help.

[redman_88_05]

sorry i couldnt give more detail on my topic title. but i pretty much know my problem and how to fix it but dont know how to do what i need to do to fix it. i need to find a way to run fdisk on my computer without it being able to start windows. and the only resources i have are my ps3 a 128 mb flash drive and a wireless connection. so im looking for a way to download fdisk onto the usb flash drive via my ps3 and boot it up on my computer. i know how to set boot order and everything i just need to know how to get it to work. any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Murray S.]

Howdy and welcome to CTH:

Why do you need to run "fdisk"?

BTW, fdisk is a DOS command and won't touch a Vista install which is NTFS. In fact, it won't even see the NTFS partition.

Murray

[redman_88_05]

thanks. well there goes my theory on fixing it.. but i needed to run it because i get the invalid partition table error which i think the problem is when i accidently set a different partition of my hdd as active. one without an os. so i need to figure out a way to make the original active again without being able to get into windows

[Murray S.]

Got your Vista cd handy?

Murray

[redman_88_05]

just the recovery discs

[Murray S.]

just the recovery discs

Not good. Odds are your only option with the recovery disks will be a total re-install.

Does the computer boot at all?

Murray

[redman_88_05]

i can load setup and boot options thats about all

[redman_88_05]

would a system recovery work?

[Murray S.]

If there is nothing on your system that you need, then you could use the recovery cd's to restore your system.

If you can get into Safe Mode, you could try a System Restore back to a date prior to your screwing around.

Murray

[redman_88_05]

the cd allows me to use system restore but it doesnt work for some reason thats my only worry about sys recovery not working right now everything on the harddrive is being copied to a blank one then ill try system recover

[Murray S.]

It sure would be nice if you would use punctuation, etc. Your posts are VERY hard to read.

Murray

[redman_88_05]

I'm sorry about that, like i said i am on my ps3 and it's easier and quicker not to use punctuation. What i said was There is an option on my recover disc that allows me to use system restore. But system restore doesn't work. I restored to 3 days ago and get the same problem. So i'm worried that using system recovery won't work either. Regardless, I am backing up all of my data onto a spare harddrive and restoring my computer to original factory settings. Is my punctuation good enough now?

[Murray S.]

:happy: Yep. Backing up your data and re-installing is probably your best bet.

Murray

[redman_88_05]

..ok.. So i tried system recovery and now i get a new error. It is "ntldr is missing". So i tried to do a startup repair and under diagnosis it says "boot sector code for system disk partition corrupt", any ideas?

[Murray S.]

Is BIOS set to boot from the cd drive first?

Murray

[redman_88_05]

yes

[Murray S.]

Okay.. when you boot with the recovery disks in, do you get an option to "Press any key to boot from cd" or what shows up?

Also, what is the make and model of your computer?

Murray

[redman_88_05]

The recovery discs boot by themself. But with other discs it gives me the option to press any key to boot from cd. For example, my windows xp setup disc. The make of my computer is Hp, I'm not sure of the model but it has a athalon amd dual core 5000+, 500 gb hdd, and 3 gb of ram. With windows vista, 32 bit, home edition installed.

[Murray S.]

Are the Recovery cd's specific to your system?

Did you use the HP Recovery manager to make these cd's or did you get them elsewhere?

Have you tried THIS (http://www.dogpile.com/clickserver/_iceUrlFlag=1?rawURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acreativedes ktop.com%2Freinstalling-windows-vista-hp-pavillion-laptop.html&0=&1=0&4=204.9.89.53&5=24.72.106.114&9=8374ba0d66fb47c18608b6c4f16ac801&10=1&11=info.dogpl&13=search&14=239138&15=main-title&17=2&18=1&19=0&20=1&21=1&22=yTCy8g%2FrWpE%3D&23=0&40=I9J0DgtgbpqHzigzu8Q%2FIQ%3D%3D&_IceUrl=true)?

Murray