1 Topic by newuser

  • newuser
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Topic: WinXP will boot, but not log in after deleting, resizing and moving

I am working on creating a master image for a bunch of Gateway Tablets (mix of 280, 285, 295).  I've got all the apps and other config settings just about right, and wanted to clean up the HD a bit before reimaging.  BTW - I'm gonna be using LANDesk & LinuxPE for the reimage.

Anyway, using LiveCD 0.3.7-7, I was able to shrink the primary partition (60GB to 20GB), and delete the OEM partition (5GB) that has the recovery utility.  WinXP (w/ SP2) is able to restart and log in after each of these operations.  I thought I'd move the partition w/ the OS in the front, and leave all of the unallocated space into the back of the HD.

The operation completes successfully but now I'm not able to log back into the machine, even when using the local admin account.  After entering the username and password, XP logs in momentarily, and then logs back out.  That's it!  No error messages or anything else!  It's driving me nuts!  Help please...

2 Reply by class413

  • class413
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Re: WinXP will boot, but not log in after deleting, resizing and moving

Did you try to login in safe mode and the recovery console mode?

After each operation on a ntfs partition, you have to boot into windows and run the filesystem check with the command "chkdsk /f". This is done usually automatically with the reboot into windows. We must reboot at least another time or twice into windows and then continue with other operations.

Various boot problems in most cases are solved through the "recovery console", using the commands "fixboot, fixmbr" and "bootcfg". Nevertheless, I'm not sure that this problem is a usual boot-up problem.

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***

3 Reply by newuser

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Re: WinXP will boot, but not log in after deleting, resizing and moving

Safe Mode and Recovery Console did not work for me.

I shuffled the processes around, and I did them only one at a time.  I first deleted the OEM partition first, then moved the OS partition and then finally resized it.  Each time, the chkdsk did run and Windows had to reboot after loggin in.  It seems to be working just fine now.

4 Reply by class413

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Re: WinXP will boot, but not log in after deleting, resizing and moving

Deleting the OEM partition did change the partition numbers. The bootloader looks for the O.S. in the second partition, for example, but this partition is now the first.
I think you have to try the recovery console by booting from an installation cd, and use the command bootcfg to locate the system partition.

*** It is highly recommended to backup any important files before doing resize/move operations. ***