[Macboatmaster]

Try
fixboot

on its own.

Then try chkdsk /p

Edited by Macboatmaster, 13 November 2011 - 03:00 PM.

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When I try fixboot I get the error "FIXBOOT cannot find the system drive, or the drive specified is not valid.

When I try chkdsk I get the error "The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems."

[dovepair]

When I try fixboot I get the error "FIXBOOT cannot find the system drive, or the drive specified is not valid.

When I try chkdsk I get the error "The volume appears to contain one or more unrecoverable problems."

[Macboatmaster]

Well as you will have gathered by now, I do not think you are going anywhere with that recovery you have all your data
Try this
Close all open programs.
Disconnect all network connections.
Disconnect all peripheral devices.
Turn off the computer.
Turn on the computer.
When the SONY logo is displayed, press the F10 key.
In the VAIO Recovery Wizard window, click the Next button.
Under Recovery Options , click to select the desired option to continue with a system recovery:

You want recover C Drive.

[dovepair]

When I press F10 I get the error message "Invalid partition table"

[Macboatmaster]

Go back to the RC CD

Type this cmd

bootcfg /scan


post what msg you receive pls.

[dovepair]

Error: Failed to successfully scan disks for Windows installations. This error may be caused by a corrupt file system, which would prevent Bootcfg from successfully scanning. Use chkdsk to detect any disk errors. Note: This operation must complete successfully in order for the /add or /rebuild commands to be utilized.

[Macboatmaster]

See this link and you will notice the recovery media for that computer in the US.
However I have clicked on it and as far as I can ascerain, it is no longer avilable from Sony.
This is not too surprising as most large concerns such as Sony, no longer stock the recovery media for XP installations.
You may wish to contact Sony as they could possibly know where one can be obtained, from one of their usual support concerns.
That said I could not find one.

http://esupport.sony...720G&news_id=50

I recommend you see this
http://www.docs.sony..._C_NO_PHONE.pdf

Take out the hard drive, or access to see what make it is, could be a Maxtor now part of Seagate - if it is see this page
http://www.seagate.c...000dd04090aRCRD
and download Seatools for Dos. Either on the ISO CD or the floppy if that computer has a floppy drive

Run the short test, if by chance it pasess that test run the long test.
http://www.seagate.c...DOSguide.EN.pdf

See the above as to HOW.

Report the result of the tests please.

Edited by Macboatmaster, 13 November 2011 - 06:30 PM.

[dovepair]

Macboatmaster - Thank you for your help. At this point DH is trying to decide whether to continue trying to get into the hard drive or scrap the whole thing and get a new computer. If we decide to continue with this hard drive I'll post the results. Again, thanks.

[Macboatmaster]

Thank you for updating the thread.
I would recommend you run the test I have sent you especially if the drive is a Maxtor (Seagate)
This will confirm the state of the drive.
Seatools will run on ANY drive, but the full tests are only available on a Seagate drive.


Then if it should pass and it is extensive file corruption that is preventing us recovering Windows, you can always install Ubuntu completely free, with free software, whilst you make a decsion regarding the computer..

If you wish to proceed along those lines, just post and I will send you the necessary links and guide you through the matter.

I appreciate that it is of little help NOW with this problem, but it illustrates perfectly the importance of a full backup (image) of the computers hard drive on an external drive

Edited by Macboatmaster, 14 November 2011 - 11:31 AM.

[dovepair]

Macboatmaster - Hope you had a great holiday. DH took the hard drive out and we discovered that it is a Western Digital WD2000. Will the link you gave me work on this hard drive?

ETA: Oops, forgot you're overseas so don't celebrate thanksgiving.

Edited by dovepair, 30 November 2011 - 05:59 PM.

[Macboatmaster]

Western Digital WD2000.

This one will
http://support.wdc.c...2&sid=2&lang=en

If it does not stay on the correct page - go downloads on the WD site.
Select IDE drive
Caviar
and then the
Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS (CD) LIVE LINK
or the
Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for DOS

if you have the floppy I cannot remember now and I was about to go offline when I received notification of your post.

[Macboatmaster]

dovepair

Would you kindly post on the thread indicating if you still require help.
Did you run the Western Digital utility mentioned in my post 26.
Thank you

[dovepair]

Macboatmaster - I'm not really sure yet if I still need help. I haven't had a chance to run the test yet. Things are crazy this time of year with Christmas coming up and our 2yo that doesn't seem to sleep through the night yet. So I will try to run this test this week and let you know what happened. Thanks for your patience. I do so appreciate your help.

[Macboatmaster]

dovepair

So I will try to run this test this week and let you know what happened

Have you made any progress on the matter please.

[Macboatmaster]

dovepair

Hope you had a goood Xmas and all the best for 2012.

Any progress please.