HELP: lost partition....

  • Thread starter Thread starter KevinGPO
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KevinGPO

I installed Windows 2000 on a 3rd partition, eg:

Partition table:
Part1, 8MB, FAT
Part2, 2GB, FAT32
Part3, 8GB, FAT32

Then I installed WindowsXP in partition 2. Now I can't boot up Windows 2000.
I have lost it forever and ever. Please can somehow help me how I can
recover my Windows 2000 partition :S
 
I installed Windows 2000 on a 3rd partition, eg:

Partition table:
Part1, 8MB, FAT
Part2, 2GB, FAT32
Part3, 8GB, FAT32

Then I installed WindowsXP in partition 2. Now I can't boot up Windows 2000.
I have lost it forever and ever. Please can somehow help me how I can
recover my Windows 2000 partition :S
Click to expand...

2GB partition for XP seems small.

You have not lost the 2000 partition. The newer MBR from XP has over written
the 2000 version. You need to rebuild the boot.ini so that you can select the
2000.
 
Yves said:
2GB partition for XP seems small.

You have not lost the 2000 partition. The newer MBR from XP has over written
the 2000 version. You need to rebuild the boot.ini so that you can select the
2000.
Click to expand...
Go into recovery console for XP and type
bootcfg /rebuild

Then it should find your 2K and XP installs, I think.
 
[8MB][2.9GB][{8GB}{49GB}]

Basically I got a 60GB HD which contains 8MB, 2.9GB primary partitions, and
a 57GB extended partition (which contained 8GB & 49GB logical partitions). I
keep all my important files in my 49GB logical partition so could not resize
my primary partition without doing long backing up procedures.

I wanted to install Windows 2000 as my main OS and installed that into my
8GB logical partition. Windows 2000 complained saying that there must be
some FAT primary partition to be able to write the MBR, etc. (at that time
there was no primary parition). So I created a minimum 8MB FAT primary
partition. Windows 2000 installed into 8GB E:\, while it's MBR, boot.ini,
etc. files went into C:\

Then I installed Windows XP into the 2.9GB (2nd partition). It immediately
overwrote the MBR, boot.ini, etc. files in C:\. I know this for a fact
because (with show hidden files on, etc.) in D:\ & E:\ (winXP & win2k) files
contents was only the pagefile.sys.

I know that if one installed Win2000 in C:\ then WinXP in another then WinXP
will merge the boot.ini and happily do multi-boot. However, if there is no
OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those boot.ini, MBR, files.

FACT: "if there is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those boot.ini,
MBR, files."

I already tried guess my partition in boot.ini, but all I get is:

(%system%)\system32\hal.dll not found, or something.

There are no linux OS on my machine, but if GRUB/LILO could understand/boot
Windows then I can't see why not use it.

And function: fixmbr really does not work. I think the problemed lie in the
fact that there was NO OS in C:\. That means there is no
C:\Windows\System32, or C:\WinNT\System32\ folder.
 
MBR is not part of C.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/MBR.html

"if there is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those boot.ini, MBR,
files." is a false statement.

You didn't install Windows 2000 to C.

[8MB] partition 1 C

[2.9GB] partition 2 D

[{8GB} partition 3 E

{49GB}] partiton 4 F

What does the boot.ini file look like?

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 2000"

I am not sure of the switches for Windows 2000. It should boot without the
switches.
--
Ron Sommer

KevinGPO said:
[8MB][2.9GB][{8GB}{49GB}]

Basically I got a 60GB HD which contains 8MB, 2.9GB primary partitions,
and a 57GB extended partition (which contained 8GB & 49GB logical
partitions). I keep all my important files in my 49GB logical partition so
could not resize my primary partition without doing long backing up
procedures.

I wanted to install Windows 2000 as my main OS and installed that into my
8GB logical partition. Windows 2000 complained saying that there must be
some FAT primary partition to be able to write the MBR, etc. (at that time
there was no primary parition). So I created a minimum 8MB FAT primary
partition. Windows 2000 installed into 8GB E:\, while it's MBR, boot.ini,
etc. files went into C:\

Then I installed Windows XP into the 2.9GB (2nd partition). It immediately
overwrote the MBR, boot.ini, etc. files in C:\. I know this for a fact
because (with show hidden files on, etc.) in D:\ & E:\ (winXP & win2k)
files contents was only the pagefile.sys.

I know that if one installed Win2000 in C:\ then WinXP in another then
WinXP will merge the boot.ini and happily do multi-boot. However, if there
is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those boot.ini, MBR, files.

FACT: "if there is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those
boot.ini, MBR, files."

I already tried guess my partition in boot.ini, but all I get is:

(%system%)\system32\hal.dll not found, or something.

There are no linux OS on my machine, but if GRUB/LILO could
understand/boot Windows then I can't see why not use it.

And function: fixmbr really does not work. I think the problemed lie in
the fact that there was NO OS in C:\. That means there is no
C:\Windows\System32, or C:\WinNT\System32\ folder.
KevinGPO said:
I installed Windows 2000 on a 3rd partition, eg:

Partition table:
Part1, 8MB, FAT
Part2, 2GB, FAT32
Part3, 8GB, FAT32

Then I installed WindowsXP in partition 2. Now I can't boot up Windows
2000. I have lost it forever and ever. Please can somehow help me how I
can recover my Windows 2000 partition :S
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I know, windows 2000 got installed into partition 3, E.

My boot.ini file (located in C:) contains only one entry:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP"
/fastdetect
etc.
I tried copying that and trying other partition numbers but still didn't
work. partition 1 was obviously C: but didn't contain a
Windows\system32\hal.dll file. And partition 3 was obviously windows 2000,
however it said same error message as the partition 1 try.



Ron Sommer said:
MBR is not part of C.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/MBR.html

"if there is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those boot.ini, MBR,
files." is a false statement.

You didn't install Windows 2000 to C.

[8MB] partition 1 C

[2.9GB] partition 2 D

[{8GB} partition 3 E

{49GB}] partiton 4 F

What does the boot.ini file look like?

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 2000"

I am not sure of the switches for Windows 2000. It should boot without the
switches.
--
Ron Sommer

KevinGPO said:
[8MB][2.9GB][{8GB}{49GB}]

Basically I got a 60GB HD which contains 8MB, 2.9GB primary partitions,
and a 57GB extended partition (which contained 8GB & 49GB logical
partitions). I keep all my important files in my 49GB logical partition so
could not resize my primary partition without doing long backing up
procedures.

I wanted to install Windows 2000 as my main OS and installed that into my
8GB logical partition. Windows 2000 complained saying that there must be
some FAT primary partition to be able to write the MBR, etc. (at that time
there was no primary parition). So I created a minimum 8MB FAT primary
partition. Windows 2000 installed into 8GB E:\, while it's MBR, boot.ini,
etc. files went into C:\

Then I installed Windows XP into the 2.9GB (2nd partition). It immediately
overwrote the MBR, boot.ini, etc. files in C:\. I know this for a fact
because (with show hidden files on, etc.) in D:\ & E:\ (winXP & win2k)
files contents was only the pagefile.sys.

I know that if one installed Win2000 in C:\ then WinXP in another then
WinXP will merge the boot.ini and happily do multi-boot. However, if there
is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those boot.ini, MBR, files.

FACT: "if there is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those
boot.ini, MBR, files."

I already tried guess my partition in boot.ini, but all I get is:

(%system%)\system32\hal.dll not found, or something.

There are no linux OS on my machine, but if GRUB/LILO could
understand/boot Windows then I can't see why not use it.

And function: fixmbr really does not work. I think the problemed lie in
the fact that there was NO OS in C:\. That means there is no
C:\Windows\System32, or C:\WinNT\System32\ folder.
KevinGPO said:
I installed Windows 2000 on a 3rd partition, eg:

Partition table:
Part1, 8MB, FAT
Part2, 2GB, FAT32
Part3, 8GB, FAT32

Then I installed WindowsXP in partition 2. Now I can't boot up Windows
2000. I have lost it forever and ever. Please can somehow help me how I
can recover my Windows 2000 partition :S
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184/en-us
This article says that the missing hal.dll message is because boot.ini has
some incorrect entries.

Did you add a second line under [operating systems] listing
partition(3)\WINDOWS ?

You could use Recovery Console to rebuild the boot.ini.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/330184/en-us
--
Ron Sommer

KevinGPO said:
I know, windows 2000 got installed into partition 3, E.

My boot.ini file (located in C:) contains only one entry:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP"
/fastdetect
etc.
I tried copying that and trying other partition numbers but still didn't
work. partition 1 was obviously C: but didn't contain a
Windows\system32\hal.dll file. And partition 3 was obviously windows 2000,
however it said same error message as the partition 1 try.



Ron Sommer said:
MBR is not part of C.
http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/M/MBR.html

"if there is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those boot.ini, MBR,
files." is a false statement.

You didn't install Windows 2000 to C.

[8MB] partition 1 C

[2.9GB] partition 2 D

[{8GB} partition 3 E

{49GB}] partiton 4 F

What does the boot.ini file look like?

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 2000"

I am not sure of the switches for Windows 2000. It should boot without the
switches.
--
Ron Sommer

KevinGPO said:
[8MB][2.9GB][{8GB}{49GB}]

Basically I got a 60GB HD which contains 8MB, 2.9GB primary partitions,
and a 57GB extended partition (which contained 8GB & 49GB logical
partitions). I keep all my important files in my 49GB logical partition so
could not resize my primary partition without doing long backing up
procedures.

I wanted to install Windows 2000 as my main OS and installed that into my
8GB logical partition. Windows 2000 complained saying that there must
be
some FAT primary partition to be able to write the MBR, etc. (at that time
there was no primary parition). So I created a minimum 8MB FAT primary
partition. Windows 2000 installed into 8GB E:\, while it's MBR, boot.ini,
etc. files went into C:\

Then I installed Windows XP into the 2.9GB (2nd partition). It immediately
overwrote the MBR, boot.ini, etc. files in C:\. I know this for a fact
because (with show hidden files on, etc.) in D:\ & E:\ (winXP & win2k)
files contents was only the pagefile.sys.

I know that if one installed Win2000 in C:\ then WinXP in another then
WinXP will merge the boot.ini and happily do multi-boot. However, if there
is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those boot.ini, MBR, files.

FACT: "if there is no OS in C:\ then WinXP will overwrite those
boot.ini, MBR, files."

I already tried guess my partition in boot.ini, but all I get is:

(%system%)\system32\hal.dll not found, or something.

There are no linux OS on my machine, but if GRUB/LILO could
understand/boot Windows then I can't see why not use it.

And function: fixmbr really does not work. I think the problemed lie in
the fact that there was NO OS in C:\. That means there is no
C:\Windows\System32, or C:\WinNT\System32\ folder.
I installed Windows 2000 on a 3rd partition, eg:

Partition table:
Part1, 8MB, FAT
Part2, 2GB, FAT32
Part3, 8GB, FAT32

Then I installed WindowsXP in partition 2. Now I can't boot up Windows
2000. I have lost it forever and ever. Please can somehow help me how
I
can recover my Windows 2000 partition :S
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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