damn, bad news...

I recently lost my internet connection on my home PC...

I did the whole ipconfig /renew thing in command prompt and nothing...

reset the router... nothing...

then, I click "Shut down"

the computer shuts down fine...

I restart my computer, after about 5 seconds, I get a very disturbing error message (I almost shat myself)

"Missing Operating System_"

I say "holy mother f**ked up s**t!" in front of my sister who is 10 years old, and my mom flips out :(

I need help, desperately bad, the computer was running perfectly before, now I get that horrifying "missing OS" message upon every startup...

I believe it has something to do with the boot partition, but I am not sure :'(

any help would be greatly appreciated

youll prolly have to restore, what OS are you on?

youll prolly have to restore, what OS are you on?
Windows XP

I have a feeling the boot partition is shot :/

If you have a Mac stick in the OS DVD and run disc utility and see what it tells you. You might be able to repair from there. I'm not sure if there's a windows equivalent.

well how do you feel about restoring?

well how do you feel about restoring?
really f'ing NOT GOOD

there's a lot of stuff on this computer

I can't afford to lose any of the files stored on the HD

there's about 250+ gigs of files...

any way to back them up??

well, how much space was left?

like, at the xp install screen you can make a new partition and it should be prolly about 8gbs, then maybe once its installed you can see the files on the other partition. and back them up then restore again with the partition full

wow!!! that is some heavy stuff you got there....

well is it vista or xp?

if vista.
1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View)
2. Click on the Backup and Restore Center icon.
3. Click the Restore Files button.
NOTE: To restore a backup not shown here, click Advanced restore instead and click Advanced restore (Restore files from a backup made on another computer).

4. Dot what you want to restore, latest or older backup files, and click Next.

5. Select the files and folders to restore and click Next. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will be from the backup file that you selected in step 4. If it is not here, then click Search to navigate to the backup files location.

A) To Remove the Selected Backup - Click the Remove button.

B) To Remove All the Backups Listed Here - Click the Remove all button.


6. Select where you want to restore the files to and click Start Restore.
NOTE: Normally you would pick Original Location to replace the files with the backup files. Otherwise, you can save the backup files to another location to manually replace the files you want with the backups.

7. You will now see the progress window.

8. If you already have a copy or older copy of the file in that location from step 6, then you will see this window below. If not, then you will see step 9 below.

A) Just click Copy and Replace to replace the file with the backup copy of the file.

9. When the restore is completed, you will see this window. Click Finish.

if xp
Log on to Windows as Administrator.
2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.
3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
4. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system checkpoint in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.
5. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.
6. Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Restoration Complete page appears.
7. Click OK.

Check out this site for backing up...

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106941

and

http://system.cs.technion.ac.il/BackUp/How%20to%20use%20Back%20Up%20and%20Restore%20in%20 WindowsXP.htm

I hope these can help you. You can also buy an external hard drive and put your information on that. They have 250 GB external hard drives out there for around $50.

yeah but guys he cant even turn on the computer.

maybe try putting in a new HD and then installing your old one after, im sure theres a way to get your files back

Try using a Linux Live CD to access the files to back them up then restore if you can.

Step One: Throw IBM Clone out the window.

Step Two: Buy a Mac and never see that problem again.

Problem solved!

wow!!! that is some heavy stuff you got there....

well is it vista or xp?

if vista.
1. Open the Control Panel. (Classic View)
2. Click on the Backup and Restore Center icon.
3. Click the Restore Files button.
NOTE: To restore a backup not shown here, click Advanced restore instead and click Advanced restore (Restore files from a backup made on another computer).

4. Dot what you want to restore, latest or older backup files, and click Next.

5. Select the files and folders to restore and click Next. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This will be from the backup file that you selected in step 4. If it is not here, then click Search to navigate to the backup files location.

A) To Remove the Selected Backup - Click the Remove button.

B) To Remove All the Backups Listed Here - Click the Remove all button.


6. Select where you want to restore the files to and click Start Restore.
NOTE: Normally you would pick Original Location to replace the files with the backup files. Otherwise, you can save the backup files to another location to manually replace the files you want with the backups.

7. You will now see the progress window.

8. If you already have a copy or older copy of the file in that location from step 6, then you will see this window below. If not, then you will see step 9 below.

A) Just click Copy and Replace to replace the file with the backup copy of the file.

9. When the restore is completed, you will see this window. Click Finish.

if xp
Log on to Windows as Administrator.
2. Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore. System Restore starts.
3. On the Welcome to System Restore page, click Restore my computer to an earlier time (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
4. On the Select a Restore Point page, click the most recent system checkpoint in the On this list, click a restore point list, and then click Next. A System Restore message may appear that lists configuration changes that System Restore will make. Click OK.
5. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, click Next. System Restore restores the previous Windows XP configuration, and then restarts the computer.
6. Log on to the computer as Administrator. The System Restore Restoration Complete page appears.
7. Click OK.
If you bothered to read my post AT ALL, then you'd know that I can't even access the GUI, I get an error every time upon boot up
------------------double post merged------------------
Step One: Throw IBM Clone out the window.

Step Two: Buy a Mac and never see that problem again.

Problem solved!
STFU with this OS supremacy garbage

Oh frick, real sorry to hear Angel, frick, that's gotta suck. Wish I had some advice for you but I don't, I don't have enough techie know-how on that other than to recommend a restore like everyone else. Yeesh! Hope it all works out!

Oh frick, real sorry to hear Angel, frick, that's gotta suck. Wish I had some advice for you but I don't, I don't have enough techie know-how on that other than to recommend a restore like everyone else. Yeesh! Hope it all works out!
me too :'(

that's why I can't stand these idiots that post their "Mac > PC" BS in my thread

dont worry, your computer isnt broken, you can restore, but thats WCS...

So what's the problem you just get a error message?

Step One: Throw IBM Clone out the window.

Step Two: Buy a Mac and never see that problem again.

Problem solved!

No, it's not. There is still the matter of his files.

Anyways, here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321626

I've always found the "fixmbr" command very successful when I had problems with partitioning. It fixes the master boot record, which is usually damaged by partitioning related errors.
Hope it helps, as it did for me when I had a very similar problem.

Note: You need a Windows XP CD to access the recovery console, or you can find a RC iso online.

If you bothered to read my post AT ALL, then you'd know that I can't even access the GUI, I get an error every time upon boot up
------------------double post merged------------------

STFU with this OS supremacy garbage
well my b... next time i will read and wont help..... i feel useless...

Well if you live anywhere near NYC i would come help you. But it seems you are in somewhat of a bad situation. One thing i want you to try is accessing the BIOS. Make sure your HDD is at the top of the boot order. Also make sure that any USB drives, externals, ipod or anything not a mouse or keyboard is disconnected. I often leave my usb drive plugged in and the pc will try to boot from it.

Thats a best case situation. Other than that there may have been damage to the essential OS files. I believe if you have your XP CD then you may be able to "fix" it with minimal file loss. I did it once back in the Win98 days. Tho many things have changed. You can also try looking on Microsofts site(from another PC of coarse). They often have small file that you can burn to a CD and boot from in order to retrieve files or possibly even fix the OS.

Remove the internal HDD.
Insert it into another PC
Back up to external
System restore
Swap the HDD again
Bitch @ microsoft. :D

Please don't swear at me or anything, but seriously, you would never encounter this in any other UNIX like Operating System.

Not even Macs (and Macs suck)..
Windows suck too..
So does Linux..
FreeBSD FTW!

Please don't swear at me or anything, but seriously, you would never encounter this in any other UNIX like Operating System.

Not even Macs (and Macs suck)..
Windows suck too..
So does Linux..
FreeBSD FTW!

True, but some people are limited to what they can install on their machine. For instance, if it's a family computer, I doubt the other residents of the house want an unfarmillar OS.

Also, have you tried my fixmbr suggestion yet? I want to know if it helped you as it helped me earlier this summer.

Mattym's advice seems solid, I talked with a classmate of mine and he did something similar. I've had the same problem with flash drives trying to imitate my OS though, so it may be something as simple as that. Again, I'm speculating, so you can disregard this entire post as senseless if you want. :p

@Skater and iball:

I AM GONNA BE AS TRANQUIL AS I CAN BE; You sound like the ****ing annoying kid in my school always ranting about OS supremacy. Please, STFU and stop going off topic. Go make your own supremacy thread and get banned for it. This is to give advice, not to start the 5th rant series I've seen in ONE NIGHT! This is REALLY getting annoying. :eek: :mad: :rolleyes:

use a live cd or linux on a bootable thumbdrive
once its loaded take a look at the hard drive
there are some utilities that can tell you whats wrong w/ it

have you tried to run windows from windows cd in safe mode?

now, i had EXACTLY the same problem. Firstly, i tried everythin! I booted into xp install cd and went to recovery console. Did fixboot and fixmbr. Still didnt work. Now, good thing is, your files are safe. They arent going anywhere. Get access to a linux live cd. I highly recommend puppy linux. Boot to linux and now you have two options.

First, use it to copy all the files you want to an external hard drive.

Then you can either, use (assuming puppy) gparted partition manager and make a small linux partition. Only about 5 mb. Now set up grub boot loader onto that partition and when you restart you WILL be able to boot into xp. From here copy any other files you forgot to back up etc. You can either leave it like this and boot from grub everytime you boot. Or you can re install xp. I would recommend this as you will then have a new os running nicely again. hope this helps. Any other info please pm me when you get unbanned lol.

now, i had EXACTLY the same problem. Firstly, i tried everythin! I booted into xp install cd and went to recovery console. Did fixboot and fixmbr. Still didnt work. Now, good thing is, your files are safe. They arent going anywhere. Get access to a linux live cd. I highly recommend puppy linux. Boot to linux and now you have two options.

First, use it to copy all the files you want to an external hard drive.

Then you can either, use (assuming puppy) gparted partition manager and make a small linux partition. Only about 5 mb. Now set up grub boot loader onto that partition and when you restart you WILL be able to boot into xp. From here copy any other files you forgot to back up etc. You can either leave it like this and boot from grub everytime you boot. Or you can re install xp. I would recommend this as you will then have a new os running nicely again. hope this helps. Any other info please pm me when you get unbanned lol.
1. boot into linux live cd (recommending mint, ubuntu, kubuntu)
2. Back up everything.
3. Install Linux.
4. No more nasty Windows errors!

disconect the power and that reboots the motherbored the resets the master boot bois[worked for me]

erm linux has problems to. For example the fs is hardto understand for n00bs and also the limited amount of decent programs available for general use. I dnt wanna turn this into a flame war i was just pointing out a way to solve his problem and still be on windows. If he wants to chamge im sure he will.

Wow - no one has even thought about FDISK /MBR yet?
Sheesh...

Iz be a tech. If you haz tech questions. PM me. DON'T demand a reply, i'll reply when I can. (That goes for everyone here that needs PC or Mac help.)

see that shows my high level of intelligence knowing to fixboot and fixmbr and fdisk hehe jokin

see that shows my high level of intelligence knowing to fixboot and fixmbr and fdisk hehe jokin

Oy vey...

Oy vey...
is that english? Sorry

Yiddish...

It's like "Oh boy..." LOL
Hey, I'm originally from NYC, ya gotta be hip with your neighbors. :)

ok.........but i spose u have to keep up ur 'street cred' lol :) anyway i think we should stop posting pointless posts

G*****n, did somebody dig this thread outta the grave? Yeesh, I'm gonna ask for some locking up now. Oye...

G*****n, did somebody dig this thread outta the grave? Yeesh, I'm gonna ask for some locking up now. Oye...

What's funnier, is that you also posted. LOL