Vista Version of fdisk /mbr

[BigK]

What is the Windows Vista version of fdisk /mar
I could not get it to work on a computer that would not boot. The install
disks "automatic" boot problem fixer doesn't work either. Simply won't
boot.

 

[Kerry Brown]

What is the Windows Vista version of fdisk /mar
I could not get it to work on a computer that would not boot. The install
disks "automatic" boot problem fixer doesn't work either. Simply won't
boot.

Did you run the Startup Repair from the Vista DVD more than once? Depending
on what needs to be repaired sometimes it takes multiple reboots and repairs
to fix the problem. It is very common that you have to run Startup Repair
twice.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

Did you run the Startup Repair from the Vista DVD more than once?

Eish, Kerry; all we know is, the system won't boot.

Systems usually boot, so already we're into "minority" territory,
where other unusual things (bad RAM, failing HD etc.) aren't so rare
anymore. I don't see anything here about "system passes 24 hours in
MemTest86 OK" or "HD Tune from a Bart CDR boot shows no bad sectors".

Depending on what needs to be repaired sometimes it takes multiple
reboots and repairs to fix the problem.

Depending on what needs to be repaired, multiple attempts to run tools
that write to ?corrupted file stsrems on ?failing HDs through the lens
of ?bad RAM could reduce your system and data to rubble.

I'd really want to verify hardware first, then check (without
automatically "fixing") the file system, and only then etc.

See...

http://cquirke.mvps.org/pccrisis.htm

If you have a genuine... sorry, non-crippled Vista OS DVD, you can do
these things, though as the RAM test is potentially dangerous (writes
results into the Vista installation, which is duuuumb) I'd use
MemTest96 instead there.

Oh wait; there's no safe test for the physical HD, so you'd need
something else for that.

Options that don't put the HD at risk by writing to it, include:
- Bart CDR, HD Tune (www.hdtune.com)
- WinPE2.0 or Vista DVD boot can't run HD Tune, sorry
- bootabvle tools from HD vendor (may fob you off with summary)

Options that DO put the HD at risk by writing to it, include:
- drop HD into other PC and run HD Tune from there

-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Tip Of The Day:
To disable the 'Tip of the Day' feature...

 

[Guest]

You say that it is not booting at startup.
As you are starting up, go into BIOS, and change the boot order.
Make sure that the CD/DVD is the 1st boot device selected at startup.

Cheers.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Eish, Kerry; all we know is, the system won't boot.

Systems usually boot, so already we're into "minority" territory,
where other unusual things (bad RAM, failing HD etc.) aren't so rare
anymore. I don't see anything here about "system passes 24 hours in
MemTest86 OK" or "HD Tune from a Bart CDR boot shows no bad sectors".


Depending on what needs to be repaired, multiple attempts to run tools
that write to ?corrupted file stsrems on ?failing HDs through the lens
of ?bad RAM could reduce your system and data to rubble.

I'd really want to verify hardware first, then check (without
automatically "fixing") the file system, and only then etc.

See...

http://cquirke.mvps.org/pccrisis.htm

If you have a genuine... sorry, non-crippled Vista OS DVD, you can do
these things, though as the RAM test is potentially dangerous (writes
results into the Vista installation, which is duuuumb) I'd use
MemTest96 instead there.

Oh wait; there's no safe test for the physical HD, so you'd need
something else for that.

Options that don't put the HD at risk by writing to it, include:
- Bart CDR, HD Tune (www.hdtune.com)
- WinPE2.0 or Vista DVD boot can't run HD Tune, sorry
- bootabvle tools from HD vendor (may fob you off with summary)

Options that DO put the HD at risk by writing to it, include:
- drop HD into other PC and run HD Tune from there

While I agree with your assessment it doesn't answer what the OP asked. I
answered the question They had already tried the Startup Repair.
Sometimes it needs to be run multiple times for it to work.

 

[BigK]

You say that it is not booting at startup.
As you are starting up, go into BIOS, and change the boot order.
Make sure that the CD/DVD is the 1st boot device selected at startup.

Why would I do that? I want the HD to boot. I know how to get it to boot
off the CD. My Dell has a menu that pops up if I hit the F12 key. The
problem is the boot repair feature in the repair screen of the boot/install
disk does not fix the problem. I finally gave up and reformatted the drive
as no amount of "fixing" does anything.

I think I hosed it by trying to run Acronis Disk Doctor's portioning
software. I forgot that I tried to run it a couple of days before this
happened. It said it needed to reboot and I changed my mind and decided to
try it later. But never got back to it. It seemed to not make any changes
but it may have anyway. I never had actually rebooted until a few days
after that when suddenly it would not boot into Vista. It said "boot error
press control alt del to restart" and repeatedly did that.

Thanks for trying to help though.