[RESOLVED] XP will not boot: Invalid Partition Table

Hello

My daughter had a HP Media Center running XP Professional.

She had to reboot yesterday and the splash screen (Windows logo) just staid up forever. She looked online which told her to do a mbrfix command in the recovery screen. Further the internet site told her to ignore the warnings....yikes.

Well, she ignored and now when she boots up (or tries to) she gets a quick HP logo and then it goes to black screen with a single message "Invalid Partition Table".

When I try cntrl-alt-delte it goes right back there. Note: I have a split second and can get into BIOS...but I cannot get back to recovery console.

I do have Kapersky and Reatogo on disk and they will both load. Cant see if they give me anything but I tried (although REATOGO has a mbrfix icon????)

Also she does not have the Boot CD.

I do have access with this computer to download for her.....

Thanks in adavnce

Sandy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skb1012

... running XP Professional... message "Invalid Partition Table"...

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Before continuing further, you may want to run the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility to see if it is failing.

OK...

I am a tech novice. How do I do that please.... can I access that from REATOGO?? It loads fine

Disk seems fine.....just cant boot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skb1012

... How do I do that please...

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You can read/copy the part number displayed on the hard drive.
Conduct a corresponding web search. If unfamiliar with process, post the number here. Someone should be able to identify it for you.

Hard drive diagnostic utility should be available from the hard drive manufacturer's website.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skb1012

... can I access that from REATOGO?? ...

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I do not use that software, so unable to assist.

Another alternative,

Frequently mentioned diagnostic utility,

• Ultimate Boot CD

Disk checked out fine. Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skb1012

She looked online which told her to do a mbrfix command in the recovery screen. Further the internet site told her to ignore the warnings....yikes.

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Support.Microsoft.com > "Operating System Not Found" or "Missing operating system" error message when you start your Windows XP-based computer

Quote:

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fixmbr

Warning This command can damage your partition table if a virus is present or if a hardware problem exists. If you use this command, you may create inaccessible partitions. We recommend that you run antivirus software before you use this command. We also recommend that you backup your data before you use this command. If the fixmbr command detects an invalid or non-standard partition table signature, the fixmbr command prompts you for permission before rewriting the MBR. The fixmbr command is supported only on x86-based computers.

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:(

Ok, Disk checked out...anyone have a next idea how to proceed? Thanks

TestDisk, Data Recovery

Thanks

I am playing with the TestDisk, but I am a tech novice so hope doing it correctly. I will let u know how it goes

Ok..

I follwed step by step (http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk_Step_By_Step). I got as far as the "NFTS Boot Sector Recovery " section. It let me go as far as the write and then told me I needed to reboot. I tried to reboot normally and now get a loop of new splash screens, HP setting up recovery screen, then a blue screen, then it loops and loops.... I finally reinserted the REATOGO disk and got that to load.... "Invalid Partition Table" error message gone but now this infinate loop of splash screens, etc....

Langa Letter: XP's No-Reformat, Nondestructive Total-Rebuild Option

Thanks again for the help

1) As I mentioned in my first post...we do not have the cd boot disk.....bummmer. The article you pointed me to assumes I do. Is there a way to do without that
2) FYI - when I did the TestDisk...the boot file has two red color entrees....those are deleted files I guess...do they need recovered?

1. Borrow one from family, friend, neighbor, . . . ?
   
   
2. Yes, TestDisk displays deleted files and directories in red.
   • TestDisk: undelete file for NTFS
   • TestDisk: undelete file for FAT
   • TestDisk: undelete file for ext2

also...does the mbrfix command area on reatogo help for this...if so what do i type there???

Afraid I'm not familiar with " reatogo".

Ok

I played around with all....I still have the loop between "HP system Recovery" and the HP splash screens..... but now when I hit F8 I can get the safemode screen.

When I try to launch safe mode or any mode like last known config that worked...i get a new message: <windows root>\system32\hall.dll imissing or corrupt, please reneter.....

How do I re-enter and all

A hal.dll error can occur when the partition boot sector has become corrupt, isn't properly configured, or if the physical part of your hard drive that stores any part of the hal.dll file has been damaged.

Options:

1. Restore the hal.dll file from the Windows XP CD.
   
   
2. Perform a repair installation of Windows XP.
   
   
3. Perform a clean installation of Windows XP.

ok...I will try more tomorrow and let you know how it goes :)

Thanks

sigh...well, I have borrowed a couple CD Boot CD's and none work. Someone told me I need the exact one from the manufacturer and those arent available.

The symptoms are still:
1) A " Starting HP PC Sytems Recovery bar (dashed lines that turn solid) comes up..it completes
2) A black and white HP logo comes up for a few seconds
3) The blue and white more modern looking HP logo comes up...with options for setup and recovery (but f10 for recovery only starts this loop over and there is no recovery screen)
4) Then it loops back to step 1

Note...I can change the bios to boot from CD and it will read oltpe and reatogo and load them...but it will not read any boot CD

Any suggestions versus me taking into a shop to fix ($$)?????

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skb1012

I have borrowed a couple CD Boot CD's and none work.

... it will not read any boot CD

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If the problem is the drive, new CD/DVD burners start at $17.99, including shipping.

Thanks

I dont think it is a drive problem as the PE disks all load fine....it just wont read the boot cd's (not from manufacturer).

Ok ....well thanks, if you need to close this out go ahead and do so. I am thinking to just take it to a repair shop this morning.....

:( Thanks anyway

You're welcome, and best of luck. You can "close this out" by clicking "Thread Tools" then "Mark Thread Resolved".

One last question...an maybe this will help????

I was able to get into the safe mode menu screen....you know, the one that list all the safemode options etc. None of them work. But....I was able to enable the boot logging and got this message:

Windows could not start because there is a missing or corrupt file: \system32\hal.dll

Remeber that I cant access the repair disks or xp disks....is there another way to add that file in....perhaps from PE (I can get into it and it has command line access, registry tools, testdisk, other tools)

THANKS!!!!!!!!!

Clean the OS cd and use a lazer cleaner cd.
That fix the xp disk reading problem.
A repair install of the xp OS is what I use.

Items to check.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findby...singhaldll.htm

Thanks everyone.

For anyone who may have similar issues ...I found a fix...yeah!!!! I burned a Herins Boot CD on another computer. When it boots it has a menu. I happened to click on and entree that was "Smart Boot ...." It loads a cryptic table and then a menu. By dumb luck I noticed that there were 2 boot pc items....one was FAT and the other NTFS. I clicked on the NTFS and it worked....

Excellent news. Thanks for posting your solution. :)