Recovering from a fdisk\mbr

Try booting to the Recovery Console and use the command fixbmr..  You may even have to run the fixboot and bootcfg /rebuild also...

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console.

http://www.jsifaq.com/subn/tip6500/rh6552.htm

Hi
You could try the recovery console to fix the mbr
http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm
And check out PeteLong's answre here:
http:Q_20897186.html

Deb :))

Hi Darylm1,

You will need to boot of the CD to a recovery console and then run FIXMBR.
Reference : http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314058

Good luck.
;-)

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20408614/mean-of-fdisk-mbr.html
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20897186/How-do-I-restore-the-MASTER-BOOT-RECORD-MBR-in-win-Xp-Pro.html

Darn you're quick FE :))

First time I ever beat anyone..  :)

One things for sure, we are all in agreement, eh..?

FE

lol yes :))

Just noticed I mispelled the command in the first comment..  uuhhh..  Fixmbr..!!!!

In a rush, I guess..  sorry..

FE

Can I use the Automated System recovery (f2) option ?

I ask because I am at work and borrowed a XP CD whihc asks for the admin password which there was no password set on this laptop under the admin account.

If I reinstall Xp will I loose the programs that I have installed as well or will xp just replace itself ?

No..  you will be just fine..  Although, you may have to reinstall some of the apps, you will loose no data..  Just do not delete the partition..  


Repair Installation of XP

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm 

BTW:  when it asked for a password did you try just hitting enter without the password..??  I assume you are speaking of the Recovery Console..

FE

Is there a Fdisk/mbr for xp that I can download and install from somewhere ?

FE,
Here is what I did :
boot off of XP CD
selected  recovery mode
Prompted for a password blank entry worked
brought me to C:\windows prompt

Just want to be sure ... type "fixmbr" here ??

FE,

Ran fixmbr from C:\windows  (default prompt) and rebooted.

System will run the windows startup screen and then display a message that autocheck program cannot be found and then it reboots again.
Do I need the fixboot and bootcfg /rebuild also ?

Are there any options that I need or just run the commands ?

Well, it looks like we are getting closer...  autochk.exe should be located in the system32 folder..  Not being found could be a result of corruption in the registry..  I believe it is located in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\

At this point, you may want to try the other commands..  If they do not work, we can try installing another copy of autochk into the folder...   You may need to copy it from a known good working system though..

FE

Regarding the commands, ck out my link to the RC above for a full description of the commands and switches...  but basically they are just  :   fixboot c:  and bootcfg /rebuild

BTW:  if you have a similar system there, you can copy autochk.exe onto a floppy, and we can try to copy it into the system32 folder on your hard drive...  If this does not work, we may need to go to more extreme measures...  

Just so you know, here is the next step if we get nowhere with the above..

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry that Prevents Windows XP from Starting

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;307545& 

FE,

I copied the autochk.exe from another XP box and the same autochk not found -skipping autochk error comes up.

Do you think I would be better off reinstalliing Xp from CD as opposed to attempting the last item you mentioned ?

I will try the bootcfg /rebuild again and see what happens.

Seems kind of  weird to have to recover the whole OS for the mbr.

FE,

I get promted to enter a load Identifier and OS load options after running the bootcfg /rebuild commands.

What should I put there ?

If I don't put anything in those places I get  a "Failed to add the selected boot entry to the boot list"


Thanks

Boy, I bet you don't ever try that (creating a autoexec disk) again on your system..  :)

I personally like the registry reset mentioned above, but if you feel more comfortable reloading/repairing from the CD, that too should work just fine..  and like I mentioned above, you should still have all your data..  

That load Id is for identifying the OS installed..  hmm.. let me see if I can find a link..  ok..

http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBI/tip4300/rh4392.htm

FE,

This machine has a copy of "goback" on the hard disk. Can I just reinstall windows XP without wiping any other "data", then reinstall "Goback" and restore previous settings ?

A very good question..  If GoBack has a good copy of your registry, I don't see why not..  Although I don't use it, and never have, I understand what it does..  very similar to System Restore..  And at this point, it is worth a shot.

Goback has a copy of the entire hard disk. It keeps a record for the previous two weeks of use. I saw the compressed image on the hard disk.

I do have an 80 gig external hard disk that I could use to copy that file to, then re-install windows xp, then re-install Goback and last the goback compressed file.

I wonder why you can't simply rebuild the XP MBR ?  Any ideas ??

So far everything I have tried has worked but hasn't changed a thing. (If that makes any sense)

I just tried chkdsk /r and it completed and I still can't boot in to XP . I still get hung up on that can't find autochk.exe issue.

Tell you the truth, I don't know why it is not working for you..  One of the many great mysteries in the world of computing..  Not that we have never been up against this before, eh..?

FE,

Here is how things stand right now.

If I try to setup Xp I get an error that says "Windows Xp cannot reconize the partition you selected."  I do have the option of deleting the partition and starting over.

If I go through the Rcovery portion I can get to a C prompt and see some of the files including that goback compressed file.

That file is 4gb in size . The laptop has a cd burner in it and I do have access to an external 80 gig usb drive.
The problem is that I don't have a DOS utility that will let me use the USB hard disk or a DOS utility that will allow me to burn a cd.

Do you you know of any ???

Thanks

JUST DO A REPAIR INSTALL OF WINDOWS XP.

It only takes 20 minutes or so, and you will not lose any of your registry settings.

Unfortunately, you will have to do all your Windows XP updates and DirectX and Media Player over again... but everything else will be OK.

I use the repair install to transport my "system" from motherboard to motherboard... I;ve been running the same install of Windows since Windows 95 Beta.

Cheers.

JUST DO A REPAIR INSTALL OF WINDOWS XP!

And why the hell did you need an "autoexec disk" in the first place?  Boot of CD like the rest of the world!  :)

Paul..  he can't since XP is not recognizing the partition..  His only option (as he said) is to delete it, which we certainly do not want to do...

In that case if it does not recognize the partition for repair, try switching the master/slave configuration of the drives.  Sometimes the (R)epair option  will not show up until you swap the master/slave setting... Its a weird thing, but it works sometimes.

Never tried that before..  Interesting..  thanks Paul for the input..

FE,

Problem has been solved via your method. Thanks!

How can you change the master/slave config on a laptop drive ?????

Ha...  never seen a laptop with 2 drives and don't even know if they exist..  therefore never had to mess with the master/slave relationship on one..  If I had my laptop with me, I would ck, but I really don't think there is that option..  I think Paul was thinking in terms of a desktop system..

Glad we could get this resolved, and the PE cd worked for you..  Keep it around, it may come in handy in the future..

Thanks.

FE