failed to find boot sector

Question

I have a inspiron 6000 with windows XP with SP2   While I was running, I got a blue screen error. I restarted and I got a failure to find boot sector.   I was able to run the dell diagnostics and everything is ok. My hard drive is able to be read etc. All the hard drive tests pass. Cache and memory test ok.  But boot sector can't be found and c drive can't be found anytime I try to boot. Also I tried to bring up recovery console but all I got was dos prompt where most of the commands didn't work.   What I am thinking of trying next was to try the reinstallation cd of windows XP SP2 and was wondering whether my data on the hard drive would be preserved if I reinstall. Also will I be able to see data.

LarryB50 · Answer

Ok, if you reinstall XP you will lose your data.  What you need to do is get to the recovery console and type 'fixboot' wouldn't hurt to do a 'fixmbr' as well.

ejn63 · Answer

Did you run the Dell diagnostics on the drive (F12 at powerup)?

gerbil36 · Answer

To make sure you understand which disc I have to do recovery or reinstall windows, I'll tell you what I have. It is a dell disc that says operating system already installed on your computer. It is a reinstallation cd. For distribution with a new dell pc. When I put this disc in. It gives 3 options.   1.  reinstall xp    2. start recovery console (just get c:\> when I try this)     3.quit setup without installing   I just want to make sure that if I try 1. the reinstall will I lose my data.

gerbil36 · Answer

First, I'll reply to diagnostics question. pressing f12 allows me to run preboot assessment which runs ok. Then I get no diagnostics utility partition found insert drivers and utilities disk. I insert disk and am able to run all diagnostics ok.   For the recovery console question. I am not sure what the console looks like. I insert the reinstall operating system disk. One of the options is the recovery console. I get a c:\> prompt I type help and see commands that you suggest. The fixboot command says it can't find system drive or drive specified is not valid The fixmbr command says it can't detect a master boot record signature         then it says computer appars to have a non standard or invalid master boot record        this could cause all partitions to become inaccessable        are you sure you want to write a new mbr?       That is where I stopped.        Should I say Y when it asks about writing a new mbr?

LarryB50 · Answer

Sounds like your data is already gone, but you might try putting the drive in an external case and trying to get to your data on another system. After you try to save your data then boot to the recovery console and say yes, it might give you your data back, if not looks like a reformat and re-install is in order. I would also run a custom HDD test as well, you can find that in the diagnostics disk as well. Go ahead and run the "fixmbr", then run "fixboot" also wouldn't hurt to run "chkdsk /r" as well.

Message Edited by LarryB50 on 12-20-2007 12:36 PM

Storage, Drives & Media

failed to find boot sector

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