[RESOLVED] Grub Rescue Blocks Booting

Hi All, ........... Recently I installed the Ubuntu program on my WindowsXP Pro SP3 system to gain some familiarity with it. Since then I removed Ubuntu but now when I try to boot, I get an Error message: "Unknown file system" called "Grub Rescue." And that is as for as the booting goes. I have been able to get into Windows using a booting helper which requires inserting a CD into its drive.

I haven't been able to find Grub Rescue in the registry or using a file search. A check in the Event Viewer shows two errors. eight (8) and 1802. The first for Crypt32 and the second for Security Center. Probably these will go away if I can get the Grub Rescue file removed. I also ran SFC /scannow which did not improve the booting, the same error message appeared. Does anyone have suggestions for removing the Grub Rescue file?

Boot up with the WinXP CD in the drive, and go to the Recovery Console. At the command prompt, type "Fixboot", then type "Fixmbr", then "Bootcfg /rebuild" all without the quotes, pressing Enter after each command.

SuperSparks, ................ Before I go too far afield, let me show what my system is telling me in Recovery Console. Realize that I have partitions: C, D, E. and F. The Console screen shows:

1= G:\Windows

2= G:\Windows---then asks: Which Windows installation would you like to log onto?

I'm not sure if the equal signs are colons or not. In any case the G: caused me to stop since I was expecting that Windows would be on the C: partition and I'm not sure how I would get back to Windows on C:

Thank you for your interest and if your would care to add any other helpful comments, I would be most appreciative.

Don't worry about the drive letter being different, Recovery Console does that, though I forget the exact reason. Select 1, and if that doesn't work try 2. I suspect it is showing 2 different entries as a result of the messed up bootloader.

SuperSparks, ............. You were probably right about the drive letters. Using your advice of (1), I got the following :

[1]: C:\WINDOWS

but then the following: Add installation to boot list? (Yes, No, All)

I guessed No and that took me back to C:\WINDOWS and from there I was stuck and did no know where to go. Any further words of wisdom? Thank you for your help.

Try the (2) option and see what that does.

SuperSparks, .............. Let me modify some of the info in Post 3:

1: C=\WINDOWS and 2: G=\Windows

I'm not sure the changes are significant. However I did try 2: in my latest attempt and that try insisted on a Password, something that I have never used. Rebooting from the CD again and using the 1: C=\WINDOWS produced:

C:\WINDOWS> to which I started to apply the boot modifiers. Now my question is: is this the term to which Fixboot, Fixmbr, and Bootcfg /rebuild should be applied so that they look like C:\WINDOWS>Fixboot etc.?

I should also inform you that I have two hard drives in my computer, one of which is usually disconnected and kept as a backup and except for size has the same partition arrangement. If your patience can be extended further, I'll continue to rely on your advice. Again my thanks.

As long as your second hard drive is kept disconnected it definitely won't be affected by this process.

If it asks for a password, it is after the default Administrator password that was entered when WinXP was first installed, if any. If no password was ever entered, just press the enter key at the p/w prompt.

At the Command prompt (C:\Windows>), type in each command, and then press enter after each one.

SuperSparks, .......... I continued following your advice from Posts 2 and 8 and when I included the "Fixmbr" term I got a *CAUTION* message. This message contains scary terms like: "may damage your partitions," and "make them inaccessible." Then it asks: Are you sure you want to write a new MBR? That is where I stopped. Your advice?

It always gives that message when it finds something wrong, but I have never known a case where it ever has made a partition inaccessible. And over the years many people have used the command. I'd give it a go, because the alternative is an over-the-top reinstall, which is much harder work.

SuperSparks, ............ Well I followed your directions from Post 2 down to a point where I did not know the proper response. What was showing was:

Total identified Windows installs: 1
[1]: C:\WINDOWS
Add installs to boot list. (I think I clicked Enter)
Enter load identifier: 1 (I used one (1) here)
Enter OS Load Options (Here I was stuck)

At this point the computer screen does not provide any guidance and since I did not know what to use, I shut the computer down.

In your previous Post you mention "over-the-top reinstall" (is this also called Repair?), I agree with the "more work" and if I remember I usually lose some folders which have to be replaced. Things do not look good.

This KB article explains what's what in Bootconfig:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291980

Basically the load identifier is just the name that you give to the boot menu item - it can be anything you like, or even nothing at all. I like to give a full description of the OS, ie "Windows XP Professional x86".

SuperSparks, ............. Phew! All is well. I opened this Windows XP without the aid of a booting CD. Your perseverance is commendable. Thank you for holding my hand and walking me to a solution to the Grub problem.

You're very welcome, I'm glad that you got it all sorted out :)