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how to make hard disk bootable

Made a backup using Acrronis.

Then did a restore on to a new harddrive.
Could get the directory and all the files restored.

However not able to boot from the CD.
I reckon the boot sector files are missing.

How could I get the harddisk to boot.

Any pointers will appreciated.

.

rindi

Use an fdisk-like utility to make the partition "Active". There are a couple such tools on the UBCD (if acronis doesn't have such an option itself).

http://ultimatebootcd.com

Michael Best

You need to set hard drive to be an "active primary partition".
Use a disc tool such as "Paragon Partition Manager" http://www.paragon-software.com/business/hdm-server/ this is 30 day free trial (after that it's $599) to set drive as "active primary partition".

asidu

ASKER

thanks rindi and michael,

Acronis created the primary and boot partition.
do i need to make the primary or the boot partition as active.

Any pointers ?

Thanks

rindi

Only a primary partition can be bootable. I'm not sure what you mean with primary and boot partition though. Anyway, as setting the active flag is something simple that doesn't change any data on the disk, you can just try the first partition, and if it doesn't work, repeat the procedure for the next.

asidu

ASKER

rinid, i have the UBCD running.
I have been looking around the program how to set the active partion with
out any success.
Could you gie me some pointers.

Thnaks

asidu

ASKER

Managed to set the primary partition of the new hard drive as active.
But still cannot boot.

rindi

Some mainboards need the bootable HD to be the primary disk on the first IDE channel. Make sure you setup the disk that way (proper jumpers set, etc).

asidu

ASKER

K, will read about that.

Also I should have mention specifically that I am trying to boot from a SATA hard disk
which is connected to a PCI card. The back up was done from a IDE disk.

I am working on a Compaq Deskpro.

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dbrunton

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rindi

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asidu

ASKER

Thanks all for the inputs.

So far the test Agree with dbrunton logic.
Unable to boot from the SATA HD on PCI. although all the system partition
has been copied over.

Tried installing XP on with outs success as I need drivers at installation
time. The HD is not recognised so unable to install at the boot time.

I am planning to make a clone of the IDE to SATA HD not sure if that will be able to
boot.

Will try to do the necessary coming weekend.

rindi

Do you have a Link to the PCI SATA card so I can download it's manual? As mentioned it may not be possible to boot from devices attached to that card. Also if it is a RAID card, you may first have to setup an array before you can use an HD attached to it.

asidu

ASKER

rindi

Its SATA + ULtra ATA RAid Controller card made by VIA Technologies Inc.

I checked this link no mention of bootup http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/peripherals/serial-ata_raid/vt6421a/

Card name VIA VT6421 RAID PCI Card.

Thank you.

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rindi

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Michael Best

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asidu

ASKER

Thank you all guys for the pointers. Need to close this question as I have lost the stamina to get this sata hard disk to boot via the PCI card. I have also seek help from the manufacture of the chips. They could not give any guidance. Sadly I don't have the company who made the card. Nothing is mentioned in their manual, only thing the is marked as made in China.