Computer won't start

ID:183789
 
Apr 14 2007, 2:06 pm
At the beginning it says "searching for boot record.... not found". Then "Boot Failure. Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device. Press any key when ready" How can I fix this?
Apr 14 2007, 2:12 pm
Your MBR got MESSED. Have you recently deleted a partition you thought to be linux?

http://www.ntfs.com/mbr-damaged.htm
Apr 14 2007, 2:15 pm (Edited on Apr 14 2007, 2:21 pm)
In response to CaptFalcon33035
My computer was working 2 days ago. Then when I tried to turn it on today it didn't work. And.. how exactly can I fix it?
Apr 14 2007, 2:26 pm
In response to Xogre
This is quote from the page that CaptainFalcon sent you:

"If you have Windows NT / 2000 / XP, you can boot from startup floppy disks or CD-ROM, choose repair option during setup, and run Recovery Console. When you are logged on, you can run FIXMBR command to fix MBR.

Also you can use third party MBR recovery software or if you've created MBR backup, restore it from there (Active@ Partition Recovery has such capabilities)."

Basically, if you have the OS disk, boot to that and press r at the windows setup screen, and type FIXMBR at the prompt (Note: it may ask for the adminstrator password).
Apr 14 2007, 2:45 pm (Edited on Apr 14 2007, 2:56 pm)
In response to Firefury55
I can't do any of that. I don't have startup floppy disks, CD-ROM, or any software.
Apr 14 2007, 2:53 pm
In response to Xogre
Why not?
Apr 14 2007, 3:50 pm
In response to Crispy
The cheaper computer vendors do not hand out the OEMs. I'd bet you can download some software to allow you to fix your MBR, though.
Apr 14 2007, 4:34 pm
In response to CaptFalcon33035
What do you mean by downloading? How can I download a software when my computer won't start.
Apr 14 2007, 5:06 pm
In response to Xogre
How can you post on here when your computer won't start? ;-)

(Using a different computer, obviously.)

Find a boot disk on the internet that includes FDISK.EXE. (One of these should do nicely.) Put it on a floppy disk by following the instructions provided, and boot your computer off the floppy disk. Once you get to the DOS prompt (should look like "A:\>") then type:

FDISK /MBR

Let that run its course. Once it finishes and you get back to the DOS prompt, eject the floppy disk and press Ctrl-Alt-Del to reboot your computer. See if the problem is fixed.

If you do manage to get back into Windows, back up everything important (onto CDs or DVDs, or an external USB hard drive, or over a network onto another computer) immediately. The MBR getting corrupted could be a sign that your hard drive is starting to fail.
Apr 14 2007, 5:47 pm
In response to Crispy
But... my floppy drive doesn't work. And if somehow I get back to windows and the hard drive fails, will I be able to fix it?

AND any ideas how my MBR got messed? I don't think it was from a virus because the last time my computer worked (2 days ago) I scanned daily which resulted in no viruses.
Apr 14 2007, 5:53 pm
In response to Xogre
Bleh. You're hard to please. =P

If you can boot from CD, then use a boot CD instead. http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/ or http://ebcd.pcministry.com/ should do the trick.
Apr 14 2007, 6:02 pm
In response to Crispy
So what kind of CD will work? The only CD I have is 16X DVD-R Discs
Apr 14 2007, 6:23 pm
In response to Xogre
CDs would be better, but DVDs should be OK as well. As long as the computer you need to recover can read and boot from DVDs.

The UBCD site has tutorials on how to make bootable CDs/DVDs from the UBCD image that you download.
Apr 15 2007, 5:48 am
In response to Xogre
Crispy wrote:
If you do manage to get back into Windows, back up everything important (onto CDs or DVDs, or an external USB hard drive, or over a network onto another computer) immediately. The MBR getting corrupted could be a sign that your hard drive is starting to fail.

Your harddrive may be starting to fail. <_<
Many system defrags can make your HDD fail. Maybe you've been scanning too much. Or maybe your HDD is just old and you'll need to get a new one. Since you're probably going to want to buy a new harddrive, just backup all of your data onto that and same some time and money.
Apr 15 2007, 8:18 am
In response to Crispy
I found a CD to use, so if I use ultimatebootcd.com which one do I download, and how do i burn it into a CD?

And so when I insert the disk and boot up my computer with it, the DOS prompt will appear and I should type: FDISK /MBR?
Apr 15 2007, 2:02 pm
In response to Xogre
Xogre wrote:
I found a CD to use, so if I use ultimatebootcd.com which one do I download, and how do i burn it into a CD?

There are instructions on the website.


And so when I insert the disk and boot up my computer with it, the DOS prompt will appear and I should type: FDISK /MBR?

I haven't used that particular boot CD before so I can't say exactly what will happen, but there should at least be a way to get to a DOS prompt from there, yes.