I broke my windows partition

[pmp6nl]

So I moved my windows partition and now I cannot boot into windows.  Below is what I posted for support at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=3643235

If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it.

Thanks



Hello,


What happens: I start my computer and grub comes up, if I try to boot to the windows partition all I get is the text "starting up" and the screen will slowly fad in and out different colors (never seen anything like it before)... it will not load windows and does not seem to do anything.

What caused it to happen: There was some space on my hard drive that was unallocated; so I moved it from the "left side" of my windows partition to the "right side" so I could merge the unallocated space with the the 7.04 installation I already had.

The process of moving the the unallocated space seems to have messed up the windows partition and I cannot access windows during bootup, and I cannot access the files through linux either.

I have attached the error log from the partition software (from the 7.10 live cd), I received the error when I tried to check/repair (I cant recall the exact name) the partition.
I have also attached a screen shot that shows some of the warnings for the partition (errors.php) and a screen shot of what happens when I try to access the partition in Linux.

Any help as to what I can do to at least get the files or to fix it completely would be great.

Thank you very very much,

Brian


P.S. I saw some in some other support topics that the following info was posted:

Code: [Select]

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst
Shows:

# menu.lst - See: grub(, info grub, update-grub(
# grub-install(, grub-floppy(,
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
# WARNING: If you are using dmraid do not change this entry to 'saved' or your
# array will desync and will not let you boot your system.
default 6

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 10

## hiddenmenu
# Hides the menu by default (press ESC to see the menu)
#hiddenmenu

# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --#################### -- I edited out what was here
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specific kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8=root=/dev/hdc1 ro
## kopt_2_6_8_2_686=root=/dev/hdc2 ro
# kopt=root=UUID=f3ed46b4-7f4d-4173-aa69-a31cf38df459 ro

## Setup crashdump menu entries
## e.g. crashdump=1
# crashdump=0

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,2)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## additional options to use with the default boot option, but not with the
## alternatives
## e.g. defoptions=vga=791 resume=/dev/hda5
# defoptions=quiet splash

## should update-grub lock old automagic boot options
## e.g. lockold=false
## lockold=true
# lockold=false

## Xen hypervisor options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenhopt=

## Xen Linux kernel options to use with the default Xen boot option
# xenkopt=console=tty0

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=1

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## should update-grub adjust the value of the default booted system
## can be true or false
# updatedefaultentry=false

## ## End Default Options ##

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=f3ed46b4-7f4d-4173-aa69-a31cf38df459 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-16-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-16-generic root=UUID=f3ed46b4-7f4d-4173-aa69-a31cf38df459 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-16-generic

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=f3ed46b4-7f4d-4173-aa69-a31cf38df459 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic
quiet
savedefault

title Ubuntu, kernel 2.6.20-15-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.20-15-generic root=UUID=f3ed46b4-7f4d-4173-aa69-a31cf38df459 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.20-15-generic

title Ubuntu, memtest86+
root (hd0,2)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin
quiet

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda2
title Windows NT/2000/XP
root (hd0,1)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

I do see a part that says "# Pretty colours
#color cyan/blue white/blue"

that is what appears to be happening when I try to boot into windows... I dont know what it means

Code: [Select]

cat /etc/fstab
Shows:

# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc defaults 0 0
# /dev/hda3
UUID=f3ed46b4-7f4d-4173-aa69-a31cf38df459 / ext3 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1
# /dev/hda1
UUID=5EDC8081DC8054E5 /media/hda1 ntfs defaults,nls=utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/hda2
UUID=08C8-4599 /media/hda2 vfat defaults,utf8,umask=007,gid=46 0 1
# /dev/hda4
UUID=4f181c36-f3a8-4f13-aceb-06109bb54ffd none swap sw 0 0
/dev/hdc /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0

P.P.S Feel free to change the attachment hard drive.txt to hard drive,html as it actually is an html file.

Thank you for your time!

[JakeJZG]

There are three things I have come here to say:

-Don't use Windows Commedy Option (R)
-When you are using a dual-boot setup, Windows shits the bed when you tamper with the Windows partition.  This is endemic.
-If you wish I can help you in person if you are in the Grand Forks area.

Before you go any further you should backup any data on the Windows partition that you feel is worth backing up - but you have already done this as you would not have moved partitions without backing up first.

Second, post the results of:

Code: [Select]


fdisk -l



[pmp6nl]

I have been messing around with some programs (and probably making it worse):

fdisk -l =

Disk /dev/sda: 100.0 GB, 100030242816 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 12161 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *         450       11452    88381597+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2               1         449     3606561    b  W95 FAT32
/dev/sda3           11453       12040     4723110   83  Linux
/dev/sda4           12041       12161      971932+  82  Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order

For some reason the windows partition had changed to FAT, but now it appears back at NTFS... though I get conflicting reports.

[pmp6nl]

-When you are using a dual-boot setup, Windows shits the bed when you tamper with the Windows partition.  This is endemic.

haha.

BTW I am not in GF, sorry.

I also am running testdisk right now as it was suggested elsewhere and I am running out of options. 

[JakeJZG]

Honestly it seems your partition and windows install in borked and you would likely be best served to backup, and flatten/reinstall.

[pmp6nl]

Thats what I was thinking.  I wanted to recover some of the documents I dont have a backup of, but it looks like I will not be able to do that.

Unless maybe you know of a good free/cheap recovery tool that could find the stuff?

Thanks

[JakeJZG]

Thats what I was thinking.  I wanted to recover some of the documents I dont have a backup of, but it looks like I will not be able to do that.

Unless maybe you know of a good free/cheap recovery tool that could find the stuff?

Thanks

I can recover that data for a small one time fee of zero dollars.

[pmp6nl]

Well if its easier, is there some software that you use so I can save you the time?

Thanks.

[JakeJZG]

I have an old version of R-Studio I bought a long time ago.

Just a quick look gives me these freeware programs:

http://www.pcinspector.de/Sites/file_recovery/info.htm?language=1
http://www.smart-projects.net/cdrecovery.php
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/restoration.html
http://foremost.sourceforge.net/

I haven't used any of those - so good luck!

But only if you can't mount it in Linux or with a Knoppix disc - always try that first!

[pmp6nl]

Well I made a backup of the entire drive to another HD.  I am going to resintalling everything on this computer and worry about the files later.

I will let you know.

[JakeJZG]

Good luck!

[pmp6nl]

I ended up reinstalling windows and Ubuntu.  However, before the reinstall I made an exact copy of the hard drive, maybe when I get more time I will pursue file recovery.

Thanks!

[pmp6nl]

I ended up reinstalling windows and Ubuntu.  However, before the reinstall I made an exact copy of the hard drive, maybe when I get more time I will pursue file recovery.

Thanks!

ha, I just found that image the other day on a random hard drive sitting around.  Maybe I will look through it for fun - oh, I just thought of some files I want to pull from it