Rescue disk abandons me

[RHG]

When I try to boot from the HP Rescue disk set (#1) it gives me 3
options: 1) restore XP OS, 2) format the HD and start over or 3) quit.
When I select Quit it immediately goes to Boot, which it does
successfully, and everything works fine. However, I cannot boot
directly from the hard disk. Can someone please tell me how to rectify
this situation.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

When I try to boot from the HP Rescue disk set (#1) it gives me 3 options:
1) restore XP OS, 2) format the HD and start over or 3) quit. When I
select Quit it immediately goes to Boot, which it does successfully, and
everything works fine. However, I cannot boot directly from the hard
disk. Can someone please tell me how to rectify this situation.

What happens when you try to boot from the hard disk?

 

[Unknown]

Let the system attempt to boot up but try to get to BIOS and check for
proper boot devices.
My system uses a floppy for boot rescue and then followed by the Rescue
disks.
If you don't have the floppy you need to get to BIOS.

 

[RHG]

What happens when you try to boot from the hard disk?

When I try to boot from the hard drive it comes up with the Rescue
program. I cannot interrupt it. The only way I can get it running is
to use the CD and quit.

Something I probably should have mentioned is that I had a problem with
my linux partition and dual booting. I can still boot linux (Fedora)
but the XP switch does the same thing as trying to boot from the HD.

 

[RHG]

I checked the BIOS for the proper devices and can't find anything that
is incorrect. The rescue program is built in and works as long as the
HD is running, even though you may have screwed up something in the OS.
I was supplied with a set of recovery disks which have the entire
installation, but it does have a boot track.
Please take a look at my reply to the other message in response to my
inquiry. Thanks for the help.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

When I try to boot from the hard drive it comes up with the Rescue
program. I cannot interrupt it. The only way I can get it running is to
use the CD and quit.

Something I probably should have mentioned is that I had a problem with my
linux partition and dual booting. I can still boot linux (Fedora) but the
XP switch does the same thing as trying to boot from the HD.

I'm not aware of any "Rescue Program" under Windows. Is this an
HP proprietary tool?

What happened to this machine just prior to it failing? Did you
install new hardware? Software? A boot manager?

What happens when you boot the machine with a Windows
boot diskette? Here is how to make one:
1. Format a floppy disk on some other ***WinXP*** PC.
2. Copy the following hidden files from C:\ to the diskette:
c:\ntdetect.com
c:\ntldr
c:\boot.ini

 

[RHG]

I'm not aware of any "Rescue Program" under Windows. Is this an
HP proprietary tool?

What happened to this machine just prior to it failing? Did you
install new hardware? Software? A boot manager?

What happens when you boot the machine with a Windows
boot diskette? Here is how to make one:
1. Format a floppy disk on some other ***WinXP*** PC.
2. Copy the following hidden files from C:\ to the diskette:
c:\ntdetect.com
c:\ntldr
c:\boot.ini

Yes, it is an HP proprietary product. That being the case I tried to
get them to give me a hand but they did the old finger pointing routine.
"It isn't our product and we don't support it." meaning the linux
partition, of course.

I can't remember exactly what was going on when the Windows boot failed
but I was switching back and forth from one OS to the other. I'm not
too sure what I'm talking about, but it is my impression that Windows
can't access the mbr, but that everything after that is OK so it boots
when you escape the HP Rescue program.

I went looking for the files you mention in C:\ and was told they don't
exist. Then I found that there is a bunch of files starting with t.*
which seem to be a lot of tables and images, i.e., t.pathnameTable.cdx .
My uninformed impression is that HP had deliberately cobbled up a
system to insure their control of the customer. BTW I don't have
another machine of any kind conveniently available.

Thanks very much for the time and effort.

 

[RHG]

I'm not aware of any "Rescue Program" under Windows. Is this an
HP proprietary tool?

What happened to this machine just prior to it failing? Did you
install new hardware? Software? A boot manager?

I remembered after I sent the last message -- I was trying to modify the
grub.conf file when I got into trouble. I've done so many things I
can't remember them all. However, to get a clean start I reinstalled
linux from scratch (and abandoned all my programs) but that didn't help
at all. I ended up with exactly the same problem.

 

[Guest]

I ran into this same issue when using hp's recovery disks, I never did
resolve it, even with help from hp. the MB died in the process, so I couldn't
play with iit anymore, to resolve the issue.
My opinion is that HP has done SOMETHING to force the customer to come to
them for resolution, ie either send the computer in for them to repair, or
buy a new product from them, really ticks me off.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I remembered after I sent the last message -- I was trying to modify the
grub.conf file when I got into trouble. I've done so many things I can't
remember them all. However, to get a clean start I reinstalled linux from
scratch (and abandoned all my programs) but that didn't help at all. I
ended up with exactly the same problem.

In this case I recommend you restore the Windows boot loader.
You can do it like so:
1. Boot the machine with your WinXP CD.
2. Select Repair to get into the Recovery Console.
3. Type this command: fixmbr

Later on you can restore the Grub boot loader.

 

[Elmo]

I remembered after I sent the last message -- I was trying to modify the
grub.conf file when I got into trouble. I've done so many things I
can't remember them all. However, to get a clean start I reinstalled
linux from scratch (and abandoned all my programs) but that didn't help
at all. I ended up with exactly the same problem.

Just a thought, pure speculation.. the boot is looking at the HP Boot
partition rather than the C: drive for the Windows boot. What to do to
correct this, I'm not sure.

 

[RHG]

In this case I recommend you restore the Windows boot loader.
You can do it like so:
1. Boot the machine with your WinXP CD.
2. Select Repair to get into the Recovery Console.
3. Type this command: fixmbr

Later on you can restore the Grub boot loader.

You have been very helpful; many thanks.
I do not have a WinXP installation disk. My machine came with XP
installed by HP who wants to keep hold of you by you-know-what. I tried
booting witht their Rescue CD but I don't see any way to get to a
command line and it is very intimidating -- if you proceed IT SEEMS you
are going to wipe and replace all your original OS and supplied
software. So, being a coward I quit there. Tried XP RUN / fismbr but
it said "no such command". Where now???
I can fly too ... N732GZ

 

[RHG]

Just a thought, pure speculation.. the boot is looking at the HP Boot
partition rather than the C: drive for the Windows boot. What to do to
correct this, I'm not sure.

I agree with you completely. I have no idea how to circumvent their
constraints. It certainly doesn't encourage me to ever buy another.
I'll fight the problem as long as possible. I have no intention of
re-installing the OS, which is what their tech insisted was the only way
to handle it.

 

[RHG]

Please read my other 2 replies. There is no doubt in my mind that this
is their ploy. I'm going to try to escalate the problem and make some
waves, but I doubt I'll get anywhere.

 

[RHG]

You have been very helpful; many thanks.
I do not have a WinXP installation disk. My machine came with XP
installed by HP who wants to keep hold of you by you-know-what. I tried
booting witht their Rescue CD but I don't see any way to get to a
command line and it is very intimidating -- if you proceed IT SEEMS you
are going to wipe and replace all your original OS and supplied
software. So, being a coward I quit there. Tried XP RUN / fismbr but
it said "no such command". Where now???
I can fly too ... N732GZ

I found the following on HP's support site. Thought I would post it for
the benefit of anyone who is interested. Hopefully, it will solve my
problem, and perhaps others. We shall see.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...&product=443069&dlc=en&lang=en#bph07996_about

 

[Guest]

I would be VERY interested in your final resolution, as I'm sure I will be
working on HP's in the future.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

You have been very helpful; many thanks.
I do not have a WinXP installation disk. My machine came with XP
installed by HP who wants to keep hold of you by you-know-what. I tried
booting witht their Rescue CD but I don't see any way to get to a command
line and it is very intimidating -- if you proceed IT SEEMS you are going
to wipe and replace all your original OS and supplied software. So, being
a coward I quit there. Tried XP RUN / fismbr but it said "no such
command". Where now???
I can fly too ... N732GZ

Here is another way to restore the Windows boot loader:
1. Make yourself a Win98 boot diskette from www.bootdisk.com.
2. Boot the machine with this diskette.
3. Type this command: fdisk /mbr{Enter}

If this fails to resolve the problem then I suggest that you reboot
the machine with a WinXP boot diskette. Post again for details
on how to manufacture it.

 

[RHG]

Here is another way to restore the Windows boot loader:
1. Make yourself a Win98 boot diskette from www.bootdisk.com.
2. Boot the machine with this diskette.
3. Type this command: fdisk /mbr{Enter}

If this fails to resolve the problem then I suggest that you reboot
the machine with a WinXP boot diskette. Post again for details
on how to manufacture it.

The bad penny is back.
I did #1. The machine doesn't see the DVD. The machine sees the grub
boot program or it goes to the Rescue (Recovery) program, which, of
course, I abort. If I put the Rescue CD in then it gives the rescue or
quit option and quit goes to a normal XP boot.

 

[RHG]

I would be VERY interested in your final resolution, as I'm sure I will be
working on HP's in the future.

Yea. I found it. The system boots from the 2nd OS, therefore Linux. I
had the grub.conf file point to the wrong partition on the XP HD.
Somehow the reference got changed (I did it!)

rootnoverify (hd0,0) should be (hd0,1) on my system - I don't know
about yours. The bootloader (I'm no techie - this could be the wrong
name) is located on the 2nd partition. Anyway. I can now load eithr OS
without a DVD. HP support people should know about this but if the 2nd
OS is Linux they won't touch it. I have no idea what they would do it
it was Win98.
Dick