Solved How to fix "Error Loading Operating System"

[Iptt]

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]

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]

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]

carry out this procedure
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

Use the Clean All.

do nothing more than that.

You now have a disk on which you can install XP

 

[profdlp]

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]

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]

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]

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:
rb: | type Repair Disc | ENTER
you will be prompted to insert a CD/DVD
Either a CD or a DVD may be used.

 

[Iptt]

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]

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.

 

[theog]

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

My post is for use with Vista & Windows 7, not for Win XP.



If using Win XP CD.

Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL
EXIT


Clean Install Windows XP - How To Perform a Clean Installation of Windows XP - Part 1 of 4

 

[gregrocker]

Why would you expect an operating system to be present if you´re wiping the HD, which point is to zero it out?

And even if it remained due to failure of the steps given, how would opening an OS command prompt facilitate wiping the HD from the OS you want to wipe out? Only the Roadrunner can erase himself.

Easier to just boot the XP CD using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first screen, delete all partitions and create new one, full format NTFS. Wiping the HD is overkill unless you have data you need overwritten with zeroes so it can´t be pieced together by forensic experts. It provides absolutely no installation benefit unless there is boot sector corruption which otherwise blocks the install, and then the simple "Clean" command is sufficient.

 

[TJG]

I put in the XP disc and tried to reboot and got the system error message that "DISK BOOT Failure...."

This sounds like a bad xp install disc.

You can get to a command prompt with an xp install disk also. After it loads some files you will see it say starting windows and gives option to install or repair. Press shift + F10 to get to command prompt to run diskpart or format.

TJG

 

[gregrocker]

Have you tried the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key, and then did you get a prompt to ¨"Press and key...?"

If so and it still doesn´t boot then confirm your ISO integrity and burn another DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

 

[karlsnooks]

incidentally, the clean all does eliminate boot sector malware and any other malware from the computer.

It's not just a feature for the paranoid.

 

[Iptt]

I did the following steps:

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


However, it's been 2 hours since I did CLEAN ALL and nothing appeared to happen. Is that usual? How long does it take CLEAN ALL to complete its process?

 

[Iptt]

The diskpart CLEAN ALL was just completed.

I then exit out of diskpart and the command prompt. Shutdown and reboot from the XP disk but I got the following error again:

"DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER".

 

[karlsnooks]

'Now insert the dvd for the os you want to install and boot to the cd/dvd.

 

[Iptt]

My computer is working now! I was able to get OS installed successfully! Thank you so so so much for everyone's help!

Just fyi, for some reasons, I kept getting the Disk Boot failure when I put the XP OS in. Finally, I tried to put the Win 7 OS in and reboot my computer and it worked!

Again, thank you everyone. I really appreciate all your help.

 

[karlsnooks]

Excellent.
Glad to hear that all is well.