Bootsect.dat file is corrupted, NTLDR is missing/compressed on x86 pc with WinXP Home Edition Sp3 and Ie8

Anonymous
2014-02-24T05:47:39+00:00

I have a x86 pc with WinXP Home Edition SP3 and IE8. 

While preparing for an eventual upgrade to Win 7, I have been considering repartioning and multibooting my HDD. 

I have been trying to get WinXP operating as best as I can.  I also have been checking out how to use the Windows Recovery Console to reinstall WinXP and transfer files for a clean reinstall.

I discovered while checking "All Boot Paths" at Start\Run\msconfig\BOOT.INI that one Boot Path was highlighted with errors indicating that the "File is Corrupted because a disk read error occured" and that NTLDR is missing or corrupted.  In fact, it is garbled.  It points to "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console/cmdcon".  I have not used the Recovery Console, ever. 

I have a Gateway 5310S desktop (retail) and no original XP disks, apparently. 

I do have, but have never used, a 4ea. set of Recovery CDs dated 5/12/05 that I must have created after purchase.

I also have been having numerous, odd, problems that come and go, including trouble displaying various websites, Yahoo Home Pages, and eMail that keep going into compatibility mode or blanking outright.  The video and audio on Hulu and online video services are always out of sync.  I have problems editing posts on sites like this even though I can edit my profile pages just fine.

This particular set of problems started occurring recently and very suddenly, from one day to the next.  This was after it had actually been working fairly well for a change. 

I have no idea how long the boot.ini file has been corrupted, I actually discovered it by accident.

I also can not reinstall certain programs such as Family Tree Maker 2005 and 2008 after it was suggested to me by ancestry.com to uninstall/reinstall.

I have the latest Java and Adobe Flash Player.  I have defragged and disk checked my drives. 

I have used CCleaner to remove temp and junk files daily.  I have run Hitman Pro, MBAM, MBAR, MSE, and SAS multiple times with no viruses or malware detected. 

And, as I had mentioned above, I am having problems with the editor on this site, right now.  Sometimes it just freezes and I have to exit to clear.  Other times it duplicates entire sentences.  It also flip/flops between a full page editor and, like now, a half page editor window on the left half of the page.

Any suggestions you folks can come up with would be greatly appreciated.  This is getting really annoying.

Thanks

Vernon

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2014-03-05T08:10:47+00:00

when you check out the boot.ini paths, and the recovery console is installed, you will always get an error stating that the boot path is invalid.

if the recovery console is indeed corrupted just uninstall, you can reinstall or burn a cd with the recovery console.

go here for instructions on deleting the recovery console.

===========

Here's how to make a bootable xp recovery console cd

Courtesy of JoseIbarra

You need to start by booting into the XP Recovery Console using a CD you can make (no XP media required) and run a chkdsk with error correction enough times until it runs clean and if that doesn't work, you can create a new boot.ini file (it is usually one of those two things).

Here's how:

Use the XP Recovery Console to verify the file system on your HDD and correct any problems and then try to boot your system - this may be all you need to do.  Or, you are welcome to just start trying things that might work.

Boot into the Windows Recovery Console using a bootable XP installation CD.

If you have no bootable XP media (or are not sure what you have) create a bootable XP Recovery Console CD and be sure what you have (no XP media required).

This is not the same as any recovery disks that might have come with a store bought system.

You can make a bootable Recovery Console CD by downloading an ISO file and burning it to a CD.

The bootable ISO image file you need to download is called:

rc.iso 

Download the ISO file from here:

http://www.thecomputerparamedic.com/?p=8    (courtesy of Daavee)

Use a new CD and this free and easy program to burn your ISO file and create your bootable CD:

http://www.imgburn.com/

When installing ImgBurn, DO NOT install the Ask toolbar.

Here are some instructions for ImgBurn:

http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

It would be a good idea to test your bootable CD on a computer that is working.

You may need to adjust the computer BIOS settings to use the CD ROM drive as the first boot device instead of the hard disk.  These adjustments are made before Windows tries to load.  If you miss it, you will have to reboot the system again.

When you boot on the CD, follow the prompts:

Press any key to boot from CD...

The Windows Setup... will proceed.

Press 'R' to enter the Recovery Console.

Select the installation you want to access (usually  1: C:\WINDOWS)

You may be asked to enter the Administrator password (usually empty).

You should be in the C:\WINDOWS folder.  This is the same as the 

C:\WINDOWS folder you see in explorer.

The Recovery Console allows basic file commands like: copy, rename, replace, delete, cd, chkdsk, fixboot, fixmbr, etc.

For a list of Recovery Console commands, enter help at the prompt or read about the XP Recovery Console here:

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/recovery_console_cmds.mspx?mfr=true

A good idea before starting things is to first verify the integrity of your file system using the chkdsk command.

From the command prompt window run the chkdsk command on the drive where Windows is installed to try to repair any problems on the afflicted drive.

Running chkdsk is fine even if it doesn't find any problems.  It will not hurt anything to run it.

Assuming your boot drive is C, run the following command:

chkdsk C: /r

Let chkdsk finish and correct any problems it might find.  

It may take a long time for chkdsk to complete or it may appear to be 'stuck'.  Be patient. If the HDD light is still flashing, chkdsk is doing something.  Keep an eye on the percentage amount to be sure it is still making progress.  It may even appear to go backwards sometimes.

You should run chkdsk /r again until it finds no errors to correct.

Remove the CD and type 'exit' to leave the RC and restart the computer.

You do not have to adjust the BIOS again to boot on the HDD since the CD will not be present.

===============

as for the other problems:

have you used any registry cleaners??

these can harm your system

since you appear to be infection free, it would seem that some part of your cleaning process has deleted a necessary file.

===============

checkdisk with the /r parameter should be run. and run again until no errors are found.

==========

are you fully updated and patched at Microsoft updates??

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-04-01T19:18:45+00:00

    A boot disk is any disk you can start the computer with - it doesn't have to be the same version, or even the same operating system, as the one installed on the hard drive. (You can boot a Windows computer with a Linux disk to copy files to an external drive, or to repair some problems.)

    A recovery disk is one you make from the computer itself - it's your operating system and your drivers. You use it to recover from some operating system errors.

    A repair disk is one that replaces operating system files (it repairs the operating system).

    The installation disk for the installed operating system serves all 3 purposes.

    If you can find someone who has the same os as you do, you can use their cd and your product key to reinstall your system, and make a boot disk for your self with sp3 slipstreamed into it.

    http://lifehacker.com/386526/slipstream-service-pack-3-into-your-windows-xp-installation-cd/all

    here are some instructions I have not used these as I have a Dell oem disc and use a different method.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-01T06:30:31+00:00

    Hi, Elizabeth23,

    1)  I'm glad I got my access to Recovery Console fixed so that I could run the fixboot and fixmbr programs.  I did run the set command,  So at least that is done.

    I also am checking up on the InstallShield program problems and possible fixes.

    2)  By your reply, I can see that this fixmbr error is a big problem, suggesting there is a virus somewhere.  I'm going to throw the kitchen sink at this one just to be sure once and for all.

    I have already run MBAM Full Scan and HitmanPro with nothing found.

    I'll run all the following and run fixmbr after each to see if anything was found and corrected:

    tdsskiller and MBAR (both of which I already have), GMER, aswMBR, Rkill, NPE, RogueKiller, and anything else I can think of.

    3)  Note that my problems with the editor on this site is still with me. 

    I have no problem with any other editor on any other site.

    4)  after successfully cleaning my DVD/CD optical drive, I have successfully burned and verified both a Hiren's BootCD and a BitDefender Rescue CD.

    **5)**I again want to return to this question that I had while talking (texting) to ElderL  (or rather, that he said to me):

    "To do that, you need a genuine bootable XP installation CD that is the same Service pack you have installed."

    and

    "The fact of the matter is, most people around here don't have any genuine bootable XP media."

    and

    " You can make one or I can sell you one - I have about 50 brand new XP CDs right from Microsoft."

    "Could you please tell me HOW can I make one for myself?  

    I have also noted another online tech (from another site) that said that it is possible but he gave no instructions on how to actually do it."

    "Or if you have a source available to you where I might obtain a CD or DVD I'd like to know."

    Note that ElderL had commented (somewhat angrily) that he had repeatedly posted on how to do the above "thousands of times" before.

    If this is true, how do I find these previous posts on this subject so I could see for myself.

    I have tried to reach him by his email but I have not received a reply from him about the above.

    I am aware (by his admisssion) that he "had been banned twice before by Microsoft".

    So, I am wondering if that is what is happening now and whether Microsoft (or maybe the site moderators here) will not allow you to speak to me on this subject? 

    I will take a nonreply as a possible "yes" answer.

    I am basically looking for a way to rebuild my system should my hard drive crash with everything on it.

    A Recovery Console CD will not help me there, would it?

    Thanks,

    I'll get back to you

    Vernon

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-04-01T02:16:50+00:00

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-31T19:33:59+00:00

    Hi, Elizabeth23,

    I reran MBAM and found nothing.  I haven't been to the Geeks yet.

    However I have discovered something new, I just don't know if it is a problem or something normal for Gateway computers.

    I was reading a related article about NTLDR problems and the suggestion was to go to the Recovery Console and run 'fixboot' and 'fixmbr'.

    I ran 'fixboot' OK, and nothing popped up, but whenever I tried to run 'fixmbr' (both after reading the command notes for using them), I got a response that says that I have a potentally invalid or non-standard partition table, asking for permission to proceed (with caution). 

    It suggested a possible virus.  Please note that I was on the C:\ drive but did not use device name, just 'fixmbr'.  I do, however, have 2 partitions.

    What, if anything, should I do about this? 

    Thanks

    Vernon

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