accidentally deleted c partition, now what?

While attempting to do a clean re-install of XP Professional, I managed to install one and and half copies of XP. The half copy was on the C partition, the whole copy on a J partition. Using disk manager, I brilliantly deleted the C partition. Now when I start my computer, I get a screen that says "Compaq" but nothing else. There are F1, ESC, and F10 options on that screen, but they don't work.

I've tried booting from XP Professional and a live Linux disk, but neither worked.

My computer does not have a floppy A drive, so any options requiring one are not viable.

Is there anything short of taking the hard drive out for repair or replacing it that will get me out of this self-created boondoggle?

Thank you.

Phil Maggitti

 

Did you first press F1 when booting and enter setup so you could change the boot sequence to have the CD-ROM drive first in line? Then you should be able to boot the XP install CD and make repairs. Maybe you are using a usb keyboard and will need a standard ps/2 one for this operation.

If that won't work and you have no floppy drive, you'll need the help of a professional (hands on type with hardware available).

I can offer you a boot CD that would work IF your CD drive is doing its job. That would suppose that your drive is alright but your install CD is flawed or else your drive isn't a bootable type, which can happen.

You will have to tell me how many partitions you have on the drive so I can determine which version of boot CD you will need. Tell me how many physical drives are installed on the computer and how many partitions are on each and where the Windows XP system is located. You said it was on the J partition which make me think you have several partitions on that drive. Maybe D: is your CD-ROM drive so that leaves C, E, F, G, H, I, J. Let me know and I'll go from there. If you have 2 different HDD then that would change things so fill me in there.

 

Thanks for offering to help. When last I was able to see my computer, there were two partitions: C and J on one hard drive. I dismissed the C partition because the half version of Windows it contained was simply called Windows, while the version on the J partition was called Windows.0.

 

OK, I think I already have an iso of what you can use.

Download this ISO Image. That's a 2meg dl so be patient.

Use your burner software to create a CD from it. The result will be a bootable CD that will give you several choices at boot. It provides for booting either the first or second partition on any of three physical drives.

Since you only have one physical drive and the installation on the first partition is gone, you should choose to boot to Partition2 on the first hard disk. It will be the line "Physical Disk 1(rdisk0) Boot Partition 2. "

Edit: I just re-read your last post and realized that your remaining system is probably in a folder named Windows.0 so the CD iso I gave you earlier won't work. In that case Download this one instead.

I revised it to point to Windows.0 so it will conform to your system as it stands. Try booting to all options offered on it starting with the first line "Physical Disk 1(rdisk0) Boot Partition 1" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn and do the next (partition2) if that doesn't boot, etc. I just made this version for a single physical drive so there are fewer choices than the other one but it fits your situation.

Post back any ?

 

I tried both options that you sent, but my computer stopped at the Compaq screen each time. I also tried holding down the esc, F1, and F10 keys while trying to boot with (and without) my XP Pro installation disk. In addition, I burned a bootable disk that contained a copy of my XP installation files and smartdrv.exe, using a Windows 98 floppy that I found as the bootable element.

Would it make any sense to copy just the Windows 98 floppy files to a CD and try to boot from that?

Thanks again for trying to get this sorted out for me.

Phil

 

It doesn't sound like you have the boot sequence to check the CD-ROM first. Can you enter setup and check that? Press the F1 key as soon as you see the Compaq logo. Try it repeatedly if necessary. Maybe it the F10 key on yours so try that several times too. I think you have already done those but I'll keep mentioning it.

Perhaps the keyboard isn't working. Are you using a USB keyboard or a standard PS/2 one?

Another way to get into the setup is to pull some of the RAM out. That usually triggers a setup session or an option to do one.

Removing the CMOS backup battery could also trigger a setup session. Sometimes it takes overnight for the caps to bleed down though.

 

First thing this morning my computer responded favorably to the F1 hold down. While in BIOS I changed--or thought I changed--the boot sequence so that CD-ROM was first in line instead of Floppy. I was sure to hit F10 for save and exit before exiting.

After mucking about in XP, which wouldn't allow me to change the J drive letter to a C, I shut the computer down. When I restarted it, I was stuck on the Compaq screen again.

Should I have done something else while I was in BIOS? The next time the computer sees fit to allow me in, should I reformat the HD entirely? If so, any program recommendations?

 

It sounds like your cmos backup battery is dead. If you indeed changed the boot sequence, which it appears that you did since you then booted into Windows by some CD means, then that setting has since been lost. That would point to a dead battery. Replace it.

I wouldn't recommend doing anything drastic, such as formatting, until you resolve the BIOS problem regarding boot sequence.

Often it is necessary to not merely press the proper key but rather tap it repeatedly to gain access to the BIOS setup. Try that for effect.

When you get back in, put the XP CD in the drive and do an install to the C: drive. That will allow it to boot without solving the BIOS sequence issue for the moment. It will set up a dual boot with both systems available. You cannot change the drive letter of a system drive or a boot drive so forget that method.

 

I don't have much to add but I have to ask, just in case. When you restarted the computer did you still have the boot disk in your cd drive? Until you repair things, it won't boot to XP without it. I'm not sure whether you are aware of this or not so I thought I'd mention it.

 

I have been "jousting" with a Compaq laptop this morning. The owners wanted to repair/reinstall Windows, but had stopped part way through the operation. I found that it would only boot to a blank screen unless you pressed the F1 key, originally it only showed a blinking cursor when you pressed F1, but showed "Press a key to boot to CD...." when the Windows disk was in the CD drive.

The startup screens go past very quickly because Compaqs are set by default for "Quick Boot ", which means they only load what was installed when it left the factory. Tap, tap, tap the F10 key from startup if you want to enter the Configuration settings.

For a desktop Compaq, replace the CMOS battery (look in the User Guide/manual). I see this was suggested by surferdude2.

This would probably be easy if the word Compaq wasn't involved

Matt
Edit: I doubt you will get anywhere by trying to turn "J" into "C ". You must have a "first boot partition" that will hold the boot instructions for any other active partitions with operating systems installed.

 

Good morning all.

I was just browsing through and ran across this and have a few questions.

#1 is How do you manage to install a helf copy of the OS ?

#2 is WHY would anyone want more than one copy of the same OS on the same machine ? Or at least the same HD ?
You may wonder why I ask.
I know that dual booting works because I have done it.
I also know that IF one LITTLE thing goes wrong the whole system can be USELESS.
I also know from experience that it may be more cost $ wise but WELL WORTH it over a period of time SANITY wise to have more than one machine.
I feel that at the age of 75yrs I can honestly get into this because I do have three machines which are Networked together. Some things are on one machine. Some things are on all. And a lot of things that are on all are games the the Family and I enjoy playing either alone or via the LAN. MY wife just loves beating me in Links Extreme Golf. ( just last evening AGAIN LOL )
I just happen to think of an AGE OLD saying. " It may not be a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket." ( think about it )
Well, I guess this is enough of my nonsense thinking for now.

BillyBob

 

accidently deleted c

......................................................................................................
Gee, I have never heard of what you have done.Since you had 2 partitions
on your hard drive , then you should have the partition software you used
to create the other partition ?Most partition software has a provision
to" reclaim" your c partition.

 

Final outcome

...................................................................................................
Gee... How did everthing workout after a few days ?

 

How it worked out was, when my computer's guard was down a few days ago, I managed to sneak in and do a reformat (again) and an XP reinstall (again). This time I installed only one copy of XP, and all is going well except for the pesky warning about my SMBus lacking a driver.

I've got a VIA K8T890 chipset. Does anyone know where there are drivers for hire for this beast?

Thank you.