Problem with FAT

[omegabeta]

On a P4 system initialy I had:
C - win98; D- winXP
The operator shutdown the computer using the button when it didn't work.
After restart, while Scandisk was running the operator shutdown again the computer(using the button of course).
Now the state of system is as following:
C- win98; D- no winP found E- looks like an image in the mirror of C volume.

Can I restore the initial configuration of the system?

Thanks in advance.

 

[linney]

Try running ChkDsk /r on your XP partitions from Recovery Console.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

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

 

[omegabeta]

Should I try to reinstall WinXP ?
Now the system work normally using Win98, but as I said the disk E looks like C. Can I restore the initial FAT ?

 

[linney]

Were you able to run ChkDsk from Recovery Console?

See the BootCfg command in Recovery Console and see if the can see your XP installation.

A Discussion About the Bootcfg Command and Its Uses

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

Perhaps posting a copy of your Boot.ini file may clear up any confusion about C or D, or C or E partitions you have.

Can your 98 installation see any of the XP files that are on D?

What error do you get when you try to boot into XP?

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

The option to repair XP (315341) is available as long as Setup can see the original installation on D.

A full clean install is also available to you but would require you to prepare a partition by creating one then formatting it to install XP into. This would mean the loss of all data in the new partition.

HOW TO: Partition and Format a Hard Disk in Windows XP (Q313348)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q313/3/48.asp

Read the paragraph,
"How to Partition and Format Your Hard Disk by Using Windows XP Setup."


For more help (shows enlargeable screenshots) go here.

http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPPro/installxppro1.htm

The more information you can supply about your problem may help in fixing it without any reinstalling at all.