PartMagic and Win2K problems...

[KuriousJorj]

Hello, all!

[Tried the 'search' function to solve this, but to no avail...!]

I have a multi-boot system (3): Win98, Win2K (gaming) and Win2K (video editing). There is also a "storage" partition for random files.

All OS parts. are Fat32, the Storage part. is NTFS.

PartMagic is on the Win2K (video editing) part.

So, I wanted to take free space from (1) Win98 and (2) Storage, and add it to the Win2K (gaming) part., as it was getting full. Remember, the Storage part. is NTFS.

So... I made the changes, rebooted, and on the "4th action" (taking from Storage and adding to Win2k (gaming)), the process locked up.

I restarted, and in Win2K (video editing) I opened up PartMagic. It identified ALL CHANGES, but under "My Computer," all changes but the last were recognized. In other words, Win98 and Storage were smaller, but the Win2K (gaming) was only increased by the amount taken from Win98, NOT from Storage.

When I restarted again, it identified the space from Storage as "unallocated." It won't let me move that space into Win2K (gaming), and in fact, I can't do ANYTHING with Win2K (gaming) now, as it says there are LOST CLUSTERS. I tried taking the unallocated space, making a new Fat32 part, then merging that with Win2K, but again said LostClusters...

In conclusion... I cannot DEFRAG Win2K (says it is "locked"), and I can't even BOOT into Win2K (gaming); all I gat is a BLUE SCREEN OF DEATH!!!

 

[PAndersen]

Maybe, in safe mode, you can repair the FAT of the Win2K partition, using CHKDSK. The message of lost clusters may indicate that there are some uncompleted pointers to the 'Storage space'. (This is not an expert's advice!)

 

[KuriousJorj]

I'll have to try that...

However, last night I used the 2K disk to REPAIR the Win2K gaming partition... This should have fixed the FAT, MBR, or whatever else, I'd think. (it did claim to overwrite alot of files that "weren't the original files")

But it didn't change anything; I still get Blue Screens if I try to boot into it.

And after the repair, the volume doesn't even appear under "My Computer" of the other drives! However, it does appear in MMC (disk management and defrag) but neither can do anything with it. If I try to defrag, it now says it's a 'read-only' disk.

Interestingly, I did do a (?)'disk check' under properties/tools tab... But it obviously didn't help any.

So now, I still can't boot into the Win2K gaming (now called "Win 2K Prof" after the repair), and I can't even access the drive under My Computer so as to pull files off of it!!!

Good ol' Partition Magic!!!

 

[PAndersen]

..and I can't even access the drive under My Computer so as to pull files off of it!!!" ..when running the Win2k video editing version ?

 

[KuriousJorj]

..when running the Win2k video editing version ?"

Yes. In "My Computer" the Win2k Gaming volume is no longer there.

But disk management and defrag (both under mmc) show it (gaming), but can't do anything with it.

 

[PAndersen]

This reference may be of interest :

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=246146

 

[wolluf]

Did you try running chkdsk? (either from a command prompt - it will only run on restart for the system partition - or from recovery console).

fwiw - I'd always ensure that all partitions are same filestore type before letting PM loose on rejigging several of them at once (and in fact I've had problems even after converting one to same as others before starting). I'd do changes one at a time as well.
Also, with multi-boot systems you may damage boot sectors/options when resizing partitions.
(but none of this helps your siutation now - sorry).

If you have the capability, I'd suggest backing up and starting again - I suspect you may never be able to rejig the current configuration back into shape properly (if win98 & win2k video editing installations are still working, can you image these so you could just reload them as is?

 

[KuriousJorj]

Those do look like the problems I'm having...

...but the risks of using dskprobe sound high!

 

[PAndersen]

Before giving up ... an idea to boot to the primary partition (Win98) and try SCANDISK ?

 

[wolluf]

There's a risk running scandisk or chkdsk on partitions where a repartitioning has only partly completed. The repair can be worse than original problem - because the partitions are not in a correct state to be repaired (ie, they do not contain all the right information).

 

[KuriousJorj]

I almost feel like cutting my losses, pulling whatever files I can, then trying the repairs...While being ready to scrap the whole friggen thing and reformat if necessary.

It's gotten worse; my Win2K Filmmaking drive is apparently a little messed up... (although I didn't resize it, is was "moved" by PartMagic in the process). Now, AcidPro (music editor) won't work, and Vegas (video) is missing a .dll. I've tried reinstalling Acid, but no change; it won't run.

I have festival deadlines at the end of this month, and can't afford to deal with this mess now. My short film was almost finished, and now THIS?!?!?