Re: Inaccessible_Boot_Device

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

This is an effective method. However, to be really sure that it works you
should test it, e.g. by asking your friendly computer dealer for the a of a
hard disk to be used for a trial restoration.


"DaffyD®" <daffyd@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:e$u9aptjJHA.1288@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I use Acronis True Image Home to save an image of my hard drive to an
external every week or so. Is this an effective method for backing up the
hard drive should it go south?


"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:edXnyMsjJHA.5724@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Strange. The "fixboot" command will restore the Windows boot environment.
The "Inaccessible boot device" message occurs much later, well after the
initial boot process has completed. It is often generated when the HAL
(Hardware Abstraction Layer) had detected a problem, e.g. when an
existing
Windows installation is ported to a different PC.

Re-installing Windows is simple: Boot the machine with your Win2000 CD,
allow the disk to be partitioned and formatted, then follow the clues.

When backing up your files, remember to back up your EMail files too. And
don't forget that untested backup files are close to worthless.


"Gordon Biggar" <colonel_biggs@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uS%23Ml9rjJHA.4028@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Before your reply came in, I decided to re-run the repair procedure.
This
time I chose C for recovery console. I was confronted with a
mind-boggling
(to me) list of options. Since the original error had to do with an
"inaccessible boot device," I selected Fixboot. Darned if the computer
didn't boot successfully when I rebooted. (Beginners luck...)

I don't want to turn the computer off before backing up all of my
files.
Maybe I was just lucky? or, maybe there are more surprises to come.

I do a total disk backup to an external CD about every three months
(takes
about six hours); I back up common data files every couple of weeks.
Is
there a written procedure posted somewhere that explains what I would
have
to do to restore files to a failed disk (e.g., boot to a floppy, format
the
entire disk, install Windows 2000, etc.?).

Will keep you posted. Thanks for your very responsive assistance.

GGB


"Pegasus (MVP)" <I.can@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uPrwVwrjJHA.2384@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It may well be that either your disk or your file system has a major
problem. If this was my own machine then I would do this:

1. Download and run the diagnostic program that the disk manufacturer
has
on
his site. This test is non-destructive.
2. Connect the disk as a slave disk to some other Win2000/XP machine
and
copy all files that are not already backed up.
3. Boot the machine with the Win2000 CD into the Recovery Console,
then
run
chkdsk. This test could be destructive.

The event demonstrates that it is absolutely essential to back up all
important files regularly, e.g. weekly, to an independent storage
medium.
A
2.5" disk in an external USB case costs little and has a large amount
of
backup capacity. Much better than to wait until the horse has bolted
(or
perhaps stumbled and dropped dead . . .).


"Gordon Biggar" <colonel_biggs@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:%23m6IClrjJHA.4372@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I selected the emergency repair process "R" option (instead of
recovery
console - C).

"Setup has determined that drive C is corrupted and cannot be
repaired.
Setup cannot continue."

Does this imply that I have lost everything? bad hard drive?

I have a D drive installed that I believe is bootable. Perhaps I
could
switch drives, and attempt to copy folders/files to an external hard
drive.

GB




colonel_biggs@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ugEuB2mjJHA.4880@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I just updated my system with Microsoft's latest Automatic Update.
On
rebooting, I ran into the above error message. Further, it says to
"check for viruses." (How one does that when one can't boot the
machine
is a mystery...) I run anti-virus software, and I have not
encountered
any viruses in months. It also says to run CHKDSK /F to check for
disk
corruption. (I think that the corruption is in Microsoft's
Update.)

I tried to start up in SAFE mode , and in the Last Known Good
Configuration, but I end up back at the error message screen.

Help!

Gordon Biggar
Houston,Texas

It sounds like your registry has been damaged by something. Unless
you
have a recent backup of your registry files, a "Repair
Installation"
is
probably your only chance to recover your Windows installation. To
start
the process you need to do this:
1. Instruct your BIOS to use the CD drive as its primary boot
device.
2. Boot the machine with your Win2000 CD.
3. Select "Repair" when prompted.
4. Install Windows over the top of the existing installation.











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