Windows XP Home PC: I suggested to someone I know several possible choices for freeware Windows partition management software. He installed and used Partition Wizard to shrink the C: partition, and create an E: partition with the remaining free space. However, he made the mistake of making the E: partition "Active". He was unable to make C: "Active" again. He restarted the PC and it will not boot. I instructed him use GParted (Live CD) to delete the E: partition, then set C: as "Active" and then create the E: partition with the free space. Is this this best way to resolve this problem? Will this procedure I gave him work? Thanks in Advance.
Not really. There is no need to delete the E: partition. Just change the "active" flag. In fact, setting the "active" flag on the C: partition should automatically remove it on E:
Under "Manage Flags" I see a box labeled "boot". Is checking and applying this setting the same as "Set Partition Active"?
He reported that he used GParted to make the C: Partition "Active" and that he can now successfully boot into Windows XP. However, he says that he is now getting a hard drive I/O error when he tries to make a backup image with Paragon Disk Backup 9 Pro. He said that he left chkdsk /R running when he left for work. Do you think that chkdsk /R will fix this hard drive error? If not, what are some of the other things that he can try to correct the problem (excluding formatting and reinstalling Windows XP)? Thanks is Advance.
Hello, After running the chkdsk /r, check if there are any media card reader connected. Usually that error occurs when there's an empty card reader. If it's internal and built into your machine, simply disable the device in device management. Also want to add that you do not want to disconnect any drives, external HD, flash drives, or memory cards during the backup.