I used partition magic 7 to merge two partitions, and now i have a big
problem with my system (Win XP, Winbook X1 laptop). I hope you can
help! Before merging partitions,
my only drive looked like this:
partition1: 4GB (NTFS, no data, was long ago used for linux)
partition2: 5GB (NTFS, my system drive for Windows XP)
partition3: 500MB (NTFS, no data, was long ago used for linux swap)
partition4: 20GB (FAT32, my files)
So, I was running out of space on my second partition (which was C:
drive
for XP), so I merged it with the first partition. Everything went
great,
until i restarted!! now i cant boot at all. my system just sits
there
with a black screen and a blinking cursor. No error messages, no
nothing.. just a black screen with a blinking cursor. i can enter
BIOS setup, i can boot from CD. I am a sys-admin, so i
tried
all the usual repair options. I ran the XP repair, tried most of the
XP utilities on the disk,
but no go! I even tried installing another copy of XP to partition 4
(which is D:), but still nothing. i also tried installing a fresh
copy of xp to an alternate folder on C:, and setting it as default
boot, still nothing... just a black screen when i boot. i also ran
the xp utility to rebuild teh boot.ini file. it looks fine, pointing
to the first partition. still nothing. i just get a black screen
after my bios
checks run. i can boot off a CD just fine, but nothing from any
partions. when i boot from CD (with my XP disk) I can see all my
files and partitions just fine. (the merge went through, it is just
not bootable)
I have tried running the partition magic restore/recovery disks, but
they give me errors and end up quitting. thank you very much!
Mark Scianna |
Request for Question Clarification by
secret901-ga
on
11 Sep 2002 09:43 PDT
I've experienced a similar problem with my computer before. I had two
partitions, one containing Linux and the other containing Windows XP.
When I merged the Linux partition into the Windows one, I was met with
a black screen and a blinking cursor when it restarted. The problem,
it turns out, was that the Linux partition contained the boot-loader.
When I delete the partition, the boot-loader (LILO) was removed from
the Master Boot Record and thus the computer was unable to load. I
resolved this issue by booting my computer from a windows boot disk
(Win 98, Win Me, doesn't matter). Once the boot loader is reloaded
into the system, the computer was able to load Windows XP.
Was one of the partions that you merged the one containing the Linux
data?
secret901-ga
|
Request for Question Clarification by
secret901-ga
on
11 Sep 2002 09:51 PDT
Oops, guess I didn't read your question carefully. Try booting
Windows XP with a boot disk and then follow the directions here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q315224
If that resolved the issue, please let me know.
|
Clarification of Question by
fishtaco-ga
on
11 Sep 2002 18:58 PDT
Well, i think you may be on to something. i am going to check it out.
initially i am skeptical because now when i boot off a floppy and use
FDISK to look at the partitions, partition 1 and 2 have been merged.
the linux one is no longer there, but has been merged with partition 2
(windows system). it seems like there is no boot loader at all,
windows or linux. however, i am going to try to follow the directions
from the link you gave me.
THANKS!!!
|
Clarification of Question by
fishtaco-ga
on
11 Sep 2002 19:17 PDT
OK, one question about your suggestion. i am following the
instructions from the microsoft link you gave me. i have to follow
the second set of instructions, "If Linux is NOT installed". It tells
me to run fdisk /mbr to remeove the disk signature from the MBR. 2
questions:
1. will i lose the data on the partition by doing this?
2. which partition should i do this on? i am assuming partition1
(which is now the merged partition of my former partition 1 and 2).
Thanks, Mark
|
Request for Question Clarification by
secret901-ga
on
11 Sep 2002 21:59 PDT
No, you will not lose data (at least to my experience). I was afraid
of losing my data like you, but it turns out that no data was lost.
Use the partition containing Windows XP (partition1). To be safe, you
can back up data just in case something happens.
If it is successful, please let me know and I can "officially" answer
your question.
secret901-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
fishtaco-ga
on
11 Sep 2002 22:56 PDT
didnt work. i also removed partiotion 3 (500MB) in case that was an
issue. now i only have 2 partitions, and about 500MB of unpartitioned
space. still just getting the black screen with blinking cursor on
startup. i backed up my files from partition 1 onto my FAT32
partition. i think i am now going to delete my windows partition,
recreate it, format, and install again. i cant think of anything else
to try. what do you think?
|
Request for Question Clarification by
secret901-ga
on
12 Sep 2002 00:14 PDT
I'm sorry that you weren't able to fix your problems. Perhaps the
fdisk /mbr works with my computer because I have only one partition,
thus there is no confusion. Why don't you try:
1) Putting the boot loader on the other partition, or
2) Merge the two partitions together and then try fdisk /mbr again.
Deleting your Windows partition and then reinstalling it again should
be only used as a last resort. Perhaps other researchers with more
experience will be able to help you to resolve this issue. I'm sorry
I couldn't be of any more help.
secret901-ga
|
