Recovery console

[RayMan!]

Hi all, I have an HP laptop (WXP) with a buggered up MBR. I tried to
run FIXBOOT and FIXMBR from the recovery console, here's what the issue
is:
- I have already installed the WXP recovery console but when choosing
it from the list, I get the black screen with a blinking cursor.
- If I boot from the XP CD, the mass storage device is not detected and
the hard disks are inaccessible.
- I cannot load a third party driver when pushing F6 because the laptop
does not have a floppy.
- Even the BartPE CD cannot 'see' the hard disks.
- I tried messing around with the TXTSETUP.SIF to add the driver
manually, but if I'm getting a blank screen when using the hard disk
copy of the recovery console, how will this help?!?

My question is how on earth can I fix this boot record!!! Are there any
3rd party utlities I can use when the system boots into XP? (it still
does that sometimes). Can I use a USB drive to fix things?
Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks guys and gals..

Ray!

 

[Guest]

If you need F6 option to install the controller drivers,how was xp installed
w/o a floppy disk......Hmmmm,if SP2 isnt installed,try reinstalling recovery
thru windows explorer,the info is at kb307654

 

[RayMan!]

If you need F6 option to install the controller drivers,how was xp installed
w/o a floppy disk......Hmmmm,if SP2 isnt installed,try reinstalling recovery
thru windows explorer,the info is at kb307654

Interesting question how HP got XP installed.. They may have prebuilt
the driver (iastor.sys) into their install somehow.
The laptop came with SP2 installed so I added the recovery console
using winnt32 /cmdcons from the original XP CD slipstreamed with SP2,
not the i386 directory on the C: drive which I heard causes other
problems.

 

[John John]

Use a USB floppy drive to F6 the Mass Storage Device Drivers.

John

 

[RayMan!]

Use a USB floppy drive to F6 the Mass Storage Device Drivers.

John

YESSSSSSSS!!!! IT WORKSSSSSSS!!!!!!!

I tried it with the USB key formatted as a hard disk and F6 doens't
like that. So when I formatted it as a floppy instead, F6 showed the
drivers instantly and I was able to FIXMBR it and all looks great now.

Thank you! I would've given you a kiss if you were in front of me now!
.... well, maybe a nice big hug... ...umm...... just a firm hand shake
and a nice big thanks........ then again, maybe I would've taken you
out for drinks... yeah... drinks.........

Seriously tho, thanks!!!!!

Ray!