can't open boot partition to check for signiture

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Goodman CT @ Princeton
  • Start date Start date
J

John Goodman CT @ Princeton

win 2k pro after reformat and running setup and rebooting for the first time

any Ideas on how to fix this? Ive tried repair console fixmbr and fixboot.

thanx
(e-mail address removed)
 
This can happen when you have third party partitioning software being used
(such as partition magic) or bad jumper settings on your drive. Is it
giving a 55AA error or just the error listed above?
 
I am using Adaptec's ATA 1200a RAID controller. And the drives are mirrored.
After trying to boot and giving the error it asks you to place in a bootable
system disk or something of that nature. I found the error on Adaptec site
and this lead me to upgrade my system bios (Intel desktop

motherboard) I also updated the ATA raid controller firmware to v 1.3
Adaptec informed me that the drives must be pristine! As new from
manufacturer before introduction to the raid array. The problem started when
I got the stop error cx00000218 hive file error on boot I tried all the
steps MS recommended but I had no backup of the system. Since the drives are
not new and part of the original array that since I have blown out, I'm
assume I must replace the drives or zero them out in order to get this to
work. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for you quick
response
 
If one of the drive's data is still intact, you should be able to enter
controller bios and choose the other drive and rebuild. Else you may need to
low level the drives (if required) and rebuild the mirror (raid1)
 
well I tried but the corrupted Hive file was duplicated on the mirror.......
low level it is!or as western digital says "zero out the the drive"
arrgg what a nightmare
Dave Patrick said:
If one of the drive's data is still intact, you should be able to enter
controller bios and choose the other drive and rebuild. Else you may need to
low level the drives (if required) and rebuild the mirror (raid1)

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

John Goodman CT @ Princeton said:
I am using Adaptec's ATA 1200a RAID controller. And the drives are mirrored.
After trying to boot and giving the error it asks you to place in a bootable
system disk or something of that nature. I found the error on Adaptec site
and this lead me to upgrade my system bios (Intel desktop

motherboard) I also updated the ATA raid controller firmware to v 1.3
Adaptec informed me that the drives must be pristine! As new from
manufacturer before introduction to the raid array. The problem started when
I got the stop error cx00000218 hive file error on boot I tried all the
steps MS recommended but I had no backup of the system. Since the drives are
not new and part of the original array that since I have blown out, I'm
assume I must replace the drives or zero them out in order to get this to
work. Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for you quick
response
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
If the system hive, and assuming you already tried LKG, It may be possible
to rename the system hive found in
%windir%\system32\config\system
to system.old
then rename
%windir%\system32\config\system.alt
to
%windir%\system32\config\system

You can also try using the most recent backup found in
%windir%\repair\regback

If that fails you haven't much choice but to copy/ use the
original-as-installed system hive from
%windir%\repair\system
to
%windir%\system32\config\system
You'll need to reinstall the device drivers for any hardware added since the
original OS install.

To start the Recovery Console, start the computer from the Windows 2000
Setup CD or the Windows 2000 Setup floppy disks. If you do not have Setup
floppy disks and your computer cannot start from the Windows 2000 Setup CD,
use another Windows 2000-based computer to create the Setup floppy disks.
Press ENTER at the "Setup Notification" screen. Press R to repair a Windows
2000 installation, and then press C to use the Recovery Console. The
Recovery Console then prompts you for the administrator password. If you do
not have the correct password, Recovery Console does not allow access to the
computer. If an incorrect password is entered three times, the Recovery
Console quits and restarts the computer. Once the password has been
validated, you have full access to the Recovery Console, but limited access
to the hard disk. You can only access the following folders on your
computer: %systemroot% and %windir%
 
Note:
You'll need to do the F6 trick and supply the ATA raid controller driver in
order to start the recovery console.
 
Thanks Dave I tried all metioned originally
Low level is the only solution besides 2 new drives
Thanks for the support as always MS is tops in support!
 
Sorry it didn't work out. Just curios ..... what happened when you replaced
the system hive with the original as-installed copy? If the system hive was
corrupt, that should have got the machine to at least boot.
 
never had a backup!
Dave,

I've zeroed the drives and still get the error
Can't open boot partition to check for signature!
I am replacing the drives this is sooo strange
you have never heard of this error?


Dave Patrick said:
Sorry it didn't work out. Just curios ..... what happened when you replaced
the system hive with the original as-installed copy? If the system hive was
corrupt, that should have got the machine to at least boot.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

John Goodman CT @ Princeton said:
Thanks Dave I tried all metioned originally
Low level is the only solution besides 2 new drives
Thanks for the support as always MS is tops in support!
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
yes I know but I blew errased the drive
anyway it still cannot open boot partition to check for a signature. I
guess it is a raid controller issue. Ive ordered new hard drives and await
them now


Dave Patrick said:
The backup is automatically created at the time of the original install.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

John Goodman CT @ Princeton said:
never had a backup!
Dave,

I've zeroed the drives and still get the error
Can't open boot partition to check for signature!
I am replacing the drives this is sooo strange
you have never heard of this error?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Great assumption.. I had the same!
But.. it doesnt work! get this however without the raid controller I can
format and boot this system with no problem.. Adaptec says it's the Intel
Mobo compatibility with their controller... Funny it workrd for a year
well I may have to change the controller to a promise raid
but the new drives are expected today
thanks for your help
hopefully if anyone else runs into this error the can read through our posts
and avoid this nightmare
Thanks Dave

John


Dave Patrick said:
You'll need to start from the controller setup floppies to enter controller
bios, low level the drives and rebuild the array. I don't see replacing the
drives as necessary.


http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q227/7/04.ASP

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...ddocs/entserver/dm_mirrored_system_volume.asp

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

John Goodman CT @ Princeton said:
yes I know but I blew errased the drive
anyway it still cannot open boot partition to check for a signature. I
guess it is a raid controller issue. Ive ordered new hard drives and await
them now
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Well .... all I can say is the drives are not the problem. Replacing them is
a waste of your green resources.
 
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