1 (edited by jama 2007-01-23 00:01:00)

Topic: Computer well and truly unusable [Resolved with format and reinstall]

I used the live CD to make some changes and now have an unusable laptop.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I had 3 partitions on my drive.  First partition 1, empty. Partition 2, WinXP. Partition 3, Vista.  I removed Partition 1 knowing that I wouldn't be able to boot until I made some further modifications.  The problem is now the machine will not only not boot but neither will the Windows CD to give me access toi the console.  When I say the CD won't boot I can start the boot process and start the windows install process, it then extracts files as expected but instead of a menu I then get a blank screen and that's it.

I can't see how this started after editing partitions, but it worked fine before.  This is a new one to me. I recreated the blank partition expecting to be able to boot and nothing changed.

Regards, James

2

Re: Computer well and truly unusable [Resolved with format and reinstall]

jama wrote:

I used the live CD to make some changes and now have an unusable laptop.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I had 3 partitions on my drive.  First partition 1, empty. Partition 2, WinXP. Partition 3, Vista.  I removed Partition 1 knowing that I wouldn't be able to boot until I made some further modifications.  The problem is now the machine will not only not boot but neither will the Windows CD to give me access toi the console.  When I say the CD won't boot I can start the boot process and start the windows install process, it then extracts files as expected but instead of a menu I then get a blank screen and that's it.

I can't see how this started after editing partitions, but it worked fine before.  This is a new one to me. I recreated the blank partition expecting to be able to boot and nothing changed.

Regards, James

Hi James,
Did i miss something or you didnt mention any operation you made with GParted...??
BTW which livecd did you use ?
Only beta version has Vista resizing enable.

Please be more explicit, so we can try to give you some help...

Larry
GParted-project Admin
Former GParted-LiveCD maintainer (2007)

3 (edited by jama 2007-01-15 14:09:49)

Re: Computer well and truly unusable [Resolved with format and reinstall]

Thanks Larry.

LiveCD version 0.3.2

I deleted partition 1, the unallocated space.  I then moved partition 2, WinXP, forward (to left). Finally, I expanded partition 3, Vista, to fill the remaining space.  This then left me with 2 partitions with WinXP on 1 and Vista on 2.

I expected a no boot scenario initially, but didn't expect the windows setup disk to no longer actually run the setup options.

Regards, James

4

Re: Computer well and truly unusable [Resolved with format and reinstall]

livecd 0.3.2 is not able to resize vista since vista is seen as an NT4 fs :-/
Which is weird is that you cant boot any cd anymore !

Larry
GParted-project Admin
Former GParted-LiveCD maintainer (2007)

5

Re: Computer well and truly unusable [Resolved with format and reinstall]

jama : do you still have the problem ?
Your laptop doesnt boot anymore ? You have a blicking underscore at the top left ?
Please tell me if is this, 'cause i know what it is...

Larry
GParted-project Admin
Former GParted-LiveCD maintainer (2007)

6 (edited by jama 2007-01-22 23:59:47)

Re: Computer well and truly unusable [Resolved with format and reinstall]

Hi Larry

I have just finished a full format and reinstall of both OS's.

I am not surprised about Vista not work but XP was disappointing.  Before I formatted I did try a boot disk which did get me into XP but I couldn't get it to work with out it.  I rewrote the MBR repaired the boot sector, etc all to no avail.

I would be interested to know what you found.

Regards, James

7

Re: Computer well and truly unusable [Resolved with format and reinstall]

The problem you had may come from memory cache which is not empty on exit ! So you just need to unplug all electric cable and remove battery during 5 sec. Then replug and .... boot smile

Larry
GParted-project Admin
Former GParted-LiveCD maintainer (2007)