How to debug boot process with XPE

[Guest]

Hi,

I've copied all XPE files onto harddisk formatted with NTFS partition put
boot.ini, ntdetect and ntldr in root of C:. When computer starts it hangs, i
don't believe it even executes boot.ini file as i've put timeout and menu for
dummy dual boot and nothing is on the screen, just black. I've set the
partiton to be active etc. How can i debug what's going on. Please help as i
am really stuck.

Regards
ms

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Hi,

In DDK you can find debug version of ntldr.

But before you do that can you answer us few simple things like:
1. How did you created bootable NTFS?
2. What medium do you use for booting?
3. What controler it is connected to?
4. What happens if you delete ntldr.? Do you see error stating that ntldr is missing?

Anhyhow try following:
1. ON TARGER COMPUTER boot to DOS.
2. Use fdsik and format to make it bootable and activate first partition.
3. On developent computer use "convert" command to convert FAT to NTFS.
4. Now try placing ntldr and boot.ini and see what happens.

Regards,
Slobodan

 

[Guest]

Hi Slobodan

Thanks for this, used WinPE CDROM (XPE SP1 disk 1) to boot and diskpart
command to create partition and format command to format. Don't understand
what you mean by controller. Deleting ntldr makes no difference still
hanging no text. I'll try what you've suggested.

Regards
ms

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Hi,

Deleting ntldr makes no difference still hanging no text.

It makes a lot of difference. This mean that you did not reached even ntldr load phase. (debug ntldr would not help you with this
problem)

You have two points before that could be wrong.
1. Bad MBR code or partition table. (sector 0 on disk)
2. Bad PBR code this is 0 sector of your boot partition.

You will have to use DOS procedure like I said.

Regards,
Slobodan