Boot disk failure, MBR screwed? How do I fix it?

rossyl

rossyl

rossyl

Soldato
Joined
27 Oct 2002
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Hi,

PC was running fine for ages till a recent Windows Update. On the reboot I got Boot disk failure.

Very occasionally it will boot up, work for 30mins then crash and won't reboot. However, now it will not boot into Windows at all.

So how do I fix it?

I was thinking plug drive into aother PC backup everything

Then is there a way to fix the PC without having to do an XP reinstall?

Thanks
 
Pop your windows CD in and go to the Repair Console. You can run FixMBR and the other one (FixBoot if memory serves.) (type in help and you'll get the list ;) ) Make sure you run chkdsk as well just to make sure - and then use your hdd manufacturer's tools to check the disk. Should help.
 
Do as above, the hard drive doesnt sound too healthy. Check the BIOS is always picking it up too, if its not being picked up there it cant be used to boot from.

Could also try and put the Windows CD in and see if it loads to windows fine, boot order should be floppy, cd, hard disk.. just let it run past the cd "press any button" bit and see if it loads normally.. but if its not being picked up by the BIOS i reckon your HD is on its way out.
 
BIOS is picking it up fine.

I tried to plug into into my sis' laptop using this parallel to USB thing - didn't work.

Stuck it back in the PC. It booted up fine. Ran CHKDSK (without the /f command) it reported no bad sectors etc.

It's now working fine. But obviously there is something not right.

Any utilities to check the
- boot sector
- hard drive running
- temp of hard drive.

Its a seagate baracuda IV IDE

Thanks
 
Last edited:
First thing I'd do is back it up.

Download the manufacturers drive fitness test (www.seagate.com) and do a thorough test of the drive, don't trust windows to tell you it's fubar'd as CHKDSK won't test things like the controller board or mechanics.

If in doubt test it in two machines to rule out motherboard and cables etc.
 
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