Help me get back into windows......

[ASM1]

Following on from my post in here, I have got linux installed and working :D
http://www.bleedinedge.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7995

However.... I have done something silly at some point in the install, and I cant boot into windows - it will go so far, the windows logo appears and then just before the welcome screen, I get an "autochk not found - skipping autochk. error

I know I'm probably on to a lost cause here, but is there any way to sort this.... and if not, is it possible to recover any of my stuff from the windows partition :o

:smash: I've gone and done exactly what I DIDNT want to do :help: :help:

[ASM1]

I can boot to the recovery console, from my windows XP CD and get a c:\windows>_ prompt when I login as admin... if that helps

[Kureboy99]

Did you try and boot up windows in safe mode with command prompt? If you can get in, hit the windows key and the pause/break key. Then go to Advanced and then down to Startup and Recovery. Make sure you click on windows to be the first operating system booting up and click OK to save it...don't worry, it won't overwrite anything to not have linux not start up. This is my first thought of what it could be...my second thought, if this does not work, is trying boot up in safe mode and then running a search for the appliacation or batch called "autochk" to see what program group it belongs to. Hope this helps...just speculating right now to help out....hmmm...

[ASM1]

nope I cant get into windows wheatever option I choose. Actually I'm not that bothered at the moment, whats really worrying me is that I cant remember my password to login to my ISP and pay this months ADSL bill - which is due by the end of the month :yikes: If I don't cough up they will cut my net access.

I can see/access the Windows partition in linux... is there any way to import my email over here (from MS OUTLOOK or better still get outlook to run in linux.... I just want to read the mail with my pwd in it :bonk: :bonk: )

if you can help with this I would be VERY much obliged - Remember I am a complete linux Newbie :o :o so I need it spelt out in very simple terms.

thanx

Andrew

[ASM1]

Right... I have managed to blunder my way into LVM in YAST control centre... it says that my NTFS partition is "Hidden" - is that my problem and if so how do I sort it ?

[Kureboy99]

Hmmm, haven't dabbled in linux since 2000...but I think you shoul;d be able to explore the partition. Try and see if you can make it read-only instead of hidden so you can browse through the files...I remember when I was running RedHat 7.0 and had a windows partition, I could broswe the directories and see the files...forgot if I did anything special though...don't think I did.

On the other issue of getting into windows...have you tried to roll back to a working version yet? If this does/did not work...have you tried to choose the Repair the windows installtion option when booting from the Windows XP cd? Once you log in with the password, it should allow you to choose to repair the windows installation.

[ASM1]

Stupidly I thought the MBR had become corrupted - so booting to the "repair install" in the recovery console I did a "FIXMBR"...

I am now reduced to the mac :D

According to DISKPART - I have one windows partition (as well as the Linux Stuff that is(still) hidden, when I try adding it to the OS loader, it doesnt want to play

Any Ideas - I am a hairsbreadth away from reinstalling windows, although I would do it on a separate partition to see if I can rescue stuff....

AAARRRGGGHHHH :hide: :hide: :beat:

[ASM1]

Found my bits of paper with all the ADSL stuff - bill is now paid :D Now all I have to do is sort out my shagged OS... this'll teach me to "play" with things when I'm not 100% - have a stinking cold..... :thumb:

[Kureboy99]

Hmmm...I would bit the bullet and just do a fresh install on a seperate partition...you should be able to then rescue those old files and possibly set it to detect that partition to try and boot again within the place I mentioned in my post above...good luck :)

[ASM1]

thats what I thought as well - the current build was getting a bit messy anyways (was nearing time for a rebuild)

thanks


Andrew

[BGP Spook]

Not sure if this will help any or if I am sniffing at the wrong tree.

What FAT setup is the Linux partition using. If it isn't NTFS I don't think it can "see" it.

I may be wrong but I think NTFS is very particular about who/what can access it without its assistence. (I know that sounds weird. But I don't know how else to explaine it.) If you were running off another NTFS partition I think you wouldn't have a problem with it.

[ALX_eater]

Have you re-installed yet? I have a few things you can try if you haven't already.