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    Uhoh I can't boot now

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by millermagic, Jul 22, 2008.

  1. millermagic

    millermagic Rockin the pinktop

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    I was using Gparted to get rid of the extra partitions on my inspiron 1420 (recovery and media direct) and resizing the windows partition to 80gb.

    Now I can't boot :(

    I have sda1 and sda3 partitions that's all. I haven't created any new partitions yet. Is there a way I can fix this without having to reinstall windows?
     
    millermagic, Jul 22, 2008
    #1
  2. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

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    I don't think you've destroyed your Windows partition. Use the Recovery console and fixmbr. That should help.
     
    bmwrob, Jul 22, 2008
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  3. rubenvb

    rubenvb Notebook Consultant

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    What bmwrob means is this: boot from your windows installation cd/dvd and the first chance you get click on "repair". Let it try to do it automatically, otherwise you'll need to choose "open recovery console" and type the following:

    fixmbr

    or, if it doesn't work: fixboot

    Then restart and see what that gives
     
    rubenvb, Jul 22, 2008
    #3
  4. andyasselin

    andyasselin Notebook Deity

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    xp home or vista?

    is you windows partion active ?

    what error do you get when try boot ?

    fixmbr or fixboot

    also you boot.ini cound be messedup

    del c:\boot.ini then do bootcfg /rebuild
     
    andyasselin, Jul 22, 2008
    #4
  5. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

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    True, ruben, although I've never let Repair run automatically. And I obviously shouldn't have taken for granted that the OP was familiar with this process - sorry, mm.

    My machine has no password, so I just click OK, go ahead, yes, or dammit, I said do it, didn't I? . . . whatever the box says (I haven't done this in a while), and then at the prompt, type fixmbr. Luckily, I've never had to use fixboot. fixmbr has worked perfectly the two times I thought I blew away Windows. LOL
     
    bmwrob, Jul 22, 2008
    #5
  6. Yemo

    Yemo Notebook Consultant

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    try using your XP recovery disk..
     
    Yemo, Jul 22, 2008
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  7. millermagic

    millermagic Rockin the pinktop

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    It's vista business that isn't working. The partition is still intact but I cant boot to it.

    Lets say I were to install Linux Mint right now. Could I use Grub to find vista and mint?
     
    millermagic, Jul 22, 2008
    #7
  8. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    yes, actually MS says to type "bootrec.exe /fixmbr" works for me everytime.
     
    theZoid, Jul 22, 2008
    #8