Computer wont boot after extending partition

[rmurgz]

Hi,

Firstly, I stuffed up! My wife's laptop is an old Sony VGN-TX2HP running XP. It was originally split into a 40GB (C and 37GB (D partition and I think there was a small "system" partition. The C drive was filling up so I deleted the D: partition and now the computer won't work.

I can access the Bios set-up utility.

I desperately need to recover the laptop (without a recovery disk) and get the files off the laptop.

Can anyone help a man in a desperate place?!

Thanks

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

You are going to need a bootable recovery CD / DVD (not sure if usb bootable device supported)

What was on the D: partition and what size was it before it was deleted ?

Did you stop at removing the D: partition?
or did you go on to expand the C: partition into the free space used by D:
Makes things much more complicated (beyond many users abilities)

what tools did you use ?( disk management ? )


A Linux Live CD image such as Parted Magic cost $4.95 (USD ) for downloading and then you burn ISO to CD using ImgBurn (free, reliable & easy to use)

providing the C: partition is not changed (expanded) or damaged then you can browse to the files on C: and copy them off to a USB disk

Once that is done TestDisk can restore the D: Partition and GParted resize the C: & D: partitions.

PhotoRec does a good job of recovering files provided disk not physically damaged
from http://www.cgsecurity.org/ but already on Parted Magic Linux CD image

BUT if the data on the drive is valuable get an expert to do it for you.

regards

Mike Barnes

 

[rmurgz]

Mike,

I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I used Partition Magic to delete the D: partition and extend C - applied, rebooted as per instructions and boom... I had already removed my personal files from the D: portion of the drive so there was nothing I needed on there.

I can get to the Bios and I've just discovered Pressing f10 gets me to the recovery process. I don't want to use it though as a) its the nuclear option b) i need to get my documents off the computer and c) its going to be a painstaking reinstall...

 

[mbarnes86]

Hi

You did not give the error messages received when you tried to boot up
They may give a clue as to what is broken
Is it a boot manager problem or MBR problem or a corrupted C: partition

A Linux live CD such as Parted Magic will help to resue the files if the partition C: is not corrupted

A borrowed Windows XP CD may be able to fix the MBR and similar problems after recovering important files
tutorial below

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10-things/10-things-you-can-do-when-windows-xp-wont-boot/#.

My netbook has a recovery partition which has a Vista based recovery system which starts up first then hands over to XP on the next partition.

If your Sony has something similar Partition Magic does not understand the Vista & 7 or 8 boot Managers and may corrupt things

regards

Mike Barnes

 

[den052]

I have removed hard drives from laptops and used a USB drive adapter to copy the drive contents of files you need to copy to another computer. You can purchase these cheaply on the internet for less than $25. Then reinstall the hard drive and reformat and install windows. You get a fresh install of windows and recover space at the same time. Sometimes quicker than trying to repair the ability to boot into C partition.