Dell pbr screwed

[atlanticjim]

Have a laptop from a client who was trying to fix a boot problem. He used recovery console to fixmbr which then screwed the dell pbr (partition boot record). I have tried to use pbrfix but I am getting a fatal error regarding the third partition not being fat32. I have tweaked the partition table with an editor but still cannot get it to move past the pbr load to the the windows boot screen. I have the data backed up, before I N/P (and remove the dell partition scheme) is there anything that I am missing? Any work around or tool from the wealth of knowledge here on TN?

 

[usacvlr]

I assume a windows repair didn't work?

 

[atlanticjim]

Didn't mention that I went that route and it would not allow a repair install. For some reason there was no option for that with a generic nlited xp sp3 disk.

 

[studiot]

If you have played with the partitions have you set the right one active?

 

[atlanticjim]

If you have played with the partitions have you set the right one active?

yeah. .but it seems that the dell Partition Boot Record works differently than a regular boot record

 

[studiot]

Many big names that use a recovery partition are more complicated.

If the BIOS is not requesting a boot drive the MBR is accessible, but the system is often just looking in the wrong place for the boot partition on the right disk.

From the sound of it, it was XP so do you need to edit boot.ini?

 

[repairit]

DSRFix: http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm

I've used this successfully on many Dells with messed up MBRs.

Keep in mind, that sometimes you will need to use the PBR4 syntax on this. There is information regarding that on the site. This is only if you find that the recovery partition is in the 4th partition.

 

[atlanticjim]

DSRFix: http://www.goodells.net/dellrestore/fixes.htm

I've used this successfully on many Dells with messed up MBRs.

Keep in mind, that sometimes you will need to use the PBR4 syntax on this. There is information regarding that on the site. This is only if you find that the recovery partition is in the 4th partition.

RepairIT
Thanks, I have tried this (I think that I called it PBRfix by mistake) I may call on you for your expertise if you dont mind.

 

[MobileTechie]

Hmm I didnt know they used a custom MBR. That is worth knowing.

Is is possible just to boot into the recovery partition by marking it active? Some laptops with recovery partitions allow this.

 

[Markus]

You use testdisk to write a new mbr and rebuild the boot sector of the windows partition.

 

[MobileTechie]

You use testdisk to write a new mbr and rebuild the boot sector of the windows partition.

He can build a normal windows MBR with PT but this will not restore the laptop to it's original configuration. He will lose the restore partition function since this relies on the custom Dell MBR.

But something like this might be the best way forward. At least you get the original installation.

 

[atlanticjim]

He can build a normal windows MBR with PT but this will not restore the laptop to it's original configuration. He will lose the restore partition function since this relies on the custom Dell MBR.

But something like this might be the best way forward. At least you get the original installation.

Yeah. .it is good to note that it was the client's repair try with fixmbr that corrupted the proprietary "pbr" and caused the problem that brought me the machine.
Lesson learned

Dell with Repair Partition scheme DON'T USE FIXMBR

 

[repairit]

If you slave the HD to another machine, how many partitions does it have and what are the file system types? I have seen the Recovery Partition on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th parts.