grub rescue

Grinder · January 29, 2021

Hi to all,

I have an elderly Xp machine on which I added a Lexus? Operating system. Last week I decided that I no longer wanted it so I simply deleted all the files on its partition!!

Needless to say I am now unable to start the machine, getting an error message “error: no such partition”

I have looked on u tube and tried to resolve the problem without success. I follow the directions (in dos) but get stuck part way through. If anyone can assist me I could give more specific details.

Hoping for some help......grinder

KenB · January 29, 2021

Hi and welcome to ExTS

Is Windows XP still on the system?

Do you have anything on the hard disk that you need to recover ?

No doubt I will have more questions for you.

Grinder · January 29, 2021

Hi and welcome to ExTS

Is Windows XP still on the system?

Do you have anything on the hard disk that you need to recover ?

No doubt I will have more questions for you.

thanks for offer of help.

Yes it WAS a dual operation machine and yes I need to access lots of material held on it..

I get as far as “ls” /enter

this then shows

“Error:unknown file system”

I tried various other variations but I am not dos fluent so no luck.

KenB · January 30, 2021

Yes it WAS a dual operation machine and yes I need to access lots of material held on it..

You should be able to access the data on the disk if you can take the hard drive out of the machine.

[some are easier than others]

Connect the hard drive up to a 2.5 inch enclosure [ 3.5 inch for desktop machine ]

click here for example

Once inserted treat as a memory stick and locate the files you want to extract.

You will need access to another machine with a USB port.

Let me know how you get on.

What is the make and model number of your machine please?

Can you access a command prompt ?

[ you mentioned DOS earlier ]

Edited January 30, 2021 by KenB

Grinder · January 30, 2021

You should be able to access the data on the disk if you can take the hard drive out of the machine.
[some are easier than others]

Connect the hard drive up to a 2.5 inch enclosure [ 3.5 inch for desktop machine ]
click here for example
Once inserted treat as a memory stick and locate the files you want to extract.
You will need access to another machine with a USB port.

Let me know how you get on.

What is the make and model number of your machine please?

Can you access a command prompt ?
[ you mentioned DOS earlier ]

KenB,

Yes I have an enclosure so I could access the files that way, but I would much prefer to have the machine running as it should.

I will look into whether or not I can access a command prompt and let you know later on today.

Many thanks, Grinder

Grinder · January 30, 2021

KenB,
Yes I have an enclosure so I could access the files that way, but I would much prefer to have the machine running as it should.
I will look into whether or not I can access a command prompt and let you know later on today.
Many thanks, Grinder

Hi KenB

Could not find any way to access command window, so I persevered with u tube presentation. Have attached screen shot of how far I got, the next line after “normal”. should have taken me to a Ubuntu screen but it didn’t happen.

Grinder · January 30, 2021

Hi KenB
Could not find any way to access command window, so I persevered with u tube presentation. Have attached screen shot of how far I got, the next line after “normal”. should have taken me to a Ubuntu screen but it didn’t happen.

Forgot to add the attachment!

KenB · January 30, 2021

Hi,

I have an elderly Xp machine on which I added a Lexus?

From your image [ last post ] I think you have [had] Linux installed.

You removed the Linux files from the partition.

Your machine - when you switch on - looks at a small file [ Bootloader ] which tells it what to boot up and where to look.

Grub = GRand Unified Bootloader.

As you have removed the Linux files from its partition when the Bootloader is accessed it looks for the Linux OS and can't find it.

I think you will need to rebuild the Bootini file.

If you have Windows XP: AND have the installation CD

Insert the Windows XP CD in the optical drive
Reboot the computer
At the Microsoft Setup menu, press R
Select the operating system
Enter the Administrator password
When Command Prompt appears, you can type the bootcfg command: - bootcfg /rebuild [ there is a space after bootcfg ]
Press Enter
Once completed, type exit to reboot the computer
Press Enter

Grinder · January 30, 2021

Hi,

From your image [ last post ] I think you have [had] Linux installed.
You removed the Linux files from the partition.
Your machine - when you switch on - looks at a small file [ Bootloader ] which tells it what to boot up and where to look.

Grub = GRand Unified Bootloader.

As you have removed the Linux files from its partition when the Bootloader is accessed it looks for the Linux OS and can't find it.

I think you will need to rebuild the Bootini file.

If you have Windows XP: AND have the installation CD

Insert the Windows XP CD in the optical drive

Reboot the computer

At the Microsoft Setup menu, press R

Select the operating system

Enter the Administrator password

When Command Prompt appears, you can type the bootcfg command: - bootcfg /rebuild [ there is a space after bootcfg ]

Press Enter

Once completed, type exit to reboot the computer

Press Enter

No luck!!

Tried the above, I wasn’t sure which drive was the correct one so tried both with same result, straight to Error: no such partition.

Grinder · January 30, 2021

No luck!!
Tried the above, I wasn’t sure which drive was the correct one so tried both with same result, straight to Error: no such partition.

What on earth have I done!

Took a pic of screen during start up, see attachment.

Grinder · January 30, 2021

What on earth have I done!
Took a pic of screen during start up, see attachment.

Wrong pic!!!

Grinder · February 1, 2021

Wrong pic!!!
[/quote
After much head scratching I think the problem might be the CMOS battery as it is quite ancient. I have ordered a new one and await delivery. Will keep you posted.

KenB · February 1, 2021

Hi

Sorry - I shoud have replied to your other post.

You can reset the Bios to defaults by removing the CMOS battery for a couple of minutes and replace.

This could be worth a try whilst you wait for the new battery.

Don't forget to unplug from the mains.

I don't think that re-setting the BIOS or inserting a new CMOS battery will solve the Bootloader problem.

The Bootloader is held on a section of the hard disk and the BIOS is held on a programable chip on the motherboard.

Yes I have an enclosure so I could access the files that way

I suggest that you put the hard disk in the enclosure and see if you can save any of your files.

You can then put the hard disk back in the machine and we can see if we can sort out the booting problem without worrying too much

about your files.

Worst case - we can re-install Windows XP as you will have all the data from the drive - [ assuming it is accessible ]

Edited February 1, 2021 by KenB

Grinder · February 8, 2021

Hi
Sorry - I shoud have replied to your other post.

You can reset the Bios to defaults by removing the CMOS battery for a couple of minutes and replace.

This could be worth a try whilst you wait for the new battery.

Don't forget to unplug from the mains.

I don't think that re-setting the BIOS or inserting a new CMOS battery will solve the Bootloader problem.
The Bootloader is held on a section of the hard disk and the BIOS is held on a programable chip on the motherboard.

I suggest that you put the hard disk in the enclosure and see if you can save any of your files.

You can then put the hard disk back in the machine and we can see if we can sort out the booting problem without worrying too much
about your files.

Worst case - we can re-install Windows XP as you will have all the data from the drive - [ assuming it is accessible ]

Hi again,

New battery fitted but still no joy. Drives are still not recognised so unable to use installation disc.

KenB · February 9, 2021

Have you been able to access the drive via an enclosure?

If you haven't tried this yet I suggest you do and try to retrieve your files and data.

Can you access the BIOS ?

When you switch on - almost straight away it will say "Press X to Enter SetUp" bottom left of screen.

This could be F1 -F2 - DEL - ESC

You have to be quite quick.

Once in the BIOS [ there are different versions ] look for "Boot Order" or similar.

You can make the CD ROM the firsi in the order by moving it up.

Usually it will say how on the right of screen.

Once moved up the order Save and Exit - usually F10.

Do not attempt to re-install XP if you haven't got your data off the drive.

Grinder · February 9, 2021

Have you been able to access the drive via an enclosure?
If you haven't tried this yet I suggest you do and try to retrieve your files and data.

Can you access the BIOS ?
When you switch on - almost straight away it will say "Press X to Enter SetUp" bottom left of screen.
This could be F1 -F2 - DEL - ESC
You have to be quite quick.

Once in the BIOS [ there are different versions ] look for "Boot Order" or similar.
You can make the CD ROM the firsi in the order by moving it up.
Usually it will say how on the right of screen.
Once moved up the order Save and Exit - usually F10.

Do not attempt to re-install XP if you haven't got your data off the drive.

I can get into the bios and have tried moving the boot order of the cd drives to no avail

. I will try and boot up from an enclosure possibly tomorrow and will keep you posted.

KenB · February 9, 2021

I can get into the bios and have tried moving the boot order of the cd drives to no avail

What was the problem?

Grinder · February 14, 2021

What was the problem?

Hi KenB,

I tried inserting the installation disc and got as far as insert “recovery disc” which I don’t have!

KenB · February 15, 2021

Hi,

got as far as insert “recovery disc”

You have the installation disk - you don't need the recovery disk.

I still think that you should recover any data before you start trying to get the drive to boot again.

You said you had difficulty changing the Boot Order.

Take a look here - click here

You will need to enter the Windows Recovery Console - click here

You then need to Rebuild the Boot.ini - click here

Grinder · February 15, 2021

Hi,

You have the installation disk - you don't need the recovery disk.

I still think that you should recover any data before you start trying to get the drive to boot again.

You said you had difficulty changing the Boot Order.
Take a look here - click here
You will need to enter the Windows Recovery Console - click here

You then need to Rebuild the Boot.ini - click here

Hi,

After reading your latest missive I came to the attached screenshot ( a photo not a proper screenshot ) and had to halt again.

I have changed the hard drive to a spare which I had.

This drive has some data on it which I don’t need to save.

KenB · February 15, 2021

I came to the attached screenshot .......

I don't see a photo sorry.

Grinder · February 15, 2021

I don't see a photo sorry.

“Sorry”

KenB · February 15, 2021

Thanks for the pic.

Take a look here - it may give you a solution -

Grinder · February 17, 2021

Thanks for the pic.

Take a look here - it may give you a solution -

This facility does not appear in the bios,

KenB · February 17, 2021

Looking back through this thread ....

Earlier you wrote

What on earth have I done!

Then you posted this pic

At the bottom it says

Serial_Ch0 Master No Drive

Serial_Ch1 Master No Drive

This implies that the Set-Up cannot find a hard drive.

This is often a setting in the BIOS relating to SATA [AHCI] / IDE [ATA]

You can select either AHCI or IDE to rectify this if it is still a problem.

==============

1. Did you manage to change the Boot Order to CDROM first in the order ?

2. Which hard drive do you have installed [ original or replacement ] ?

3. When you switch on now - what is the situation ?

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