Computer help forum: XP repair with partitions

I read the previous two posts, and I clicked on the link in Grif's post, and read the repair instructions. I know how to do the repair, but each time I try, after I press F8 to accept the license agreement, my xp home edition does not show up next to c: as a choice to continue the repair. I see the following:

305243 MB Disk 0 at ID 0 on Bus 0 on atapi (MBR)

c: Partition 1 (NTFS) 305235MB (292598 MB free)

Unpartitioned space 8 MB

Unknown disk
There is no disk in this drive

Unknown disk
There is no disk in this drive

If I highlight c:partition1 and try to continue with the repair install, I get the warning that there is already an operating system running. What can I do to get my xp home edition to show up next to c: so I can continue with the install and not lose data, programs, settings, etc.? Thanks.

I didn't mention in my previous post that I have xp home edition, a 320 gb hard drive, 2 gig ram, and amd copper core processor in a custom made desk top computer.

The original XP CD does not support repair on a 320GB HDD. It's repairs are limited to 127GB and smaller drives.

With that out of the way, it is never a sure thing that you will not "not lose data, programs, settings, etc."

Why this is, is well discussed. The repair will wipe certain things and if you make a mistake and answer a question with the same user name as you have already that folder may be deleted and a new user created.

-> Since this is rather treacherous you know why you backup before you try this.
Bob

You shouldn't get a warning about XP running, because it's NOT if you boot from the XP disc.. Boot the XP disc in the DVD/CD drive, then restart the computer.. You should see a "Press any key" to boot from disc message, so press the "Enter" key.. The boot process should occur from the DVD/CD drive and you can then follow the instructions..

Hope this helps.

Grif

Yes, the XP disk was in the drive. The message I actually received after I pressed f8 to accept the Windows license agreement was:

you have chosen to install XP on a partition that contains another operating system. Installing XP on this partition might cause the other system to not function.

If my previous post from 'Bob' was correct, I can't do a repair install anyway because my hard drive is 320gb and xp doesn't support, or possibly allow, repair installs on hard drives larger than 127 GB. So that means I would never see c: Windows XP Home Edition as an option to highlight and continue with the repair install. I understand fully how to do the repair install, I just need to have Windows XP Home Edition show up next to C: so it can be highlighted as my OS to repair, and continue with the repair install.

It's only the "original" version of XP that has the 127 GB limitation.. So...do you have a XP SP2 installation disc? If not, get one and make sure it's the same "Home" edition that you have installed on the computer now.. I'll guess the reason you're getting the error message is the installation CD you're using is a different version of XP, not the one that was installed..



Hope this helps.

Grif

Here's what I've experienced on this.

Original XP -> 127GB limit. USB 2.0 not supported, can be difficult to impossible to install on newer machines.

XP SP1 -> Same limitation but part of the limit was removed. Still need to keep going.

XP SP2 -> Now we can install on many machines. Still no SATA support but at this point the F6 Floppy Install worked.

XP SP3 -> All the above corrected but we did find USB drives to error out much less.

Thanks for adding the clarity.
Bob

I have two XP service pack 2 disks, both of which seem to be identical with the same markings and info stamped/imprinted on them from the MS factory. They both say:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Includes Service Pack 2, Version 2002, 2004 Microsoft Corporation All Rights Reserved

One I received when I purchased the 1st custom made desktop in 2004, and it is the disk I used when I reformatted that computer's hard drive in 2008 and reinstalled Windows SP 2 fresh on the hard drive and I reloaded all the drivers, software, etc. The other disk I received when I purchased a new custom made desktop in 2011, HOWEVER, that recent computer has service pack 3 on it which was loaded by the technicians at the store where I purchased the computer, and it was from a CD they use at their store only.

Possibly, the reason that I am having such a difficult time with the repair install on the 1st custom made computer which I loaded SP 2 on in 2008, is that my husband (I am Dan's wife) recently tried to do an upgrade on the 1st computer to SP 3. He did this by going to the MS website. I knew nothing of this until I tried to use the computer and the HP splash screen was frozen. The computer had worked great up until that time. I can't boot to safe mode to set it to a previous restore point, and I can't use DOS to get to a restore point because the computer goes to a blue death screen at some point. My last option I knew of was to try a repair install. So it could be that the computer does have service pack 3 on it now since he did download it, and maybe that's why I can't continue with the repair install and why I don't see C: Windows XP Home Edition highlighted at the screen after the f8 license agreement acceptance. There may be other options out there to fix this computer, and that is why I posted to this forum to see if I could get information for the repair install to work, and if I discovered that the repair install could not be accomplished, I could find someone who had another solution to restore the computer back to working order without my having to do another fresh format and reinstall of all the software and SP 2. Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.

.....then that would explain why you're not able to repair the machine.It explains why you're having troubles now. The system doesn't display a correct version number during the "repair" process because there is nothing installed correctly.. Now that you've explained the situation, have you tried using "Last Known Good Configuration". It's similar to "System Restore" but is done before Windows loads. Restart the computer and immediately start pressing the F8 key, once per second, till a selection screen loads. At the selection screen, use the up/down arrow keys to select "Last Known Good Configuration", the press the "Enter" key.. Follow the prompts and let the computer restart and take you back to an earlier times.

If that doesn't fix the issue, then my solution would be to reformat the C partition and reinstall Windows again.. Or, possibly wipe the entire drive, create new partitions of the size you choose, then install XP using your reinstall disc, and reinstall all drivers and software after that. (XP SP2 should install on any partition size you'd like)

Hope this helps.

Grif

Yes, I tried last known good config when this first happened and it also doesn't work. If I reformat the C partition and reinstall Windows again, as you suggest, I believe I would lose all my drivers and software and basically I would be reinstalling XP service pack 2 fresh again, correct?

Before I do that, I will try in DOS chkdsk c: /r, and also fixmbr and possibly fixboot and see if they will open a repair path.

Again, thanks for your help.

Make sure you have a complete set of the drivers required for your computer and put them on a CD.. After a new installation of the operating system, frequently, a USB drive will not be recognized till all drivers are installed on the machine.. A CD should be recognized immediately. If you don't already have the drivers for your computer, visit the computer manufacturer's website and download them, then copy them to a CD.

You'll also need copies of your favorite software as well.. It will need to be reinstalled after the OS and drivers are on.

Hope this helps.

Grif

Did you use the Windows XP installation disc somehow? Maybe the Recovery Console? Such information would be helpful for the current thread participant.

And I'll guess you used the "chkdsk" command below:

chkdsk /f /r"

....but the command you used is a little redundant.. If I remember correctly, the command below does the same thing as /r includes /f. It recovers bad sectors and readable information...

chkdsk /r

Hope this helps.

Grif