you select F10
or F12 to tell your Dell to boot off the CD?) What do you mean you got
the same thing? What exactly happened? And when did it happen? Did you
get the choice to press R?

That's not what JS meant.

Simply use Ubuntu's file management program (the equivalent of Windows
Explorer to navigate to the boot.ini file, which is usually located
here:

Open it. Copy the text and include it in your next post.

As I said before, and as I'll probably be repeating till I'm blue in
the face is that there is NO WAY I can even use the Windows Recovery
Console. Repeat, I can't even boot into Recovery Console!!!

Here is my boot.ini as I was able to retrieve in ubuntu:

[Boot Loader]

Timeout=5

Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[Operating Systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

When I load the Windows CD I start the computer and immediately press
F12 to get a boot menu, I boot from the Windows CD and after it loads
the drivers I press R for the Recovery Console, and that's when I get
a black screen with an underline blinking cursor in to top left-hand
corner and a glowing HD light. This goes on for about ten minute
before I give up and power down the computer and boot up ubuntu from
the live CD.

 

[Daave]

As I said before, and as I'll probably be repeating till I'm blue
in the face is that there is NO WAY I can even use the Windows
Recovery Console. Repeat, I can't even boot into Recovery Console!!!

That is only true if you once installed the RC to your hard drive and if
*that* RC is what you are trying to enter.

What I am telling you is different. Use a bootable CD. Hopefully you
have an XP installation CD. That will give you the option to use the RC.
If you don't have one, try the method listed here:

http://tips.vlaurie.com/2006/05/23/recovery-console-for-those-without-an-xp-disk/

Or you can use UBCD4Win.

 

[here]

That is only true if you once installed the RC to your hard drive and if
*that* RC is what you are trying to enter.

What I am telling you is different. Use a bootable CD. Hopefully you
have an XP installation CD. That will give you the option to use the RC.
If you don't have one, try the method listed here:

http://tips.vlaurie.com/2006/05/23/recovery-console-for-those-without...

Or you can use UBCD4Win.

I'm using the bootable XP installation CD.

 

[JS]

According to your boot.ini file Windows
is expected to be found on the first partition
on your hard drive. What does your ubuntu
live CD show for partition information.

--
JS
http:/www.pagestart.com

That is only true if you once installed the RC to your hard drive and if
*that* RC is what you are trying to enter.

What I am telling you is different. Use a bootable CD. Hopefully you
have an XP installation CD. That will give you the option to use the RC.
If you don't have one, try the method listed here:

http://tips.vlaurie.com/2006/05/23/recovery-console-for-those-without...

Or you can use UBCD4Win.

I'm using the bootable XP installation CD.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Comments inline.




That's a useful partition! Why would you delete it?!

And what do you mean by the phrase "to the left"? To the left of *what*?
How many partitions did you have on this drive? How many do you have
now?

Normally, running fixboot or fixmbr from Recovery Console should fix
your issue. See:

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-6031733.html


Did you configure the BIOS to boot from the CD? (Or did you select F10
or F12 to tell your Dell to boot off the CD?) What do you mean you got
the same thing? What exactly happened? And when did it happen? Did you
get the choice to press R?


That's not what JS meant.

Simply use Ubuntu's file management program (the equivalent of Windows
Explorer to navigate to the boot.ini file, which is usually located
here:

C:\boot.ini

Open it. Copy the text and include it in your next post.

As I said before, and as I'll probably be repeating till I'm blue in
the face is that there is NO WAY I can even use the Windows Recovery
Console. Repeat, I can't even boot into Recovery Console!!!

Here is my boot.ini as I was able to retrieve in ubuntu:

[Boot Loader]

Timeout=5

Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[Operating Systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

=====================

So, it looks like the boot loader might be looking at the wrong partition
now. What was 1 may now be 0.

Did you try *editing* the file while you were in Ubuntu? You don't need
the Recovery Console to do that.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I used gparted to move my primary system partition to the left after
deleting the Dell 16mb FAT diagnostics partition.

The question "why?" comes to mind...

If 16 meg addresses a space issue, it won't do so for very long, and you
need a larger disk, or at least another one.

Now when I try to
boot all I get is a black screen with a blinking underline cursor and
a glowing HD light. Nothing happens, and after about ten minutes I
power down the computer. I tried the Microsoft Recovery Console from
the Windows disk and get the same thing. Is Windows rechecking the
entire partition before loading?

No, the system is likely looking for the files.

I'm writing this from the ubuntu live CD and would like to save my
Windows system if possible (all my data is backed up). If necessary I
guess I'll just install ubuntu using the entire disk. What to do?

I'll suggest that the very first thing to do is to check the status of your
backups. If there's data you need on that disk, get it off, now - before
problems get worse.

Attach the drive to another running system and scrape the data off, or,
install a new larger hard disk, remove the old one and disconnect any card
readers (to prevent them from claiming handy drive letters like C, D, and
E), and install clean. Use your Dell install disk for this, or an XP OEM
CD with your Dell key - the OEM CD won't create the diagnostics partition.
Once done and all drivers are installed, attach the old disk and move the
data into place.

You will quite possibly find this to be the fastest way to get to the
solution. Yes, you can play with it, and maybe find some way to make it
work again - or not.

If simple things like pointing the boot.ini to the correct partition don't
work, step back and consider the relative value of your time and this
system.

Otherwise, If this is a science experiment and there isn't any data of
value, then you have a new toy.

HTH
-pk

 

[Guest]

Go into the recovery console using your XP CD, press 1 then type:

FIXMBR

It will moan at you, ignore that & write it. It should say it was written

Exit out of the recovery console, remove the CD & reboot

 

[squirltok]

I used gparted to move my primary system partition to the left after
deleting the Dell 16mb FAT diagnostics partition. Now when I try to
boot all I get is a black screen with a blinking underline cursor and
a glowing HD light. Nothing happens, and after about ten minutes I
power down the computer. I tried the Microsoft Recovery Console from
the Windows disk and get the same thing. Is Windows rechecking the
entire partition before loading?

I'm writing this from the ubuntu live CD and would like to save my
Windows system if possible (all my data is backed up). If necessary I
guess I'll just install ubuntu using the entire disk. What to do?

I think you need\needed to defrag windows before going < that
direction, but ?

You cannot use restore mbr from windows to restore a linux partition.
Windows will always wipe out a linux record.

Lilo grub has the ability to recognize a windows partition, file
system.

Surely ubuntu has a utility to create\recreate an MBR. Look for lilo,
grub, or MBR in system utilities? after booting a live cd

Try another if that doesn't try another that does have one, pclinux
has an easy one.

May work may not.

 

[Daave]

When I load the Windows CD I start the computer and immediately
press F12 to get a boot menu, I boot from the Windows CD and after
it loads the drivers I press R for the Recovery Console, and that's
when
I get a black screen with an underline blinking cursor in to top
left-hand
corner and a glowing HD light. This goes on for about ten minute
before
I give up and power down the computer and boot up ubuntu from the
live CD.

Before you do anything else, follow Patrick's advice and make sure all
your data is copied. Your Ubuntu Live CD and an external hard drive (or
perhaps some DVDs) should be all you need.

Then, see this page, which describes using your Ubuntu CD to fix your
Windows MBR:

http://www.arsgeek.com/2008/01/15/how-to-fix-your-windows-mbr-with-an-ubuntu-livecd/

In the future, you can save yourself lots of headaches by either imaging
or cloning *your entire hard drive* before playing around with gparted.

I'm still puzzled about your deleting the Dell diagnostics partition.
Also, you still have yet to answer my other question about the number of
partitions before and after this exercise and what was/is on them and
their sizes.

 

[ramannanda991]

Hey it looks like you have messed up the master boot record.There is a very nice boot cd that you can use for such >>problems ie Hiren's boot cd . you should boot with it and then goto bios tools and then reset the master boot record ie give a command to rewrite the boot record. this probably willlet you boot on to windows.