Hey guys, I got a big problem this time around. I use my laptop for school and work and really need to get it fixed. I am not sure how this happened but I was using Partition Magic to partition my external HD and it told me to restart the computer.
Next thing I know It is telling me windows failed to start and to enter startup repair. So I enter startup repair and it has no OS to repair…and since I have never been to this screen it didn’t seem weird. So I end up at System Recovery Options, startup repair restarts but just loops me back here.
I then try System Restore. Which gives me a message “To perform an offline System Restore you must specify which Windows installation you would like to restore.” So I enter the dos command and it tells me I have no restore points, which is weird because I have used the feature before.
I then try Complete PC Restore. I get the error "A device attached to the system is not functioning. (0x8007001F)
I try messing around at the command prompt and that is where I think I found the problem. My command prompt is X:. It doesn’t recognize any other drives, so something happened to my C: and my windows installation. This X: drive has a couple folds on it such as dell, Program files, soures, Tools, Users, and Windows. But I can’t use it at all to launch windows or restore anything.
The last thing on the list which I really didn’t wanna try was Dell Factory Image Restore. But I needed the comp so I went ahead and tried it. It gets about halfway through the first “Reformatting hard drive” bar when it gives me “Error” Its blank except for a big red circle with a white x in the middle. The only option is OK, which loops me back to the system recovery screen.
I tried booting with Vista and XP cd and neither did anything. I figure I have to do something with my hard drive but I don’t know what. Someone please help me. I really need this computer up and running tonight.
I think I need to somehow format my C: but the computer doesn’t recognize it.
I’m going to guess that the Dell factory image (and the other repair tools you’ve tried) won’t work because you’ve resized your primary partition.
If possible, download patition magic (or the free GParted Live CD) and resize the hard drive to its original size. Modern dells should come with two partitions, the size of which, I am unclear about.
You’ve essentially lost all of your data already, unfortunately. If you need to retrieve them, I’m sure there are some free solutions out there, but none I know off-hand.
Right now I am no longer worried about the data just getting the computer to start. How can I download or use partition magic? I can only access the command prompt on the laptop now. All I can see from there is this new X: which wasn’t there before. Though it does say its my recovery drive. Like I said no recovery works then.
Since Partition Magic is a commercial application, it costs money, which might not be what you’d like.
Try GParted: GParted -- Live CD/USB/PXE/HD
Burn the ISO file onto a CD, and reboot your computer with the CD in the drive. You should be able to use the program to resize the partitions to your liking.
If you happen to have Partition Magic already, the CD may also be bootable… but I’m not sure.
I have used this free program with great success before
Easeus Partition Manager
Do you have any recovery disks? I’m assuiming you tried safe mode, if not you just boot and keep hitting F8 until it enters safe mode.
Based on what I am hearing sounds like you somehow splatterkilled your partition assignments.
I am going to assume that the fix is going to be outside the scope of us walking you through a few mouseclicks and viola!
#1 Leave the external unplugged.
#2 when you boot to an XP/vista disk, you want to use the option to delete any partitions (you unplugged the external right?)
Create new partition from scratch and load windows.
Please note this will kill any “system restore” partitions as well, but at this point they arent helping you anyway.
Proceed with a clean reload of windows.