How to fix "Error Loading Operating System"

Iptt · 18 Sep 2011

I tried to format my c drive to reinstall Windows XP. I followed the steps from one the posts in this forum by typing the following steps in the command prompt. However, after I rebooted my computer, now I got the "Error loading operating system". I can't doing anything from here. I hope anyone can help me fix this problem.

Manythanks,
iptt

If you would like a nice clean install, try a full clean & full format in command prompt.

Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command
Partition or Volume - Delete
Partition or Volume - Create New
Partition - Mark as Active

1) Boot DVD, & Press Shift+F10 (for command prompt)
DISKPART : At PC Startup
2) Boot DVD, & Command Prompt at Startup
(for command prompt)

Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT fs=NTFS
ASSIGN
EXIT
EXIT

profdlp · 19 Sep 2011

Make sure the DVD Drive is the first boot device in the BIOS, boot from the Win 7 DVD, then run Setup when prompted.

Iptt · 19 Sep 2011

Thanks for the reply. The problem is that I can't get to any command prompt so I am not sure how to check for BIOS. By the way, I am trying to install windows XP not WIN 7. I think I have messed up my partition. When I did LIST DISK, I only saw PARTITION 0 and then when I created PARTITION 1, I made PARTITION 1 ACTIVE. Do you think it's still can be fixed?

karlsnooks · 19 Sep 2011

carry out this procedure
Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

Use the Clean All.

do nothing more than that.

You now have a disk on which you can install XP

profdlp · 19 Sep 2011

You usually get into the BIOS by hitting the Delete key as soon as you turn the computer on. After that it's a matter of finding the right place to adjust the setting.

Iptt · 19 Sep 2011

I was able to change the first boot device to CD ROM but then I got "disk boot failure, insert system disk". I'm not sure what system disk I am supposed to insert. I only have the Windows XP disk.

profdlp · 19 Sep 2011

Watch the screen carefully as soon as you turn the computer on. You should see a notice like "Press any key to boot from cdrom". (Or it might tell you a specific key you need to press.)

karlsnooks · 19 Sep 2011

Iptt,
First, nowadays, F2 is the more common key for getting to the bios although some do use the Del key for this purpose.

2nd, for a one time boot order change, nowadays, most bioses will recognize F12 and give you a choice of the boot device.

3rd, You will need to prepare a System Repair Disc on a Win 7 system.

4th. boot from the System Repair Disc
Don't worry about it having been prepared on a win 7 system. All you want to do is use it to run diskpart.

5th. run the diskpart sequence to clean all. Do NOT partition, do NOT mark active or anything else.

Remove the system repair disc, insert the xp disc and shutdown your system. Now boot up from the XP disc.

What you've done is made the disk look like a virgin disk.

To make a system repair disc on your win 7 system:
| type Repair Disc | ENTER
you will be prompted to insert a CD/DVD
Either a CD or a DVD may be used.

Iptt · 19 Sep 2011

Thank you so much for the detail instruction.
I followed your advice and created a repair disc. Reboot from the disc, then I was prompt to System Recover Options. I was given 2 choices:

1) Use recover tools that can help fix problems starting Windows.
2) Restore your computer using a system image that you created earlier.

If I selected choice #1, there is no Operating system is listed for me to select for repaired or recovered. The system would then me to load drivers. From here I'm not sure what to do next.

2) However, if I selected choice #2, the system stated that it couldn't find any system image that I created earlier

I then selected command prompt and I got to:

X:\windows\system32\

Now, I'm not sure what to do from here.
I then typed in:
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0
CLEAN ALL

But then nothing happened. I put in the XP disc and tried to reboot and got the system error message that "DISK BOOT Failure...."

Pershaps you can tell me what I missed here. Thanks again.

karlsnooks · 19 Sep 2011

Good.

Let's see.

once again

When you get to the X: prompt, then
1. remove the win 7 repair disc
2. insert the xp disc

carry out the diskpart commands as explained below:

Diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
detail disk

does the "detail" correspond to your disk?

If yes, then
CLEAN ALL

wait for what may seem like forever until the cursor shows backup indicating that the clean has finiished and that you can enter the next command.

EXIT to exit diskpart
EXIT to exit the command shell
Power off
Power on and boot to the XP disc.