No good deed goes unpunished - Boot problem

gibbons

gibbons

En-Route
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
3,385
Location
Rogers, Arkansas
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Display name:
iRide
I loaned my laptop computer to someone the other day and it came back unable to boot. Here's what happens:

The computer attempts a boot and goes to the screen that allows me to choose safe mode, safe mode with networking, last good boot, normal, etc. It doesn't matter what I try, the 'puter tries to boot and I get the Windows startup screen, then right back to the screen with the boot options again. I tried to do a disk scan and it only got to 10% then hung.

I'm suspecting a bad hard drive. I'm looking for a CD that will let me boot from the CD drive so I can try to access the hard drive and get some data off, but so far no joy.

Any ideas? Anybody know how to build a boot CD from another computer so I can try to boot the laptop up? Windows XP professional.

Thanks.
 
CapeCodJay said:
Is that an invite to any of us PoAer's Chip? :D
Click to expand...

I've flown with quite a few POAer's. Let me know if you're in this part of the country and I'm sure we can work something out. A flight in the Extra is worth the effort!!!
 
mikea said:
You can boot a Windows XP install CD and go into rescue mode for a DOS prompt. F3 I think. There's also a "repair install" but be very afraid of that.

From DOS (CMD) I think you can try FDISK /MBR to fix the boot record.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/69013

What you want is Bart PE which are commercially sold.

You can burn a Linux boot CD which will mount the hard drive. Search for Rescue CD or Knoppix.
Click to expand...

If you get to the point to where windows at least attempts to start your master boot record is not an issue.

Bart PE is free
http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/
 
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