Cant boot after usage of partition magic

Question

Hi, all. I recently ordered a Dimension 531 with Vista. after using it for a while i dicided to make some partitions with partition magic. when i started partition magic windows came up with an error, so i just thought it probably wasn't vista ready yet. I continued to use my computer untill i got a Windows Blue Screen (or BSOD). when my computer restarted it wouldn't go past the vista loading screen, it just restarts and again when it comes across the loading screen it restarts and so on. If i try to reinstall Vista it says that the partition needs to be formatted with ntfs. So i went to cmd and used format c: /fs:ntfs, cmd then asks me to give the volume name of the partition. As far as I know the partition is called OS, so that's what i entered. cmd told me the volume name was incorrect. Does anyone know a solution to this problem? Note: Dell Factory Image reset gives an error and so does Microsofts program for resetting the computer. It seems like my Harddisk cant be detected/read or someting. Greetings, Ziggen Message Edited by Ziggen on 09-02-2007 04:51 PM

PETER345 · Answer

Doesn't Vista setup have the option to delete and create partitions? If so, can't you just delete the problem partition? Peter

Ziggen · Answer

The delete button for the problem partition is grey, I can't use it. The same goes for my other partition Recovery, altough it's kinda different. if i try to remove that one windows comes up with some error like 0x800700...

kdmphx · Answer

edited...   sorry... was only going to say that Partion Magic isn't Vista compliant.... Message Edited by kdmphx on 09-02-2007 10:30 AM

Neovenator · Answer

Here is how I solved the same problem ( I did the same on my Inspiron 530) 1. use Gost 2003 and make a DISC 2 IMAGE ghost. I my case I had to use DVD's since I didn't have a 2:nd harddrive installed. 2. use Partition Manager (not magic) (I think it's present on Hirens boot CD's) and delete the OS partition. 3. Create a new partition in place of the deleted one. 4. Ghost only the OS C: partition back onto your original disc. It will be placed at the end of D: which is where it shall start. 5. Use Partition Manager again and change Recovery D: disc from hidden to unhidden. 6. Reboot Voilá! It's working again.   The partition has to start at exactly the same place since Vista keeps track of where it starts in a file of it's own somewhere.   I have yet to figure out how to make a new partition as I want it. Vista only allows you to shrink it so much leaving much space on C: that could be used on the new partition instead. So I'm waiting for a vista compatible version of partition magic before I try to do that again.   A friend reports that he managed to fiddle with partition magic without any problems. At closer inquiry it seems that he has installed vista ultimate directly on to C: without any utility or recovery partitions from Dell. In his case the partition always starts at the beginning of the disc which is what partition manager also expects I presume.

Ziggen · Answer

Thanks for helping , im sure that would have worked though. but im having a mechanic from Dell coming over tomorrow. Thanks anyway Greetings, Ziggen

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