[ale] How can I use Knoppix to fix hd problem on xp box

[Jim Seymour]

On Sun, Feb 26, 2006 at 11:44:08AM -0500, H. A. Story wrote:
> Jim Seymour wrote:
> 
> >I have an XP box (haven't been able to convert the spouse) with a sata
> >drive that has a corrupted mbr that XP can't fix and will not boot. I
> >can't even reinstall the XP system. Since I can access the drive without
> >problem running Knoppix, I am guessing maybe......virus destruction? I
> >was hoping that somebody out there could point me to an antivirus program
> >I could run from a cd under Knoppix. Any other ideas as to the possible
> >culprit?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Jim Seymour
> >
> >  
> >
> 
> I take it you have tired booting from the XP CD and trying the emrg 
> recovery.  I think that is what it was call on 2000.  I have heard that 
> XP still has it.  Now if you have one of those systems where you get a 
> recovery CD from the vendor and not a actually XP cd then that will not 
> work.  Dell and Acer come to mind here not sure about gateway and 
> others.  Another reason I don't like those setups. by the way I think it 
> is F2.  It flashes on the screen really fas during boot.  I know on 
> Win98 and W2K if you boot from the CD there is an option at the bottom 
> of the screen.
> 
> That will work if it is the MBR and not the registry.  If the registry 
> is bad then good luck.   There is little that you can do other than 
> backup all data files and reload the OS.  Then reinstall the programs.  
> Sounds like fun don't it?
> 

I have tried the commands available under the recovery console to no
avail. Fixmbr doesn't even have a response when executed. Fixboot tells
me that the record is corrupted and tries to fix it. Comes back saying
it can't fix the record. Map command shows the hard drive without a
drive letter. I am having no problems moving around the drive while
booted with Knoppix. Trying a reinstall of XP fails and then reboots.
Booting to safe mode in any variety stops at loading gagp30kx.sys and
then reboots. That file is M$ agp driver. Others using a via chipset
have had problems with that file though the extent of my problems seem to
go much further. This is home built system, so there are no special
utilities that came with it.

This is an Athalon64 3000+ system on a Asus A8V Deluxe mobo with a
Maxtor 160gb sata drive. I will give the F2 command a try and see if
there are any other commands I could try.

Many Thanks,

Jim Seymour

-- 
I started using something better than the "standard" back when IBM
advertised OS/2 Warp on TV. As Linux matured I made the transition from
OS/2 v4 to Linux.  You don't have to accept less than you deserve.  "Use
the Power of the Penguin" Registered Linux user #316735