Hard drive boot problem!

mentalteen777 · 07-28-2008, 05:46 PM

I have a Seagate 320gb Hard drive, and all of a sudden it will not boot.
I cant get into windows so I downloaded Parted Magic and booted it up, seeing other stories like mine, I followed Eneles thinking up to the rebuild Fat option, but mine is NFTS and I dont have that option, I know the Hd is ok because I used a program a recovery program and I saw all of my stuff, I just dont have anywhere to put it, can anyone help me out?

**peterhuang913** · 07-28-2008, 06:27 PM

If the computer itself boots, you can try a Windows repair.

mentalteen777 · 07-28-2008, 06:42 PM

tried that, but I dont have the option. I need someone who knows about Parted MAgic's Test disk feature

~~wiseleo~~ · 07-28-2008, 07:39 PM

Mental - please follow my procedure in the signature.

Once a disk does this, it can no longer be trusted and should be replaced.

mentalteen777 · 07-28-2008, 08:07 PM

Ill try that as soon as I get word from Eneles- hes the guy Im looking for

**Deleted090308** · 07-28-2008, 11:27 PM

What happens when Windows tries to load? Error messages?

mentalteen777 · 07-29-2008, 12:09 AM

Ah thanks for the reply eneles, Ive been waiting for you...
it doesnt load, it gets stuck at boot cd:

mentalteen777 · 07-29-2008, 12:30 AM

I had that invalid partition table problem for a while, along with ntldr is missing

**Deleted090308** · 07-29-2008, 02:38 AM

Please expain:
When did you have the "partition table problem"?
Gets stuck at boot cd? Do you have the Windows CD in the drive? If so, is the CD OK - no scratches, smudges etc?

If the boot process gets stuck trying to find a bootable CD when there isn't any in the drive - then you have to look at the boot priority in BIOS. CD should be #1, HDD (with Windows on) #2.

mentalteen777 · 07-29-2008, 12:16 PM

I had the problem first for a while, then I got parted magic and was following your guide Eneles- but then I got stuck, no the windows cd isnt in the drive, but the cd is fine, the boot priority is already cd 1, hdd 2

mentalteen777 · 07-29-2008, 02:46 PM

by first problem I mean invalid partition table, Im really bad at this post thing

~~wiseleo~~ · 07-29-2008, 03:08 PM

The first step is to image the drive. Attempting to work on the failing disk may lead to data loss. :)

**Deleted090308** · 07-30-2008, 01:33 AM

I think you should try this first:

Start the computer with the Windows CD.
At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to select the repair option.
You will have to enter the Administrator password - if none, just press <Enter>.
The Windows installation will be detected - usually called "1" >> select that.
In the recovery console - type bootcfg /rebuild > press <Enter>.
The drive will be scanned and you will be asked to:
Add installation to boot list? Press Y.
Next prompt: Enter Load Identifier: > type Windows XP > press <Enter>.
Another prompt: Enter OS Load options: > type /fastdetect > press <Enter>.
Take the Windows disc out.
Type Exit > press <Enter>.

mentalteen777 · 07-30-2008, 01:42 AM

I have already tried all of that, and it doesnt work because it cant find the installation, trust me when I say that I will probably have to use parted magic to fix up the partition, keep throwing suggestions at me, I appreciate your help but Im pretty sure parted magic is the way to go, the problem I thought origianlly was the lack of a boot.ini file, because thats what I dont have, I have tried copying it from the windows disk to the hd, but it just doesnt work, read this and tell me what you think, Im pretty set on using test on parted amgic.......

mentalteen777 · 07-30-2008, 02:57 AM

The reason Im hooked on the idea is because Ive tried almost everything else, but ya, keep throwing ideas, the more the better....

~~wiseleo~~ · 07-30-2008, 03:10 AM

I am just waiting until you decide to use my approach. :) I am pretty sure nothing else will work.

Testdisk is not a part of Parted Magic. It's a separate program.

mentalteen777 · 07-30-2008, 02:16 PM

It doesnt matter, the fact is I have a bootable parted magic cd that has test disk as one of its features, and one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to test disk that Ive seen in these forums is Eneles...

mentalteen777 · 07-30-2008, 08:37 PM

ok dok, I figured out that the mft mirror along with mft are bad, so ya the drive structure is toast, Ill try your thing now Mr Wise, glad you stayed confident...only problem is I dont have a big enough hd to match the botched one....

**Deleted090308** · 07-30-2008, 10:04 PM

In TestDisk:
A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key.
B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>.
C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>.
D. Choose Advanced > press <Enter>.
E. Choose Boot > press <Enter>.
F. Select Rebuild BS > press <Enter>.

Continue, close TD and reboot the computer.

TD again:
A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key.
B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>.
C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>.
D. Choose Advanced > press <Enter>.
E. Choose Boot > press <Enter>.
F. Select Repair MFT > press <Enter>.

Continue, close TD and reboot the computer.

mentalteen777 · 07-30-2008, 11:43 PM

I did the rebuild bs, then got numbers and such, then extrapolated boot sector and current boot sector are different, then I reboot and did the Repair MFT, but it said MFT and MFT Mirror are bad, failed to repair them
:( IM screwed arent I?

07-28-2008, 05:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Hard drive boot problem! I have a Seagate 320gb Hard drive, and all of a sudden it will not boot. I cant get into windows so I downloaded Parted Magic and booted it up, seeing other stories like mine, I followed Eneles thinking up to the rebuild Fat option, but mine is NFTS and I dont have that option, I know the Hd is ok because I used a program a recovery program and I saw all of my stuff, I just dont have anywhere to put it, can anyone help me out? Last edited by mentalteen777; 07-28-2008 at 06:13 PM.

07-28-2008, 06:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
peterhuang913 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 946 OS: XP Home SP2	Re: Hard drive boot problem! If the computer itself boots, you can try a Windows repair.

07-28-2008, 06:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! tried that, but I dont have the option. I need someone who knows about Parted MAgic's Test disk feature Last edited by mentalteen777; 07-28-2008 at 07:03 PM.

07-28-2008, 07:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~wiseleo~~ Troubled Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 461 OS: Win 2003 SP2 My System	Re: Hard drive boot problem! Mental - please follow my procedure in the signature. Once a disk does this, it can no longer be trusted and should be replaced.

07-28-2008, 08:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! Ill try that as soon as I get word from Eneles- hes the guy Im looking for

07-28-2008, 11:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive boot problem! What happens when Windows tries to load? Error messages?

07-29-2008, 12:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! Ah thanks for the reply eneles, Ive been waiting for you... it doesnt load, it gets stuck at boot cd:

07-29-2008, 12:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! I had that invalid partition table problem for a while, along with ntldr is missing

07-29-2008, 02:38 AM	#9 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive boot problem! Please expain: When did you have the "partition table problem"? Gets stuck at boot cd? Do you have the Windows CD in the drive? If so, is the CD OK - no scratches, smudges etc? If the boot process gets stuck trying to find a bootable CD when there isn't any in the drive - then you have to look at the boot priority in BIOS. CD should be #1, HDD (with Windows on) #2.

07-29-2008, 12:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! I had the problem first for a while, then I got parted magic and was following your guide Eneles- but then I got stuck, no the windows cd isnt in the drive, but the cd is fine, the boot priority is already cd 1, hdd 2

07-29-2008, 02:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! by first problem I mean invalid partition table, Im really bad at this post thing

07-29-2008, 03:08 PM	#12 (permalink)
~~wiseleo~~ Troubled Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 461 OS: Win 2003 SP2 My System	Re: Hard drive boot problem! The first step is to image the drive. Attempting to work on the failing disk may lead to data loss. :)

07-30-2008, 01:33 AM	#13 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive boot problem! I think you should try this first: Start the computer with the Windows CD. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to select the repair option. You will have to enter the Administrator password - if none, just press <Enter>. The Windows installation will be detected - usually called "1" >> select that. In the recovery console - type bootcfg /rebuild > press <Enter>. The drive will be scanned and you will be asked to: Add installation to boot list? Press Y. Next prompt: Enter Load Identifier: > type Windows XP > press <Enter>. Another prompt: Enter OS Load options: > type /fastdetect > press <Enter>. Take the Windows disc out. Type Exit > press <Enter>.

07-30-2008, 01:42 AM	#14 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! I have already tried all of that, and it doesnt work because it cant find the installation, trust me when I say that I will probably have to use parted magic to fix up the partition, keep throwing suggestions at me, I appreciate your help but Im pretty sure parted magic is the way to go, the problem I thought origianlly was the lack of a boot.ini file, because thats what I dont have, I have tried copying it from the windows disk to the hd, but it just doesnt work, read this and tell me what you think, Im pretty set on using test on parted amgic.......

07-30-2008, 02:57 AM	#15 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! The reason Im hooked on the idea is because Ive tried almost everything else, but ya, keep throwing ideas, the more the better....

07-30-2008, 03:10 AM	#16 (permalink)
~~wiseleo~~ Troubled Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 461 OS: Win 2003 SP2 My System	Re: Hard drive boot problem! I am just waiting until you decide to use my approach. :) I am pretty sure nothing else will work. Testdisk is not a part of Parted Magic. It's a separate program.

07-30-2008, 02:16 PM	#17 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! It doesnt matter, the fact is I have a bootable parted magic cd that has test disk as one of its features, and one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to test disk that Ive seen in these forums is Eneles...

07-30-2008, 08:37 PM	#18 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! ok dok, I figured out that the mft mirror along with mft are bad, so ya the drive structure is toast, Ill try your thing now Mr Wise, glad you stayed confident...only problem is I dont have a big enough hd to match the botched one.... Last edited by mentalteen777; 07-30-2008 at 08:40 PM.

07-30-2008, 10:04 PM	#19 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Hard drive boot problem! In TestDisk: A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key. B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>. C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>. D. Choose Advanced > press <Enter>. E. Choose Boot > press <Enter>. F. Select Rebuild BS > press <Enter>. Continue, close TD and reboot the computer. TD again: A. At the first window, select “No Log” and press the <Enter> key. B. Select which drive to analyse, choose “Proceed” and <Enter>. C. Select partition type – Intel if it’s a PC then <Enter>. D. Choose Advanced > press <Enter>. E. Choose Boot > press <Enter>. F. Select Repair MFT > press <Enter>. Continue, close TD and reboot the computer.

07-30-2008, 11:43 PM	#20 (permalink)
mentalteen777 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 31 OS: XP	Re: Hard drive boot problem! I did the rebuild bs, then got numbers and such, then extrapolated boot sector and current boot sector are different, then I reboot and did the Repair MFT, but it said MFT and MFT Mirror are bad, failed to repair them :( IM screwed arent I? Last edited by mentalteen777; 07-30-2008 at 11:51 PM.