The partition table does not have a valid system partition

[polorsport]

Thank you all very much for your help and the suggestions.

This is by far the most helpful forum I have ever been on.

 

[gregrocker]

Glad to help. Let us know if you have any other issues.

 

[polorsport]

Actually I seem to be having a lot of problems with one of my new hard drives.

It started last night when I was attempting to back up my e: got to about 60% then froze.

When I rebooted my pc I got this message. Despite a number of formats it still keeps coming back.

 

[gregrocker]

Run the WD Data Lifeguard CD diagnostics Extended Scan. Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.

Run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html from the OS or DVD/Repair CD Command Line.

Call WD Tech Support to RMA the HD if necessary, as it has a 1 year warranty.

 

[majcom]

I have one WD Cavier black. Will not boot same problem as above. 2 partitions on the drive partition 1 is 100 mb partion 2 is the rest of the drive. I set partition 2 as active and ran the repair 3 times (4 actually) and no luck in the diagnosis and repair details the last line always says . The partition table does not have a valid system partition.
Repair action : Partition table repair
Result: Completed successfully. Error code = 0x0
Time taken = 2590 ms

This is the same result each time I click finish and the computer just reboots to the cd even though it is not first in the boot order. I cannot see the main (WD 1gb) disk in the Bios setup but it is seen under the SATA6 Marvel controller during post. I can see it now it was listed as disk 2 (after the USB drive) not sure how that happened. BOOTMGR is missing.

 

[gregrocker]

Plug the WIn7 HD in a port where BIOS registers it.

Boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, access a Command Line to Mark the 100mb System Reserved partition Active: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html

Now return to DVD/Repair CD Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots until Win7 starts. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

You can also boot free Partition Wizard CD to see if your partitions are intact, mark 100mb Active, Explore files, and attempt to Rebuild MBR on Disk tab. If you post a camera snap of the PW drive map we can help you better.

If all fails, you can copy out your data using DVD/Repair CD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93347-copy-paste-windows-recovery-console.html

Then wipe the HD to clean reinstall Win7: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

 

[RAJ484]

YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crashed my computer last weekend and finally after following this post, Im back up!!!!!!!!!!!! However, posting snippets of my management screen cause I still have 1 drive that seems to be dynamic and it shouldn't be. Also, I have more than one partition active which I dont believe I should. OS is on the c: drive. Windows 7 Ultimate x64




And Once again, YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gregrocker]

When you repaired Win7, you must have marked C active to recover the System boot files back into it succesfully. But in doing so you cut out the 100mb System Reserved partition which had been originally created to hold these files and the System Active flags. So it is now sitting useless unless you want to repair it by marking Active, then running Startup Repair x3 to transfer the boot files over to it and regain its functionality. It's major asset its putting the Repair Console from the DVD Repair console and Repair CD onto the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

If you choose not to recover the System Reserved partition as boot partition, then you can use free Partition Wizard to remove it using Option Two here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html

You can also use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to convert the Dynamic disk back to Basic, but you'll need to use the older version of PW CD to get this in the free version: partition wizard 4.2 free.zip - Windows Live#

To mark H Inactive, rightclick in PW CD on H>Modify>Set to Inactive, OK, Apply.

 

[RAJ484]

Thanks for the quick reply. If I do the start-up repair 3 times, do I need to disconnect my other drives first like I did before?? And using the procedure above to change the dynamic disk, will I loss any files from the disk? Also, there is a old windows xp operating system that doesn't work on one of my drives. Anything special to delete it or just select and delete??? Thanks!!!

 

[gregrocker]

As long as the only drive partition marked Active is the 100mb System Reserved partition then Startup Repair should work correctly within three tries to write the System MBR to it without disconnecting the other HD's.

If not, then try disconnecting them.

The only method I know to non-destructively convert Dynamic to Basic is PW version 4.2, which download is linked above. But I would back up my files anyway.

Other methods: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk.html?ltr=C

 

[RAJ484]

Thanks...I'll post back after I try it

 

[gregrocker]

I'd use PW CD to Modify>mark Active/Inactive as well - it's easier.

Then you can do the conversion.

 

[RAJ484]

When I try to install Partition Wizard 4.2 on my computer, I get the message, "Application cannot run in win32 mode". The way around this would be....??????

 

[mjf]

The (Jonathan King) download link for PW4.2 is a zip file. Once unpacked you get a number of supporting files (dlls etc) and an executable. Pwiz.exe. Double click should launch the application. It works for me on Windows 7 x64 and XP x32.

It is not a bootable version. For dynamic to basic disk conversion bootable versions are not desirable anyway.

 

[RAJ484]

Ok, So far so good.... Now, one last thing. I have a disk with no drive letter and I KNOW it has data on it cause there are still files I cant find. Ive attached a snippet of my computer management screen. Any ideas how to get THIS back. FYI EVERYTHING has worked so far!!!!!!!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Right click the HDD and see if the "change drive letter" option is greyed out.

 

[RAJ484]

Yes, its available however when I try to click on it I get the message that says "the operation failed because the disk management console view is not up-to-date. refresh the view (tried that) or close console then restart or reboot (tried those). Suggestions ??
Thanks for ALL the help!!!!!

 

[gregrocker]

You can use Partition Wizard for this operation, even rightclick Explore the partition to make sure files are there (you cut listings off the top of your screenshot).

If not, use Recover Partition Wizard on PW.

Sometimes Disk Mgmt is wrong, even PW Windows version. The solution is PW bootable CD to settle which is correct.

 

[mjf]

There is no guarantee in performing these types of operations that your data will not be lost. It should have been backed up before hand.

I don't think a primary partition has been created

Go back into partition wizard.
Try (A)
right click partition>modify>set partition primary
right click partition>change drive letter
if this succeeds your probably done.
If not you need to run the PW data recovery wizard.

Try (B)
See option 4 of the tutorial
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/26829-convert-dynamic-disk-basic-disk.html

You should be able to use ver 4.2 and you shouldn't need a bootable PW for this.
ver 4.2 downloaded was never bootable.

 

[RAJ484]

Ok, So, one last question. I have removed the data from the hard drive that has the unmarked partition on it. Would in be better to boot into Partition wizard and format the drive to hopefully get it all compacted together again or just as good to run the format with partition wizard from the windows 7 gui?? in the attached png.....drive H and the unlabeled disk 3 are all the same hard drive.