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
    2014-03-10T21:54:33+00:00

    http://ask-leo.com/whats_the_difference_between_a_recovery_disk_and_an_installation_disk.html

    read above on difference.

    http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-install-the-windows-xp-recovery-console/

    installing the recovery console

    ===========

    what is make, model, and model number of pc, and I will see if your manual gives instructions on using the recovery partition, you might get by with saving your data , I will have to check the manual.

    you could repair windows without data loss, but the repair cd has to be the same service pack as the current service pack installed.

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

    not sure if the editor problem is your pc or the website, as I am not experiencing the issue.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-11T00:21:06+00:00

    Hi, Elizabeth23,

    I have an x86 Gateway desktop 5310S PC 4000966, serial number 0035394453, with WinXP Home edition SP3 and IE8.

    I had created 4 "Master" CDs on the initial startup of WinXP years ago which are referred to on some Gateway sites as being recovery disks for "drivers and applications".

    Also included with my initial package of paperwork was a one page Recovery Instructions sheet that listed (3 different methods of recovery under "Hard Drive Recovery Options Using Files Stored on the D: Partition". 

    These options are:

    1> Non-Destructive System Restore - recovers factory-shipped applications, drivers and the operating system without affecting any data files that you may have created since purchasing the system.  This is similar to a repair install.

    2> Full System Restore (Destructive)

    3> Full System Restore (with Backup) Advanced Option

    A "Non-Destructive System Restore" sounds exactly like what I want to do. 

    However, this instruction sheet does NOT explain HOW to do this.  

    I will check the Internet for better instructions and any comments from other users.

    [Edit]  I did find some instructions on how to do a non-destructive system restore but whenever I did a F11 on reboot or went to System Restore on Start/Programs the menu never offered this choice to me to activate.  Maybe my model does not actually have this option.  I see some ads for third-party programs that claim to be able to do XP restore options.  Do you have any experience with any of them?

    Any other ideas about why my Family Tree Maker 2005 will not reinstall?

    Vernon

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-11T02:35:03+00:00

    http://support.gateway.com/s/Manuals/Desktops/8511879.pdf

    starting at page 39, for system recovery, pdf so must have foxit reader or adobe reader installed.

    http://support.gateway.com/s/Manuals/Desktops/8512980.pdf

    starting at page 96

    http://support.gateway.com/s/Manuals/Desktops/9532287.pdf

    start at page 12

    http://support.gateway.com/s/manlib/Desktops/desktop.shtml

    the 3 links listed first came from the above link, could not find a specific listing for your pc, but there are pictures, if you want to go to the link to see which picture matches your pc.

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

    you will want to go to system recovery, not system restore, On my dell if I have used F11 before it is no longer available, this might be true with gateway. I am not sure. but since you still have the d: partition it should be available.

    on startup when the gateway logo comes up, there should be some F #'s showing for setup and boot menu, try the one for boot menu and see what comes up, this is different from F8 which gives the safe mode, etc. listings.

    ===========

    still do not know why you cannot install FTM.

    1. you have deleted everything on your pc and in regedit pertaining to FTM, correct??

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-03-11T03:05:16+00:00

    Hi, Elizabeth23,

    Sorry, I was a bit tired and overlooked the regedit thing. 

    One question though, I have/had both the 2005 AND the 2008 versions.  The 2008 version is still on the computer, I just couldn't reinstall the 2005. 

    So, if I scan for 'FamilyTreeMaker' wouldn't it pick up both the 2005 and the 2008 entries?  Or did you want me to delete 'anything' related to FTM?

    Thanks for the manual info, I'll go through it when I get a chance.  My original manual stuff has disappeared.  Too many moves from place to place.  And I do have Adobe Reader for .pdf files.

    I have also found my stash of R/W CDs, so I can do the ISO stuff, too.  Wish me luck.

    Vernon

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