Bootloader is missing ... and no rescue media

Hi all,

i have a big problem, maybe someone can help me with that.

I've tried to install a second WinXP on my PC. Therefore, i've created a new primary partition, set it active and hided the first WinXP partition. However, i had to abort the new WinXP installation, but the installation program has already deleted the bootsector.

The problem is, i cannot find my rescue media (from Acronis Disk Director).
The original WinXP partition is no longer recognized. Instead, i only see free space on the hd.

What can i do to recover the first WinXP installation without the rescue media?

Thanks in advance,
Caro

 

caro23,

How are your viewing the HD? Are there any partitions at all on the HD?

Why did you abort?

 

I've tried GParted to view the partitions and set the first installation active, but the old partition won't get displayed.

Wrong XP version...

 

What is the "first installation"? Do you have any partitions on the HD? If there is a partition, what is it?

 

Ok, let me give you a more detailed explanation:

I have a "first" WinXP Installation (at the start of the hd). I created a second primary partition (at the end of the hd) and used the Acronis OS Selector to hide the "first" installation and set the second partition active.
I've (now successfully!) installed a second WinXP, however, this new installation has overwritten the Acronis Boot Selector with the NT bootloader.
The NT bootloader doesn't recognize the first partition any more, because it was hidden by the Acronis OS Selector.
Normally, you should now use the Recovery Disk from Acronis Disk Director to restore the Acronis bootloader. The problem is, i can't find my recovery disk, therefore, i'm searching for another solution to recover the "first" WinXP installation (respectively the Acronis OS Selector).

 

caro23:

Three ways to do this:

1. If you backed up your first installation with Acronis True Image, then just restore Track0/MBR.

2. If not, and if you have access to another PC, download DD from your account on the Acronis Web Site, install it temporarily and then use the Bootable Media Builder application to make another boot CD.

3. Download ptedit32.exe from Symantec. Unzip the file to your desktop. Double-click on the executable to run. Un-hide the first XP, hide the second XP, and set the active flag on the first XP. Reboot to go directly to the first XP. Restore OS Selector from this XP installation.

 

OSS can also be reactivated by installing DD and then OSS into the second XP. OSS will find the existing installation and add the new XP. This assumes you want OSS installed in the second XP.