Windows won't boot if any partition extends past 120 GB on 250 GBdrive

[Will Pittenger]

BTW: There is a freeware alternative to True Image and Ghost called Self
Image. Have you heard of it? What did you think?

Only thing I can think of is that your partition table information has been
mucked up.
You are probably not going to like this but ...

Backup you data on the drives
Grab your Windows CD (must be either SP1 or SP2 version)
Perform a 'Clean Install' of Windows, using the Windows CD to delete all
existing drives/partitions.
Then create the 'Primary' C: partition, install Windows and then use Disk
Management to create
the Extended partition and logical drives.

Another option would be to use Acronis True Image (see note about product
test below)
to make an image backup of all the files on each partition (including C to
your second drive.
Then use the Windows CD to remove the existing partitions (as stated above).
Next create the primary partition and the restore the image of your C:
drive,
you do this by using the True Image emergency boot CD to access and
restore the image file stored on your second drive.
Then use Windows Disk Management to create the remaining partitions
(including the free space you could not access before).

Note: Since you appear to be using a Promise card I would test Acronis
emergency CD
by removing the hard drive that has Windows installed and see if Acronis can
see your other drive
which I assume is also connected to the Promise card.

Acronis True Image
(has a 15 day trial version although I have not tried it, I use Norton
Ghost, both products support an Emergency Boot CD)
http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

How to do a Clean Install of Windows XP
Start by changing the BIOS setting to Boot from CD drive first.
Then see below:
From Michael Steven's: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html
more info: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/XPClean.htm
and: http://www.theeldergeek.com/clean_installation_of_windows_xp.htm
also: http://www.bootdisk.com/

Also make sure you have the drivers you need for your motherboard, video
card, sound card, Etc.

Try Belarc Advisor: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
It does a good job of providing a wealth of information including software
Key codes
and Devices you will need Drivers for.

I've said a lot and don't blame you if you decline, it's just my best guess
having used a Linux based partition tool
in the distant past and then trying to reinstall Windows.

JS

 

[Bill in Co.]

But what?? You can buy Partition Magic.

Older copies of Windows XP included a version that supported up to at
least 137 GB. Such a version is part of my BartPE CD. I would prefer
Partition Magic, but...

FDISK is not supported on XP (need a Windows 98 boot disk with FDISK
installed) and I don't think it supports large partitions (more than
32GB)
or NTFS.

For Windows XP see:
A Description of the Diskpart Command-Line Utility
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/300415

JS

 

[Will Pittenger]

1. It won't run on this system and I don't know why. If I run the
Windows program, all of Windows hangs. If I boot the rescue floppy, I
get error #114 for the drive. If I boot the CD, it complains about some
sort of internal error and dumps me at a Y: prompt. Even when Partition
Magic did run in Windows, it claimed my drive was a 137 GB drive.

2. Partition Magic doesn't run inside Bart PE.

But what?? You can buy Partition Magic.

Older copies of Windows XP included a version that supported up to at
least 137 GB. Such a version is part of my BartPE CD. I would prefer
Partition Magic, but...

 

[JS]

Have not heard of it but took a look at there web site.
Product looks good but currently lacks one vital feature (which will be part
of a future release),
"Creation of bootable restore media to restore to drives that can't be
restored to from witin Windows"
so you apparently need Windows up and running to use Self Image.

JS

BTW: There is a freeware alternative to True Image and Ghost called Self
Image. Have you heard of it? What did you think?

 

[Will Pittenger]

Wrong. It has a plug in for BartPE. Problem solved.

Have not heard of it but took a look at there web site.
Product looks good but currently lacks one vital feature (which will be part
of a future release),
"Creation of bootable restore media to restore to drives that can't be
restored to from witin Windows"
so you apparently need Windows up and running to use Self Image.

JS

 

[JS]

It says "experimental BartPE plugin", that to me means a Beta ... run at
your own risk as there may be bugs!
But if it works then as you said .. problem solved.

JS

Wrong. It has a plug in for BartPE. Problem solved.

 

[Will Pittenger]

So would using True Image or Self Image allow me to skip reinstalling
Windows? Neither would be able to change anything on the partition.

Have not heard of it but took a look at there web site.
Product looks good but currently lacks one vital feature (which will be part
of a future release),
"Creation of bootable restore media to restore to drives that can't be
restored to from witin Windows"
so you apparently need Windows up and running to use Self Image.

JS

 

[PD43]

So would using True Image or Self Image allow me to skip reinstalling
Windows?

I read the info about Self Image... I'd be wary of that if I were you.

If you image a working system, you can use that image to restore
everything just as it was at the time the image was made.

 

[Will Pittenger]

So why do I kneed to be wary?

I read the info about Self Image... I'd be wary of that if I were you.

If you image a working system, you can use that image to restore
everything just as it was at the time the image was made.

 

[PD43]

So why do I kneed to be wary?

I didn't like what I read about doing restores. To many "ifs" for me.

With Acronis you can restore individual files, directories, etc from
within Windows, or you can boot to the bootable CD (that you make
using the Acronis software) and can easily restore the whole shebang.

 

[Bill in Co.]

I didn't like what I read about doing restores. To many "ifs" for me.

Well, forget the "I read" part, and go experience it, yourself.
System Restore pretty well in certain situations. And ERUNT works well in
others. You just need to be aware of their limitations.

But you're right, the no-brainer, surest approach is using True Image to
restore a backup image.

But with all three tools at your service, you're pretty well set.
Sometimes using TI is overkill.

With Acronis you can restore individual files, directories, etc from
within Windows, or you can boot to the bootable CD (that you make
using the Acronis software) and can easily restore the whole shebang.

Yup. Except that you don't need to *make* a bootable CD, as Acronis True
Image *comes* on a bootable CD.

 

[PD43]

Well, forget the "I read" part, and go experience it, yourself.
System Restore pretty well in certain situations. And ERUNT works well in
others. You just need to be aware of their limitations.

You missed the mark completely... again. When I said "system
restores" I was talking about the restores made by the 3rd party
imaging software we (the other person and I) were talking about and
comparing to Acronis, not XP's system restore.

 

[PD43]

Sometimes using TI is overkill.

You're out of your mind.

 

[PD43]

Yup. Except that you don't need to *make* a bootable CD, as Acronis True
Image *comes* on a bootable CD.

You're out of your mind... buying ATI in a box is hardly the only way
to get it. I've been downloading it since version 7.

 

[Bill in Co.]

You're out of your mind... buying ATI in a box is hardly the only way
to get it.

It's the most prudent way, though. You can get in a local store, if the
"wait" bothers you, but I just waited for mine to be delivered. (But then
again, I have old school patience, and I'm still using dialup, no problemo).

 

[Bill in Co.]

You're out of your mind.

Sigh... You have no idea what you are missing (if you think using TI is
the only good solution) (But then again, you'd have to get down in the
trenches a tad more.

 

[PD43]

It's the most prudent way, though.

Why?

 

[Bill in Co.]

Why?

A couple of reasons. I like the professionally-boxed CD with its inserts,
and the professionally-labeled, and factory-made, CD.

 

[PD43]

Sigh... You have no idea what you are missing (if you think using TI is
the only good solution)

Explain why it's "overkill".

One can use it to backup single files, a group of files/directories,
whatever. And can then choose to restore those same files one at a
time, whatever.

OR one can run a full/incremental/differential backup to image and do
the same at will after the image is created.

All from within Windows.

In the case of a complete crash... boot to the CD, restore the entire
system.

VOILA.

Overkill?

Nope.

That's really good software.

 

[PD43]

That's really good software.

And it only costs $28 at Newegg.com