Reformat internal HDD only, restore old system, programs, etc

[Dashir]

I have searched through the forum and did not find a post that answers my
question specifically. I have been using software from Genie Soft to create
what they call a disaster recovery file (it contains the program files,
system state, Windows files, etc). I have also created a bootable disk using
Genie Soft. I have had to install a new HDD in my Dell laptop. The first time
I ran the disaster recovery and restored files I got a message that no boot
sector was on the drive after I attempted to restart. I then realized that I
need to format the HDD. So, after hunting around online I found that I can
format using the system restore that is on the Windows XP disc that came with
the Dell. The problem is that the system restore (after it does the
formatting) wants to load Windows XP and I don't want that. I just want to
format the drive, period. I am relying on the disaster recovery backup I
created with Genie Soft to put my HDD back to the state it was. I tried doing
something that I know probably won't work (and it didn't) and that is I shut
off the laptop after I saw the system restore had formatted and then began
installing Windows. Can anyone give me some help?

 

[Daave]

I have searched through the forum and did not find a post that
answers my question specifically. I have been using software from
Genie Soft to create what they call a disaster recovery file (it
contains the program files, system state, Windows files, etc). I have
also created a bootable disk using Genie Soft. I have had to install
a new HDD in my Dell laptop. The first time I ran the disaster
recovery and restored files I got a message that no boot sector was
on the drive after I attempted to restart. I then realized that I
need to format the HDD. So, after hunting around online I found that
I can format using the system restore that is on the Windows XP disc
that came with the Dell. The problem is that the system restore
(after it does the formatting) wants to load Windows XP and I don't
want that. I just want to format the drive, period. I am relying on
the disaster recovery backup I created with Genie Soft to put my HDD
back to the state it was. I tried doing something that I know
probably won't work (and it didn't) and that is I shut off the laptop
after I saw the system restore had formatted and then began
installing Windows. Can anyone give me some help?

Which forum did you search? The following one?:

http://forum.genie-soft.com/

 

[HeyBub]

I have searched through the forum and did not find a post that
answers my question specifically. I have been using software from
Genie Soft to create what they call a disaster recovery file (it
contains the program files, system state, Windows files, etc). I have
also created a bootable disk using Genie Soft. I have had to install
a new HDD in my Dell laptop. The first time I ran the disaster
recovery and restored files I got a message that no boot sector was
on the drive after I attempted to restart. I then realized that I
need to format the HDD. So, after hunting around online I found that
I can format using the system restore that is on the Windows XP disc
that came with the Dell. The problem is that the system restore
(after it does the formatting) wants to load Windows XP and I don't
want that. I just want to format the drive, period. I am relying on
the disaster recovery backup I created with Genie Soft to put my HDD
back to the state it was. I tried doing something that I know
probably won't work (and it didn't) and that is I shut off the laptop
after I saw the system restore had formatted and then began
installing Windows. Can anyone give me some help?

You NEVER need to format a hard drive to install or recover the OS.

 

[Paul]

I have searched through the forum and did not find a post that answers my
question specifically. I have been using software from Genie Soft to create
what they call a disaster recovery file (it contains the program files,
system state, Windows files, etc). I have also created a bootable disk using
Genie Soft. I have had to install a new HDD in my Dell laptop. The first time
I ran the disaster recovery and restored files I got a message that no boot
sector was on the drive after I attempted to restart. I then realized that I
need to format the HDD. So, after hunting around online I found that I can
format using the system restore that is on the Windows XP disc that came with
the Dell. The problem is that the system restore (after it does the
formatting) wants to load Windows XP and I don't want that. I just want to
format the drive, period. I am relying on the disaster recovery backup I
created with Genie Soft to put my HDD back to the state it was. I tried doing
something that I know probably won't work (and it didn't) and that is I shut
off the laptop after I saw the system restore had formatted and then began
installing Windows. Can anyone give me some help?

There are two things that affect booting. The MBR contains 446 bytes of code
used to boot. That is part of the boot sequence. But the active boot partition
also has some sectors that are used to boot. If you were to "format C:",
the volume boot sectors would be erased. Simply copying the files back
onto C:, handles the rightmost item in this picture, but doesn't handle the
volume boot sectors. Any tool doing a "bare metal" restoration, should also
be recording the key components of the middle item.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| MBR | Volume Boot Sectors (primary and backup) | File system with all the files |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|<----------------------------------- C: ---------------------------------------->|

When I broke my computer while fooling around with it, I booted the
WinXP installer CD, and used the "Recovery Console". I used the
"fixboot" command in there, to write a new set of volume boot
sectors. I don't even think the process was clever enough to
write both the primary and the backup. For me, it just seemed
to write the primary.

The MBR can be repaired as well. The recovery console has "fixmbr".
I haven't experimented with that.

The MBR is a single sector (512 bytes). It consists of two parts.
446 bytes of executable code. 64 bytes used to hold the four
primary partition table entries. My guess wouid be, "fixmbr"
writes a new 446 byte section in the first sector. It can't
overwrite the partition table, because that may contain
perfectly valid partition info. The various operating systems
like to overwrite that area, so one reason for repairing the
MBR, might be if you attempted a Linux install for example.

The Volume Boot Sector might be about three sectors worth, or
about 3*512 bytes.

So the amount of information involved is tiny, but important.

I think you should consult with the Tech Support at Genie,
to get this fixed. You should run your Genie "restoration"
to completion (to the point where you get stuck). Then, ask
them what is the next step ?

You should write down the exact error message, when the computer
refuses to boot, because that may indicate which part of the
above picture is broken. Then maybe the Genie Tech Support
can figure out what happened.

So "formatting" is not the answer, because that will leave
the middle section of the above picture, blank. That is why
you should try to get the Genie restoration to run to
completion, so it can put that stuff back. (Assuming they
backed it up.) Any tool which calls itself a "bare metal
restoration", should know all about those various parts,
and write them back.

Paul

 

[sgopus]

Best is to get reliable clone software to clone your system, Acronis True
image is generally looked at as being good.

Go ahead and format and install windows, then restore your data, next make a
clone of your HD, using ATI and you will be good to go.