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boot partition error can't star Win2K

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by fas702 1 view

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Hi,

this issue is driving me crazy, so any suggestions would be great.
Ok, so here's the history...

1. Got the SASSER virus, which kept rebooting my Win2k machine.
2. Tried using anti-virus software, but didn't work.
3. Then one day when starting Win2K would get start-up screen with loading bar - never reached the end, as would reboot machine before it completed.
4. Couldn't start in safe mode
5. Decided to clean my C: drive (kept D drive in tact) using fdisk - changed it to FAT as DOS doesn't recogniase my NTFS drives.
6. Get my Win2K install CD and go through set-up screen - recognises both C and D drive
7. Reformat C: drive to NTFS, and goes through install process fine - WINNT folder created. Then reboots to start Win2K
8. Get error something like - could not open boot partition to check signature, and then as CD still in drive, goes back to Win2K Set-up screen. I try steps 7 and 8 again - no luck.
9. I then reformatting using fdisk - says "no fixed disk present" ! What to do.
10. Ok , dig out an old hardrive (was running win98 - used ok, 1 year ago).
11. DO fdisk - same error.
12. Try reinstall on new Hardrive - Win2K set-up disk picks up fact I have two FAT partitions, and I can see the old docs I had.
13. Try to reformat and reinstall - same boot partition error.
14. Ok getting deperate here, and if I ever find the guy who created the sasser virus - he's history!
15. maybe something on my MBR - try fdisk /mbr.
16. Also try FIXMBR and FIXBOOT from win2k CD - says its creating a new boot - still no change.
17. I am going bonkers here!
18. I don't really know much about this stuff - but going through this pain has made me a bit more aware of the inner working of a PC.

If you have any ideas of how to resolve this, I would really appreciate it. I'll need a step-by-step guide, please.

Thanks in advance.

Fas

13 replies

by dmiles

Use a Win98 startup disk to perform Fdsik

When doing FDisk,you want to enable large disk support,insert W2K cd in drive and proceed to insstallation process,try using fat to get through the installation process,then you could convert to NTFS

The NTFS partition could be causing you the problem if it exist on the same hard drive.

by fas702

Hi,
couple of comments.
Fdisk is a DOS command, thus to run it I had to be in DOS.
Windows 2K and XP aren't DOS operating systems as far as I know - anyway fdisk doesn't work there.
Thus, I must have used a Win 98 startup disk or WinME to issue the command. Thus, I have already tried your suggestion, and as I have said - get the "no fixed disks present error". I've also already tried installing into a FAT partition without any luck.

Fas.

by fas702

I don't have bios level checking - how do I do that...I assume I need the software, but how can I set this set-up without getting into Win2K ?
Anywhere where I can get such sofware?
Why can't I just delete the boot partition and leave it clean ?
How is the virus working even though I changed hard drives?

Thanks.

by fas702

I don't have bios level checking - how do I do that...I assume I need the software, but how can I set this set-up without getting into Win2K ?
Anywhere where I can get such sofware?
Why can't I just delete the boot partition and leave it clean ?
How is the virus working even though I changed hard drives?

Thanks.

by willcomp

Possibly a boot sector infector residing in BIOS. Can't help you fix this one unless you have dual BIOS mobo.

May get a better solution from someone who's conquered same problem.

by dmiles

Get the motherboard manual,now boot computer and press the designated key to enter to check if you have the Virus check enabled by using the manual.

If you had ERD disk from your anti-virus software you could boot from it and and check the system for a virus

The Win98 startup will boot the system and yes Fdisk is a utility that you can use from the command prompt,futhermore if you have used fdisk then you may have lost data and will be better off fdisking the entire drive which may be causing the problem and acting as though you have a virus.

When booting with the startup disk use the second option run setup with out cd rom support

To use fdisk on NTFS,you need to delete the no-dos partitions first

Delete the logical dos partition second

The Primary partition will be the last partition to delete.

Insert the W2K cd and run setup

by sgt_shultz

sorry.
boot from your win2k installation cd. tell it you want to (gulp) reinstall windows. see if it it will find your old installation and offer to repair it. let it.
stay away from fdisk for now imho also fixmbr and fixboot.
after this is over have a look at how to make a nfts boot disk for your computer at support.microsoft.com
or do you think you could have intermittant hd controller?

by fas702

Ok guys, thanks for your help.
I'll try your suggestions, when I get home tonight.
Couple of things though -
sgt - when I go into win2K repair mode - what do I do from there? What program to I execute to fix my install?

Does anyone know of a good bios virus checker that I can run in DOS ?

Cheers.

Fas

by pradeep_chavan

hi
well u should install Microsoft Varnabule patch

for windows 2000 which u will get from microsoft official site

by fas702

I can't find the "Varnabule" patch on MS website.
Is this the correct spelling ?
Also, what does this patch do/fix ?

Thanks.
Fas.

by fas702

Hi,
I did resolve this in the end have now been able to re-install Win2K. I would just like to say that although more people looked at my questions and provided suggestions, the quality of the answers was..mmhh...variable.
This what I did :
1. Check hardisk is ok - put in another machine you know is ok - result - I was able to fdisk and install Win2K onto it. So disk is ok.
2. Switch hard drive back to original machine - try to startup - same boot sector error.
3. Ok, Q - must be other hardware problem:
- check cable - switch with one that works - no difference
4. Either port problem or bios - unlikely to be port - machine is only 1 year old.
5. So flush BIOS - how ? Remove the motherboard battery.
6. Restart - mahine - reset BIOS settings - Not that hard - set everything to detect "Auto"
7. Picks up my IDE hardrive.
8. Re-install windows on C partition successfully
9. Login - all my D:drive in tact - hooray.

Regards,
Faisal

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