Boot problem

[The Astroman]

I cannot boot anymore! The PC fires up, the XP boot screen comes up, then it wants to scan one of my partitions for errors (it always does that, at every boot). I skip it, and then it freezes and does not continue to load. I can only access my comp thru the with out errors mode (dunno how to say it in english). I tried booting and selecting the "Last know working config" option, but still does the same... What should I do?

 

[converting_boxes]

Thats tough, but the only thing i can think of if everything else is working is to get a new hd. :/

 

[ghost]

If you can get to your desktop, go to the boot.ini file in C: (it`s a hidden file!)

then copy & paste it here ...

 

[The Astroman]

I just did, a couple of days ago. But how come it doesn't work anymore all of a sudden? The disk manager thing told me there was no more space on the partition with Windows on it, but it can't be that seeing as I deleted some heavy files on it after.

EDIT: Checking boot.ini...

 

[ghost]

Very dodgy !, just back everything up just incase your hdd is on it`s way out.

 

[The Astroman]

boot.ini (my XP is in french )

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP dition familiale (bootscreen)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /KERNEL=kernel1.exe

HijackThis log (ya never know)

 

[ghost]

how many partitions do you have on your SATA HDD ?

ALSO take the space out of the WINDOWS

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP dition familiale (bootscreen)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn /KERNEL=kernel1.exe

 

[The Astroman]

There is no space, I don't know why it was posted like this. There is one partition on the SATA hdd and two on another IDE disk and my OS is on one of those 2.

 

[ghost]

Ummm....

first try running fdisk on you pc and find out what partition number is using the OS 1 or 2 but it should deffently 1

then make sure the HDD with the OS on it is in MASTER with the jumper config !

If that don`t work try taking the SATA hdd out and try that !

If that don`t help then i havn`t got a clue....
you may have to reinstall your OS

 

[The Astroman]

Jumper is on CS; always worked like that (tried putting it on master: doesn't work)... How can I run fdisk?

 

[The Astroman]

I am trying to repair my copy of XP using the CD, but it asks me the admin password and I don't know it, is there a program out there that will let me unveil the password? Found the admin password, but then I get a command prompt, how do I repair XP?

I created a new boot sector on the partition where XP is now, but it still doesn't work.. HELP!!

Also, the utility that scans my partiton DOESN'T SCAN THE PARTITION WITH XP ON IT BUT THE OTHER PARTITION (SAME DISK)

 

[ghost]

to run fdisk you need a FLOPPY windows 98 setup disk
i think you can download the files off the internet, if you don`t have one
then put the floppy in and restart the pc and put in FDISK in the c prompt

to repair windows you need to find out what files need installing/replacing (NO HELP TO YOU IN THIS SENARIO )

but i think you may need do delete the partation the OS is on and start again

 

[The Astroman]

Format the partition the OS is on?? I'm gonna need somebody else to confirm that, as that would be a painful and long process, seeing as I would have to manually sort out what I want to keep or not. Waiting for a confirmation...

 

[ghost]

yeh it will be best to get a 2`nd opinion before doing a mission like that

 

[The Astroman]

I think what I'll do is the following:

Disk 1: IDE, Partitions C and G
Disk 2: SATA, Partition H

1) Create new partition J on the SATA drive, as to have H and J
2) Copy partition C contents on J
3) Format partition C (is it possible to format just one partition? or do I just have to select everything in the partition and delete?)
4) Install XP Pro on Partition C
5) Put files (like from old my docs-> New my docs) from J to C.

a) possible?
b) Good idea?

 

[ghost]

yes it is possible to format only one partition !!

and yeh it`s seem like a good way to go about fixing this problem

 

[The Astroman]

Is it possible to install a XP Pro english so that it replaces my current XP home french, without having to format the partition it's on?

 

[Silu]

Try to reinstall os from a bootable CD. insert the WIN2000 or XP bootable Cd in CD drive. It will automatically creat partition, format your drive and install operating system.

 

[Holiday]

Format C:

delete all partitions except for the one with windows, create a new partition, use windows to copy\move any files that you want to keep from the windows partition to the one you just created then delete the windows partition and reinstall windows, and yes it will give you the option to install it in English