I made a mistake installing Win 7 beta partition

[Norgermish]

Thank you for looking at this thread.
Please redirect me if necessary.
"XP system, tried to dual boot with Win 7 beta using Acronis to create partition"

I used Acronis Partion Director Suite to create a new partion on my hard drive. Originally had XP but wanted to try the Win7 beta. In the process of partitioning I believe I made two active partitions. Then I went directly to installing with the win7 beta cd. Now I get nothing on start up. Only a blinking curser _ ! There was the "NTLDR is missing Press any key to restart" error message, but now not even that comes up. I am hoping there might be a way to delete the partition that I made for Win 7 but I really don't know how or even if it is possible.
This is a really dumb mistake...and I deserve any remarks that come. I did back up most of the stuff I needed but it would be nice to fix it anyway.
Thanks I really appreciate any and all suggestions

 

[linney]

Did the installation of Windows 7 complete successfully, and if it did, were there any problems with the reboots that occur during any install?

Assuming that you never got Windows 7 installed, does Acronis have any rescue disk that can undo what you have done so far?

As far as XP is concerned see is there is any success if you load the Recovery Console and run the ChkDsk /r command, and look also the FixBoot, FixMbr, or Bootcfg commands.

How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307654&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

A Discussion About the Bootcfg Command and Its Uses

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q291/9/80.asp

How to Use System Files to Create a Boot Disk to Guard Against Being Unable to Start Windows XP (Q314079)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/79.asp

Q305595 - HOW TO: Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q305/5/95.asp

HOW TO: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP (Q289022)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q289/0/22.asp

Can your Acronis software sort out any problem with the wrong partition being set as Active, otherwise you might have to look at Fdisk from a DOS floppy or CD Booting method?

 

[Norgermish]

Hi thanks for the reply:

Windows 7 did not successfully install.

I do have the Acronis Disk Director Suite, it contains a rescue console. When inserted the Suite starts, I click to enter the recovery process but it just goes to a black screen and stalls there.

I have tried the recovery console through windows set up. When prompted to enter Administrator password it does not allow me in. This is a Dell Dimension E521. I set it up when it was new and did not use an Admin password as this is just a home computer.
I couldn't understand why it won't allow me in, so I used a password recovery program,it revealed what I thought and showed the password as [BLANK].

Through the XP set up I did remove the Win 7 from the new partition I created but, I am sure that still leaves the now empty partition active and still leaves the computer wondering where to start from.

Incidently I found what looks to be a pretty good article on the steps to recover XP from a crash.

http://webcast.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=8658-1

But since I can't seem to get past the [BLANK] password I'm out of luck on that issue.
Is there something I am missing concerning passwords left blank in XP?\

Thanks again for the help

 

[Freestone]

Can you boot Disk Director itself (not its Recovery Console), either in Normal or Safe mode? If so, perhaps you can examine the partitioning and active status better.

 

[linney]

Your drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software on their web site to thoroughly check the condition of your hard drive. It might be worth running such software?

Were you able to run Fdisk to see what partitions are marked as Active?

If you can get your hands on a Windows 2000 CD and run the Recovery Console from there then the security in that version is a lot less stringent than in XP's and you should not need any password. However a blank password ought to have worked in XP.

See if there is any useful information in this thread, particularly the MbrWork program.

Cannot Boot into XP - Recovery Console does not work
thread779-1154310

 

[Norgermish]

I set to boot from CD. Disk Director boots as Acronis Rescue Media - w/ 2 options:
1. Acronis Disk Director Full Version (recommended)
2. Windows
Either instance only boots to a blank screen with blinking curser.

I tried to boot in SAFE MODE but there is no luck.
I tried several different keys, F8, Delete, F5 nothing works.

 

[Norgermish]

linney,
Thanks I'll get to work on your suggestions.
I do have Win2k CD with me also.
Yes, I figured the blank password thing ought to work as well. I have used Admin passwords in the past on other machines but always the same one. I tried it and still nothing.

 

[Freestone]

Hmm, I guess when the Acronis Rescue Media was created, Acronis Disk Director Safe version was not selected to be included. I know that isn't useful to you now, but bear it in mind in the future when creating the Rescue ?Media again. I am assuming you are using the latest Disk Director (version 10.0, build 2160).

Linney's link to thread779-1154310 definitely should be looked at.

 

[Norgermish]

linney,
I did get into the recovery console using Win2k cd. I did run a command called DISKPART in the command line.
Not sure what it tells me but here it is:

131070 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi
-- Unknown 55 MB
Unpartitioned space 121954 MB
-- Unknown 4754 MB
C: NTFS 25823 MB

The unpartioned space is where I originally tried to install Win 7, but as stated before I did deleted the Win 7 install through XP setup. I don't know what the unknown partitions are?

I did try Bootcfg but it is not a recognized command. Maybe because it is the WIN2k cd?

How about Fixboot or Fixmbr?

It just seems like it is still trying to boot from something that doesn't exist ie; my telling it to make new partition active and probably screwed up the boot record.

Is it possible for me to delete the large unpartition space completely?

Sorry for all the questions. I do appreciate the time you spend with this issue. Am sure you got other stuff to deal with too.

 

[Norgermish]

Hi Freestone,

Yes I was actually diverted in the process and didn't complete the necessary backups. Hence the stupid mistake. When I realized the mistake I made in the new partition I went for the rescue media and, couldn't find it...oooops!!! Anyway yes it is v.10. It was the first time using Acronis, I used PartitionMagic 8 before but there was something I didn't like about it, so I tossed the program. Can't remember what it was though.
Any clue as to why the bootcfg command is "not recognized" on my system?
Thanks

 

[linney]

If C: is your XP system were you able to put the booting files on a floppy (or CD) and get it to load XP? The files you require are Ntldr and Ntdetect.com plus a correct Boot.ini file that is pointing to C: drive.

I think you should try and get XP working and then use XP to fix up the problems with the rest of your hard drive via Disk Management.

If you can't create the required booting media or if it fails to work then do try the FixBoot and FixMbr commands, also try the ChkDsk /r command, it shouldn't matter if they are run from 2000 Recovery Console. Ignore any warning from FixMbr if you run it.

You could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

If you can boot from the XP CD you will also notice that it has several options for creating, deleting, and formatting partitions. You might be able to make use of these to remove your past mistakes.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313348#appliesto

 

[Norgermish]

Thanks linney,

I'll have plenty to work with now. I do know that I can do the reinstall, it is an option after I try the other suggestions. I appreciate you all sharing your knowledge. I consider my mistakes a learning experience so while I am in the middle of a mistake I might as well learn all I can. (-:
No sense in screwing up and not having fun with it, right!
I'll let you all know how it turns out.
Thanks again

 

[Freestone]

DISKPART may be used to reveal more about the partitions than what you listed above. It can also be used to mark a partition active. Post if you'd like more help using DISKPART.

 

[linney]

DiskPart from the Recovery Console is not the same as Diskpart that is run from within Windows. The version in the Recovery Console is a lot less powerful with not as many options available.

 

[Freestone]

Thanks for that, linney. I will withdraw the offer.