Resolved BOOTMGR is compressed

A friend recently handed me her HP Mini 110-1034NR that would no longer boot. Someone or somehow the disk files were compressed. [Error msg: BOOTMGR is compressed ... press cntrl-alt-delete to restart] I don't know under what circumstances. I am able to access the BIOS and ran the diagnostic pgm on the disk and the test was successful indicating no problems. In addition there is only one boot option. That being the the SATA Drive (and it is selected). This system has no CD/DVD drive. They didn't know which OS was on the machine but after some research with HP I believe it is XP (which exact version I do not know however). It is my understanding that if I can obtain any XP recovery program and transfer it to a Flash drive, I can have the system boot up and do a repair. I was also told that Vista Recovery disks will work on XP. Sorry but after all of the problems I have encountered listening to other people in other places the only advice I trust anymore comes from this forum and the common sense and expertise that it promotes. I will be waiting for any confirmations or denials of the above statements before I proceed. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

Most of the "fixes" that I have read have been with Vista ... again one even stated that the Vista recovery disk will work on XP ...

 

Yes they were, good question...also when I looked up that specific model on the HP site it only came with two possible OS programs and the person confirmed that it was XP but couldn't recall which version... (computer illiterate)... the mini was a gift.

 

Yes all the stickers are on the machine...

 

While I am waiting for an XP recovery disk, I found an old HP cd-writer 8200 series external hard drive cables and all in the extra parts drawer. I was hoping to be able to use it via a USB port to effect the repair. When I go into the BIOS the Mini doesn't see the hardware so I cannot select it as an additional boot device option. Is this a new thread or does it belong here since it is associated with my original problem?

 

When the friend handed over the mini, what was the OS being run before the crash ?
also please state exactly the reply to these questions:-
1. What boot options does BIOS show ?
2. Did you try safe mode with command prompt ?(assuming it was running vista/7)
3. Do you have an option to boot off a usb ?

 

The OS running on the machine when it was purchased was XP. When I went into the BIOS the only boot option was ... SATAM-ST9160827AS... the function to add boot devices only offers ... Network:Atheros Boot Agent. I attempted to see if the unit would recognize an external cd drive that I remembered I had. It is an HP etc etc. (see above) that works fine and was originally used on a circa '98 Sony Vaio laptop through a docking station. It either isn't seeing the USB ports or I may have had to have the units drivers installed prior to the current dilema. It appears the root of the problem, after conversation, is that the individual was trying to free up disk space "because you're supposed to do that right??" and went ahead and checked the compress files on this drive in the Properties window. So the C drive along with the boot mgr was affected.

 

Worst case scenario HP offers a "fix" to do a total restore from a flash drive on their website. I am trying to avoid that as there are files and photos of her deceased son on this that weren't saved anywhere. In addition I don't know if the Mini will even recognize the flash drive if it doesn't see the external disk drive.

 

Brilliant....Thank you ....can do ...will let you know how it goes ... I did have it apart to clean all of the cat hair out of the components, boards and fan....ckl

 

I was unable to boot the system successfully and 'uncheck' the "compress files on this drive" box ..So I formatted a flashdrive and did a complete system restore as per HP solution website. Though all of the persons personal data and files are gone the system is functional once again.. Issue Resolved