Repair bad file in Xp on a partitioned drive

timebuilder · Mar 28, 2010

Next task.

I have a Dell M1530 notebook. The seller set it up with a four-way partition so I had the ability to use different operating systems. No support available, as he is in a different state.

Early last fall, I picked up a bug and was able to repair the system, and it worked well for a while. Then, when booting into Xp a few months later, I received a message about a missing or corrupted file, and that I could attempt to repair it using the install CD. Okay, I have that, I think to myself. It says to insert the disc and hit "R" to begin the repair.

The problem I ran into is that I have to select Xp during bootup, and then the pressing of the "R" makes no difference.

So, how can I get the repair sequence underway when the OS is in a partition? :confused

plodr · Mar 28, 2010

You put the CD in and select it as the boot device. If it gets to the point of selecting the OS, then you are booting from the hard drive and not the XP install disk.

Change boot order in the BIOS so the optical drive is first.
Go here: http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
and scroll down to XP Repair Install.

Since the Dell XPS M1530 had Vista as the OS, you are not dealing with any recovery partitions nor restore disks so it would be treated like a MS XP install on any computer.

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Repair bad file in Xp on a partitioned drive

timebuilder Private E-2

plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member