Merging 2 partitions with Partition Magic, got Error#4, XP will not boot.

**Iphone** · 17-Apr-2007, 01:57 AM

I have been very stupid not to heed warnings about Partition Magic.

I tried to merge 2 non-adjacent partitions, both NTFS. Neither was the partition with the OS on it. It was the first and third partition on the drive, the second being the one with XP (home media centre SP2) on it.

Partition Magic rebooted the laptop to merge the partitions, and got to 12% and gave the error "Error 4 Bad argument/parameter".
The PM support site is not too helpful about this error.
KB Article Not Found

So I rebooted, and got the error "Cannot Find \Windows\System32\hal.dll" (This may not have been the exact wording)

I panicked a bit, (I have not backed up data) as I don't have an XP Cd, only a recovery CD, and have not installed Recovery console.

I booted up with a Win98 CD, and went into FDisk, the partitions seem to be as they were before this messup, and the partition with the OS is the active one.

I ran fdisk /mbr , rebooted, and the error I got was "operating system not found". And here I am. I don't want to do more without advice from the Pros, in case I ruin my chances of data recovery.

I am thinking to get a hold of an XP CD from somewhere, load the Recovery console, and issue the FIXMBR command.

Another sticking point for me is that it is proving impossible to remove the hard drive from the laptop Sony Vaio N11h without damaging the case. I have always been able to take laptops apart, but this one seems impossible to take apart.

**Iphone** · 17-Apr-2007, 01:57 AM

Unfortunately, it is too late - but you shouldn't have run the fdisk /mbr - this is why you now have "operating system not found" - this command is not supported on NTFS volumes!

You should have found a windows cd first, and done a fixmbr from that!

You can still try this, and I would recommend running fixboot and a chkdsk /r as well (in case PM has screwed up the file structure)

You may still be unable to boot your OS after this - but you can try...

If not - you will have to do a repair install -

References - How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
Windows XP Professional (Pro) Repair Guide

17-Apr-2007, 01:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Iphone Fixed Error! Posts: 4,202 Join Date: Mar 2007 Rep Power: 6 IM:	Merging 2 partitions with Partition Magic, got Error#4, XP will not boot. I have been very stupid not to heed warnings about Partition Magic. I tried to merge 2 non-adjacent partitions, both NTFS. Neither was the partition with the OS on it. It was the first and third partition on the drive, the second being the one with XP (home media centre SP2) on it. Partition Magic rebooted the laptop to merge the partitions, and got to 12% and gave the error "Error 4 Bad argument/parameter". The PM support site is not too helpful about this error. KB Article Not Found So I rebooted, and got the error "Cannot Find \Windows\System32\hal.dll" (This may not have been the exact wording) I panicked a bit, (I have not backed up data) as I don't have an XP Cd, only a recovery CD, and have not installed Recovery console. I booted up with a Win98 CD, and went into FDisk, the partitions seem to be as they were before this messup, and the partition with the OS is the active one. I ran fdisk /mbr , rebooted, and the error I got was "operating system not found". And here I am. I don't want to do more without advice from the Pros, in case I ruin my chances of data recovery. I am thinking to get a hold of an XP CD from somewhere, load the Recovery console, and issue the FIXMBR command. Another sticking point for me is that it is proving impossible to remove the hard drive from the laptop Sony Vaio N11h without damaging the case. I have always been able to take laptops apart, but this one seems impossible to take apart.

17-Apr-2007, 01:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Iphone Fixed Error! Posts: 4,202 Join Date: Mar 2007 Rep Power: 6 IM:	Re: Merging 2 partitions with Partition Magic, got Error#4, XP will not boot. Unfortunately, it is too late - but you shouldn't have run the fdisk /mbr - this is why you now have "operating system not found" - this command is not supported on NTFS volumes! You should have found a windows cd first, and done a fixmbr from that! You can still try this, and I would recommend running fixboot and a chkdsk /r as well (in case PM has screwed up the file structure) You may still be unable to boot your OS after this - but you can try... If not - you will have to do a repair install - References - How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install Windows XP Professional (Pro) Repair Guide

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