Corrupted Boot Partition

[JayArras]

I have an XP/Vista dual boot system. Both OSes reside on different drives. A while back, I ran the Windows disk defrag program from XP. and specified that it defrag all drives. After that completed, I was no longer able to boot into my Vista option.

In retrospect, I realize that the defrag didn't know any better and probably moved the Vista boot sector on the Vista disk, since the program was run from the XP side. Now the boot program can't find the MBR. That's my theory. Do you think that this is the issue or could it be something else? Any ideas on what I can do to undo this mess? The process took place in August, so there is no chance of using System Restore. Can I use a program like Partition Magic to move the boot sector back (if that is really the issue.) It took me forever to set up the dual boot, so I'd rather not have to reinstall everything again.

Spare me any derogatory comments about keeping Vista, and thank you in advance for your input.

Jay

[cauzomb]

Hello, it is possible that the xp deframentation program messed up the vista MBR/MFT. You might try to repair the vista install using the vista installation dvd/cd. First boot the computer using the Vista CD/DVD, once you get the vista boot screen, select your environmental variables "laguage/time/keyboard" then click next. Then from the next screen select "repair your computer" you should then get a screen that shows the opperating systems currently installed; find and select the vista opperating system/drive, then click next. On the next screen select "command prompt"
From the command prompt type bootrec.exe /fixmbr then press enter, then type bootrec.exe /fixboot then press enter. From there, remove the vista installation CD/DVD and reboot your PC. If the XP defrag tool didn't do too much damage to the vista drive/system files, all should be well.

[JayArras]

Thanks! I'll give that a try this weekend and will report back my results.

[cauzomb]

OK, If this does not work, you may be faced with re-installing windows vista, as the xp installation was the only active file system at the time of defragging the other drive, so it didn't know what vista files were "protected system files" and most likely moved them to another part of the drive, messing up vista's boot sector/mbr or even vista's MFT "master file table" at the same time...

If the bootrec.exe fails to restore the partition's boot sector, master boot record or whatnot/ unable to boot to vista and you have important files that you need to backup, you may be able to browse/explore the vista partition for the important files via windows xp.. If you are unable to browse the partition via XP, there is a program from Acronis called "Disk Director Suite 10" This application allows you to scan a hard disk for data and restore it...

It costs money but it works! A good way to find out if that application will do what you need, check out the free demo version, it allows you to scan the hard drive, and look at the recoverable data, to see if it finds what you need... You can then buy the program either from a store, or pay for and download the full version from acronis.

I have used it to restore a deleted and formatted primary boot partition; that contained the entire drive's partition information "multiple partitions on a RAID volume containing photo's and another OS's temporary files/scratch disk and user profiles" to bootable status, with all the data intact...

[cauzomb]

I found some more info for you, regarding the bootrec.exe tool; via support.microsoft.com



http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

[JayArras]

Thanks for your continued support cauzomb! I don't think accessing the data will be an issue, although I did install Office '07 and the Adobe Technical Communication Suite on Vista, and wouldn't be able to access those applications until I resolve this problem. Due to some other committments, I haven't been able to try your suggestions yet, but I will, and will report back the outcome as I originally promised.

Jay

[cauzomb]

Thanks for the update Jay, I hope it works out.