Machine only boots to Dell's Hardware Diagnostics

[jlichtig]

The machine is a Dell Latitude D610 running WINXP Pro. The problem began after a defragmentation. The machine would not boot to XP, it only showed a blank screen with an underscore cursor blinking on the top left. Another program indicated that the bootsector partition was corrupt and if "fixed" it. Now the computer only start up into the Dell Hardware Diagnostics and does not allow me to boot to XP. When I used the XP Recovery disk FIXMBR command, I get a scary notice indicating the the partition is not a "normal" partition and FIXMBR may cause problems; so I did not execute the FIXMBR command.

Below please find the latest log file.  Any help with this issue will be greatly appreciated.  John

Code:

.../000:01/LOG> ### LOG START ###
.../000:01/LOG> DISKPATCH 3.5.200
.../000:01/LOG> (C) 2000-2008 DIY DataRecovery
.../000:01/LOG> Contact info: HTTP://www.DIYDataRecovery.nl
.../000:01/LOG> MemFree: 70Kb
.../000:01/LOG> CommandLineParms:
.../000:01/LOG> LogDate: 01-05-2009
.../000:01/CFG> FilePath="1/.\DPFILES\"
.../000:01/CFG> LogFilename="DP.LOG"
.../000:01/CFG> ReadRetries="32"
.../000:01/CFG> WriteRetries="32"
.../000:01/CFG> MaxReadErrors="32"
.../000:01/CFG> MaxWriteErrors="1"
.../000:01/CFG> LogEachReadError="1"
.../000:01/CFG> ReadDelay="0"
.../000:01/CFG> VfyFixedBadSect="1"
.../000:01/CFG> CleanAfterDOD="1"
.../000:01/CFG> DiskReset="1"
.../000:01/CFG> SectorSkip="1024"
.../000:01/CFG> AutoSaveState="1"
.../000:01/CFG> DumpFoundSectors="0"
.../000:01/CFG> FixFats="1"
.../000:01/CFG> MaxFatScan="51200"
.../000:01/CFG> MaxDataColEntries="256"
.../000:01/CFG> IgnoreF8FF="0"
.../000:01/CFG> DownSizeExt="1"
.../000:01/CFG> ScanSignature="55AA"
.../000:01/CFG> Rebuild="00"
.../000:01/13H> Ext13H installed test requested
.../000:01/13H> Disk found at 128
.../000:01/13H> Ext13H version: 2.1 / EDD-1.1
.../000:01/13H> Ext13H Support: Extended disk access functions
.../000:01/13H> Ext13H Support: Enhanced disk drive functions
.../000:01/13H> Ext13H Flags: DMA boundary errors handled transparently
.../000:01/13H> Drive Interface Info:
.../000:01/13H> Disk 128 X13H data : 16383/16/63 268435455/512
.../000:01/13H> Ext13H tested ok
.../000:01/FDL> DiskList requested
.../000:01/FDL> Disk found at 128
### DISKLIST.ARRAY ###
__D_|________LBA_|___H_|__S_|__GB_|__GEO
128 | .268435455 | 255 | 63 | 127 | BIOS
..0 | .........0 | ..0 | .0 | ..0 | BIOS
..0 | .........0 | ..0 | .0 | ..0 | BIOS
..0 | .........0 | ..0 | .0 | ..0 | BIOS
.../000:01/IAS> AdmiSector found on disk 0 (128)
.../000:01/EXE> Read/Write pattern test for disk 0 (128) successful
.../000:01/WAS> AdmiSectors in use : 0+
.../000:11/KEY> DEMO/1
.../000:11/PFC> PQstuff signature not detected on disk 0 (128)
.../000:11/PFC> UDMA driver not loaded
.../000:12/PFC> Disk health 50-100
.../000:12/PFC> !- Possible 128Gb barrier problem detected for disk 0 (128)
.../000:12/RDS> Read past EOD intercept for disk 128 at 268435456 (16709 85 17)
.../000:12/PFC> Sector test is negative
.../000:13/PFC> Partition State backup not found on disk 0 (128)
.../000:13/PFC> No Repair date found on disk 0 (128)
.../000:26/MNU> - Main, Select Disk
.../000:54/VEC> Start Verify EPBR Chain for disk 0 (128)
.../000:54/VEC> Listing current partitions on disk:
.../000:54/VEC>    FAT16 (P)                       63      546147       (0 Gb)
.../000:54/VEC> Partition Table info for sector 0 (0 0 1)
.../000:54/LOG> PartListDump requested at 0 (0 0 1)
### _ACT_|_TYPE_|__START--C/H/S_|__END----C/H/S_|__LBA-start_|_LBA-length
..1 .128 | ..06 | ....0...1...1 | ...33.254..63 | ........63 | ....546147
..2 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
..3 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
..4 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
.../000:54/VEC> 55AA sig Ok
.../000:54/LOG> Boot sector dump requested at 63 (0 1 1)
### BootSectorDump for BStype FAT16
...........Jump Code (hex): EB3C90
............OEM Name (txt): MSWIN4.1
....Bytes per Sector (dec): 512
.Sectors per Cluster (dec): 16
....Reserved Sectors (dec): 1
...........FAT count (dec): 2
....Root Entry Count (dec): 512
..Total Sectors (16) (dec): 0
....Media Descriptor (hex): F8
.......FAT Size (16) (dec): 134
...Sectors per Track (dec): 63
.....Heads per Track (dec): 255
......Hidden Sectors (dec): 63
..Total Sectors (32) (dec): 546141
........Drive Number (hex): 80
............Reserved (hex): 00
......Boot Signature (hex): 29
...........Volume ID (hex): 1D3D0EF7
........Volume Label (txt):
..Filesystem Type ID (txt): FAT16
....Sector Signature (hex): AA55
..........1st FAT at      : 64 (0 1 2)
..........2nd FAT at      : 198 (0 3 10)
.../000:54/CF8> FAT sectors are equal
.../000:54/LOG> SectorDump requested at 332 (0 5 18)
###
     Ac.o.m.m.a. COMMAND COM CONFIG  BTS DELL       
     IO      SYS MSDOS   SYS DIR     LST As.e.a.l...
     SEAL    EXE Ac.o.n.f.i. CONFIG  SYS SEAL    INI
     AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC MDM AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC2MDM
###
.../001:30/VEC> Verify EPBR Chain completed
.../001:46/CSD> Start CheckDisk for disk 0 (128)
.../001:47/CSD> CheckDisk complete, ReadErrors 0
.../001:47/USD> Disk 0 (128) selected
.../001:47/GSC> No geo change detected for disk 0 (128)
.../001:47/WAS> AdmiSectors in use : 0+
128/001:47/USD> MBR for disk 0 (128)
128/001:47/LOG> SectorDump requested at 0 (0 0 1)
###
000   FA 33 C0 8E D0 BC 00 7C 8B F4 50 07 50 1F FB FC  |  ?3???.|??P.P.??
016   BF 00 06 B9 00 01 F2 A5 EA 1D 06 00 00 BE BE 07  |  ?..?..???....??.
032   B3 04 80 3C 80 74 0E 80 3C 00 75 17 83 C6 10 FE  |  ?.?<?t.?<.u.??.?
048   CB 75 EF CD 18 8B EE 83 C6 10 FE CB 74 33 80 3C  |  ?u??.????.??t3?<
064   00 74 F4 BE 10 07 B4 06 B0 00 B7 07 B9 00 00 B6  |  .t??..?.?.?.?..?
080   18 B2 4F CD 10 B6 0A E8 9E 00 E8 A4 00 B6 0D E8  |  .?O?.?.??.??.?.?
096   96 00 BE 60 07 E8 99 00 B4 00 CD 16 EA 00 00 FF  |  ?.?`.??.?.?.?...
112   FF BF 03 00 B4 41 BB AA 55 B2 80 CD 13 72 43 81  |  .?..?A??U???.rC?
128   FB 55 AA 75 3D F6 C1 01 74 38 BE AD 07 B1 10 C6  |  ?U?u=??.t8??.?.?
144   04 00 46 E2 FA BE AD 07 C6 04 10 C6 44 02 01 C7  |  ..F????.?..?D..?
160   44 04 00 7C 8B 46 08 89 44 08 8B 46 0A 89 44 0A  |  D..|?F.?D.?F.?D.
176   B8 00 42 B2 80 CD 13 73 29 33 C0 CD 13 4F 75 CA  |  ?.B???.s)3??.Ou?
192   EB 18 8B F5 8B 14 8B 4C 02 BB 00 7C B8 01 02 CD  |  ?.???.?L.?.|?..?
208   13 73 0F 33 C0 CD 13 4F 75 E8 BE 28 07 EA 46 06  |  .s.3??.Ou??(.?F.
224   00 00 BE 47 07 BF FE 7D 81 3D 55 AA 75 07 8B F5  |  ..?G.??}?=U?u.??
240   EA 00 7C 00 00 E9 4E FF B4 02 B7 00 B2 08 CD 10  |  ?.|..?N.?.?.?.?.
256   C3 AC 3C 00 74 09 BB 07 00 B4 0E CD 10 EB F2 C3  |  ì<.t.?..?.?.???
272   49 6E 76 61 6C 69 64 20 70 61 72 74 69 74 69 6F  |  Invalid partitio
288   6E 20 74 61 62 6C 65 00 45 72 72 6F 72 20 6C 6F  |  n table.Error lo
304   61 64 69 6E 67 20 6F 70 65 72 61 74 69 6E 67 20  |  ading operating
320   73 79 73 74 65 6D 00 4D 69 73 73 69 6E 67 20 6F  |  system.Missing o
336   70 65 72 61 74 69 6E 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6D 00  |  perating system.
352   50 72 65 73 73 20 61 6E 79 20 6B 65 79 20 74 6F  |  Press any key to
368   20 72 65 62 6F 6F 74 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |   reboot.........
384   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |  ................
400   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |  ................
416   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |  ................
432   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E4 3B E3 65 00 00 80 01  |  ........?;?e..?.
448   01 00 06 FE 3F 21 3F 00 00 00 63 55 08 00 00 00  |  ...??!?...cU....
464   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |  ................
480   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |  ................
496   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 55 AA  |  ..............U?
###
128/001:47/VEC> Start Verify EPBR Chain for disk 0 (128)
128/001:47/VEC> Listing current partitions on disk:
128/001:47/VEC>    FAT16 (P)                       63      546147       (0 Gb)
128/001:47/VEC> Partition Table info for sector 0 (0 0 1)
128/001:47/LOG> PartListDump requested at 0 (0 0 1)
### _ACT_|_TYPE_|__START--C/H/S_|__END----C/H/S_|__LBA-start_|_LBA-length
..1 .128 | ..06 | ....0...1...1 | ...33.254..63 | ........63 | ....546147
..2 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
..3 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
..4 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
128/001:47/VEC> 55AA sig Ok
128/001:47/LOG> Boot sector dump requested at 63 (0 1 1)
### BootSectorDump for BStype FAT16
...........Jump Code (hex): EB3C90
............OEM Name (txt): MSWIN4.1
....Bytes per Sector (dec): 512
.Sectors per Cluster (dec): 16
....Reserved Sectors (dec): 1
...........FAT count (dec): 2
....Root Entry Count (dec): 512
..Total Sectors (16) (dec): 0
....Media Descriptor (hex): F8
.......FAT Size (16) (dec): 134
...Sectors per Track (dec): 63
.....Heads per Track (dec): 255
......Hidden Sectors (dec): 63
..Total Sectors (32) (dec): 546141
........Drive Number (hex): 80
............Reserved (hex): 00
......Boot Signature (hex): 29
...........Volume ID (hex): 1D3D0EF7
........Volume Label (txt):
..Filesystem Type ID (txt): FAT16
....Sector Signature (hex): AA55
..........1st FAT at      : 64 (0 1 2)
..........2nd FAT at      : 198 (0 3 10)
128/001:47/CF8> FAT sectors are equal
128/001:47/LOG> SectorDump requested at 332 (0 5 18)
###
     Ac.o.m.m.a. COMMAND COM CONFIG  BTS DELL       
     IO      SYS MSDOS   SYS DIR     LST As.e.a.l...
     SEAL    EXE Ac.o.n.f.i. CONFIG  SYS SEAL    INI
     AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC MDM AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC2MDM
###
128/001:47/VEC> Verify EPBR Chain completed
128/001:47/USD> Select disk completed
128/001:59/MNU> - Main, Disk Ops
128/002:07/MNU> - Main, MBR ops
128/002:15/MNU> - Main, Utilities
128/002:21/MNU> - Tools, Verify EPBR Chain
128/002:21/VEC> Start Verify EPBR Chain for disk 0 (128)
128/002:21/VEC> Listing current partitions on disk:
128/002:21/VEC>    FAT16 (P)                       63      546147       (0 Gb)
128/002:21/VEC> Partition Table info for sector 0 (0 0 1)
128/002:21/LOG> PartListDump requested at 0 (0 0 1)
### _ACT_|_TYPE_|__START--C/H/S_|__END----C/H/S_|__LBA-start_|_LBA-length
..1 .128 | ..06 | ....0...1...1 | ...33.254..63 | ........63 | ....546147
..2 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
..3 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
..4 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
128/002:21/VEC> 55AA sig Ok
128/002:21/LOG> Boot sector dump requested at 63 (0 1 1)
### BootSectorDump for BStype FAT16
...........Jump Code (hex): EB3C90
............OEM Name (txt): MSWIN4.1
....Bytes per Sector (dec): 512
.Sectors per Cluster (dec): 16
....Reserved Sectors (dec): 1
...........FAT count (dec): 2
....Root Entry Count (dec): 512
..Total Sectors (16) (dec): 0
....Media Descriptor (hex): F8
.......FAT Size (16) (dec): 134
...Sectors per Track (dec): 63
.....Heads per Track (dec): 255
......Hidden Sectors (dec): 63
..Total Sectors (32) (dec): 546141
........Drive Number (hex): 80
............Reserved (hex): 00
......Boot Signature (hex): 29
...........Volume ID (hex): 1D3D0EF7
........Volume Label (txt):
..Filesystem Type ID (txt): FAT16
....Sector Signature (hex): AA55
..........1st FAT at      : 64 (0 1 2)
..........2nd FAT at      : 198 (0 3 10)
128/002:21/CF8> FAT sectors are equal
128/002:21/LOG> SectorDump requested at 332 (0 5 18)
###
     Ac.o.m.m.a. COMMAND COM CONFIG  BTS DELL       
     IO      SYS MSDOS   SYS DIR     LST As.e.a.l...
     SEAL    EXE Ac.o.n.f.i. CONFIG  SYS SEAL    INI
     AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC MDM AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC2MDM
###
128/002:46/VEC> Verify EPBR Chain completed
128/002:49/MNU> - Tools, Backup / Restore
128/002:56/MNU> - Main, Options
128/003:14/MNU> - Support, Analyze Disk (no repair, create log)
128/003:22/SCN> DiskScan requested, ScanType is 3
128/003:22/SCN> from 0 (0 0 1) to 268435454 (16709 85 15), 268435455 sectors
128/003:22/SCN> Starting QuickScan (pre-vista) at 63 (0 1 1)
128/003:22/SCN> Next QuickScan location at 546204 (33 254 58)
128/003:23/SCN> Next QuickScan location at 0 (0 0 1)
128/003:24/SCN> QuickScan finished
128/003:24/SCN> Starting SmartScan (pre-vista) at 0 (0 0 1) (JMP=16065, RNG=63)
128/014:49/SCN> SmartScan finished
128/014:49/SCN> DiskScan completed
128/014:49/SCN> ReadErrors for disk 0 (128): 0
128/014:52/LOG> DataCollection items found: 6 / 2
### DATACOLLECTION.ARRAY, FULL ###
SEQ_|___D_|________LOC_|____TYPE_|__COM_|______START_|_____LENGTH_|__PL_|_F
001 | 128 | ........63 | ..FAT16 | ..BS | ........63 | ....546141 | PRI | .
002 | 128 | ........64 | ..FAT16 | F8FF | ........63 | .......... | PRI | .
003 | 128 | .........0 | ..FAT16 | PTE1 | ........63 | ....546147 | PRI | .
004 | 128 | ........63 | ..FAT16 | ..BS | ........63 | ....546141 | PRI | I
005 | 128 | ........64 | ..FAT16 | F8FF | ........63 | .......... | PRI | I
006 | 128 | .135010280 | ..FAT12 | ..BS | .135010280 | ......2880 | PRI | .
128/014:52/LOG> DataCollection items found: 6 / 2
### DATACOLLECTION.ARRAY, CLEANED ###
SEQ_|___D_|________LOC_|____TYPE_|__COM_|______START_|_____LENGTH_|__PL
001 | 128 | ........63 | ..FAT16 | ..BS | ........63 | ....546141 | PRI
002 | 128 | ........64 | ..FAT16 | F8FF | ........63 | .......... | PRI
003 | 128 | .........0 | ..FAT16 | PTE1 | ........63 | ....546147 | PRI
006 | 128 | .135010280 | ..FAT12 | ..BS | .135010280 | ......2880 | PRI
128/014:52/LOG> PartList items created: 3
### PARTLIST.ARRAY ###
SEQ_|____TYPE_|_PTE_|__BS_|_BBS_|F8FF_|___S_|___L_|__PL_|_C_|___R
001 | ..FAT16 | ..3 | ... | ..0 | ..5 | ..3 | ..3 | ..3 | 3 | ..B
002 | ..FAT16 | ... | ..1 | ..0 | ..5 | ..1 | ..1 | ..1 | 3 | ..A
003 | ..FAT12 | ... | ..6 | ..0 | ... | ..6 | ..6 | ..6 | 1 | ...
### PARTLIST.ARRAY.INTERPRETED ###
SEQ_|____TYPE_|______START_|_____LENGTH_|________END_|__PL_|___R_|___A
001 | ..FAT16 | ........63 | ....546147 | ....546209 | PRI | ..B | ..X
002 | ..FAT16 | ........63 | ....546141 | ....546203 | PRI | ..A | ..X
003 | ..FAT12 | .135010280 | ......2880 | .135013159 | PRI | ... | ..?
128/014:52/SST> SaveState requested for disk 0 (128)
128/014:53/WAS> AdmiSectors in use : 0+
128/014:53/SST> SaveState completed for disk 0 (128)
128/014:53/EXE> Analysis complete
128/015:06/MNU> - Main, Quit
128/015:06/LOG> RunTime: 015:06
128/015:06/LOG> ### CLOSE LOG ###

[Joep]

Hello,

Could I also please see a disk health report. Not because I suspect the disk is not healthy, but I am trying to determine if the disk is indeed 128 Gb or that it is in fact larger. The BIOS only reports 128 Gb but that may be because it's not 48 bit LBA capable. If that's the case we will not be able scan passed the first 128 Gb.

Also, XP, but was it up to date service pack wise?

The logfile shows the FAT partition, scan reveals no traces of an NTFS partition - assuming the lost partition was NTFS. It indicates the the boot sector for the lost partition is broken as well. That the backup boot sector, that we do not find either, is broken as well is 'weird'. Or it is actually present but we can not read it because the disk is > 128 and the BIOS limited to 128 Gb.

The fact the disk 'failed' after defragmenting is disturbing, the Windows defrag API is solid, so something else can be causing this. We can only hope that it is only the boot sector that was damaged because in that case the data is recoverable. If there is more damage then recovery may be more problematic.

[jlichtig]

Hello Joep,

Thank you very much for your quick reply.

You are correct, the disk is 250 GB.  XP was (is) up to date with SP3.  I mentioned the defrag because that was done the day before the problem surfaced.

At this point, would I do more "damage" if I try to fix the MBR?  And do I refresh the boot code or wipe the MBR?

Again, thank you very much for your time.

John

[jlichtig]

Sorry I did not post the disk health report; here it is:

Detected Controllers

  Disk Controller 1
    Device Vendor . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 8086
    Device ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 2653
    Device  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Intel ICH6 SATA Controller
    Device Location . . . . . . . . . . . . : Bus 0, Device 31, Function 2
    Device Ports  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 03F4-03F7, 0374-0377, BFA0-BFAF

Physical Disk Information - Disk: #0

  Hard Disk Summary
    Hard Disk Number  . . . . . . . . . . . : 0
    Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : IDE/ATA
    Connection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : PM
    Hard Disk Model ID  . . . . . . . . . . : WDC WD2500BEVE-22WZT0
    Hard Disk Revision  . . . . . . . . . . : 01.01A01
    Hard Disk Serial Number . . . . . . . . : WD-WXC608277768
    Hard Disk Total Size  . . . . . . . . . : 238475 MB
    Current Temperature:  . . . . . . . . . : 37 ?C (99 ?F)
    Power on time . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 68 days, 9 hours
    Health: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 100 %
    Performance:  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 100 %

  ATA Information
    Hard Disk Cylinders . . . . . . . . . . : 25769
    Hard Disk Heads . . . . . . . . . . . . : 16
    Hard Disk Sectors . . . . . . . . . . . : 63
    Total Sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 488397168
    ATA Revision  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 7
    Bytes Per Sector  . . . . . . . . . . . : 512
    Buffer Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 8192 KB
    Multiple Sectors  . . . . . . . . . . . : 16
    Error Correction Bytes  . . . . . . . . : 50
    Unformatted Capacity  . . . . . . . . . : 238475 MB
    Maximum PIO Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . : 4
    Maximum Multiword DMA Mode  . . . . . . : 2
    Maximum UDMA Mode . . . . . . . . . . . : 100 MB/s (5)
    Active UDMA Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . : 100 MB/s (5)
    Minimum multiword DMA transfer time . . : 120 ns
    Recommended multiword DMA transfer time : 120 ns
    Minimum PIO transfer time without IORDY : 120 ns
    Minimum PIO transfer time with IORDY  . : 120 ns
    ATA Control Byte  . . . . . . . . . . . : Valid

  Acoustic Management Configuration
    Acoustic Management . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Acoustic Management . . . . . . . . . . : Disabled
    Current Acoustic Level  . . . . . . . . : Max performance and volume (FEh)
    Recommended Acoustic Level  . . . . . . : Min performance and volume (80h)

  EIDE Properties
    Read Ahead Buffer . . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    DMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Ultra DMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    S.M.A.R.T.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Power Management  . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Write Cache . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Host Protected Area . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Advanced Power Management . . . . . . . : Supported
    Power Up In Standby . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    48-bit LBA Addressing . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Device Configuration Overlay  . . . . . : Supported
    IORDY Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Read/Write DMA Queue  . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    NOP Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Trusted Computing . . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    64-bit World Wide ID  . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Streaming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    Media Card Pass Through . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    General Purpose Logging . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Error Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    CFA Feature Set . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    Long Physical Sectors (1) . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    Long Logical Sectors  . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    Write-Read-Verify . . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    NV Cache Feature  . . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    NV Cache Power Mode . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported

  S.M.A.R.T. Details
    Off-line data collection  . . . . . . . : Never started
    Self test execution status  . . . . . . : Succesfully completed
    Total time to complete off-line data ...: 9600 seconds
    Execute off-line immediate  . . . . . . : Supported
    Abort/restart off-line by host  . . . . : Not Supported
    Off-line read scanning  . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Short Self-test . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Extended Self-test  . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Conveyance self-test  . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Selective self-test . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Save data before/after power saving mode: Supported
    Enable/Disable attribute autosave . . . : Supported
    Error logging capability  . . . . . . . : Supported
    Short self-test estimated time  . . . . : 2 minutes
    Extended self-test estimated time . . . : 115 minutes
    Conveyance self-test estimated time . . : 5 minutes

  Security Mode
    Security Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Security Erase  . . . . . . . . . . . . : Supported
    Security Erase Time . . . . . . . . . . : 48 minutes
    Security Enhanced Erase Feature . . . . : Not Supported
    Security Enhanced Erase Time  . . . . . : Not Supported
    Security Enabled  . . . . . . . . . . . : No
    Security Locked . . . . . . . . . . . . : No
    Security Frozen . . . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
    Security Counter Expired  . . . . . . . : No
    Security Level  . . . . . . . . . . . . : High

  Serial ATA Features
    S-ATA Compliance  . . . . . . . . . . . : No
    S-ATA I Signaling Speed (1.5 Gps) . . . : Not Supported
    S-ATA II Signaling Speed (3 Gps)  . . . : Not Supported
    Receipt Of Power Management Requests ...: Not Supported
    PHY Event Counters  . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    Non-Zero Buffer Offsets In DMA Setup FIS: Not Supported
    DMA Setup Auto-Activate Optimization  . : Not Supported
    Device Initiating Interface Power Man...: Not Supported
    In-Order Data Delivery  . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    Asynchronous Notification . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    Software Settings Preservation  . . . . : Not Supported
    Native Command Queuing  . . . . . . . . : Not Supported
    Queue Length  . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Not Supported

  S.M.A.R.T.
    1  : Raw Read Error Rate            Threshold=51  Value=200 Worst=200 Data=000000000000 Status=OK                        Flags=Error-rate, Performance, Statistical, Critical
    3  : Spin Up Time                   Threshold=21  Value=187 Worst=183 Data=000000000659 Status=OK                        Flags=Statistical, Critical
    4  : Start/Stop Count               Threshold=0   Value=100 Worst=100 Data=000000000309 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical
    5  : Reallocated Sectors Count      Threshold=140 Value=200 Worst=200 Data=000000000000 Status=OK                        Flags=Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical, Critical
    7  : Seek Error Rate                Threshold=51  Value=100 Worst=253 Data=000000000000 Status=OK                        Flags=Error-rate, Performance, Statistical, Critical
    9  : Power-On Time Count            Threshold=0   Value=98  Worst=98  Data=000000000669 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical
    10 : Spin Retry Count               Threshold=51  Value=100 Worst=100 Data=000000000000 Status=OK                        Flags=Event Count, Statistical, Critical
    11 : Drive Calibration Retry Count  Threshold=51  Value=100 Worst=100 Data=000000000000 Status=OK                        Flags=Event Count, Statistical
    12 : Drive Power Cycle Count        Threshold=0   Value=100 Worst=100 Data=00000000028C Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical
    184: Vendor-specific                Threshold=0   Value=100 Worst=100 Data=000000000000 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical
    192: Power off Retract Cycle        Threshold=0   Value=200 Worst=200 Data=000000000056 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical
    193: Load/Unload Cycle Count        Threshold=0   Value=197 Worst=197 Data=0000000026B8 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical
    194: HDD Temperature                Threshold=0   Value=110 Worst=94  Data=000000000025 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Self Preserving, Statistical
    196: Reallocation Event Count       Threshold=0   Value=200 Worst=200 Data=000000000000 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Self Preserving, Event Count, Statistical
    197: Current Pending Sector Count   Threshold=0   Value=200 Worst=200 Data=000000000000 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Event Count, Statistical
    198: Off-Line Uncorrectable Sect... Threshold=0   Value=100 Worst=253 Data=000000000000 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Event Count
    199: Ultra ATA CRC Error Count      Threshold=0   Value=200 Worst=200 Data=000000000000 Status=OK (Always passing)       Flags=Self Preserving, Event Count, Error-rate, Performance, Statistical
    200: Write Error Rate               Threshold=51  Value=100 Worst=253 Data=000000000000 Status=OK                        Flags=Error-rate, Critical

[jlichtig]

Hello,

I found the NTFS partition and repaired it.  Everything "looks okay" now.  However, when the machine boots up, it goes straight into Dell Hardware Diagnostics program.  There appears to be no way of getting around this application to boot XP.

Any help is appreciated.

John

[Joep]

Hello,

How did you do that and with what, finding that NTFS partition? Can we see a new logfile?

[jlichtig]

I used Partition Table Doctor.  By using Linux booted from a memory stick I was also able to see the files in the first partition.  Oddly enough there is an Autoexec.bat file (copy attached) that is the cause of the Dell Hardware Diagnostics application running at startup.  I confirmed this by modifying the file and thus stopping the file from executing.  However, I do not know the boot sequence for XP in order to find the file that is executing the autoexec.bat file.

Again, thank you for your help.

John

AUTOEXEC.BAT
@rem AUTOEXEC.BAT for Utility Partitons
@echo off
if exist delldiag.exe goto start
@echo.
@echo Diagnostics not found on the utility partition
@echo.
@pause
dellboot
:start
if not exist int15_88.com goto dodiags
int15_88.com
:dodiags
delldiag.exe
if ERRORLEVEL == 20 goto altgui
dellboot
goto end
:altgui
if not exist delltbui.exe goto end
delltbui.exe
dellboot
:end
dellboot

DPreport

Code:

.../000:02/LOG> ### LOG START ###
.../000:02/LOG> DISKPATCH 3.5.200
.../000:02/LOG> (C) 2000-2008 DIY DataRecovery
.../000:02/LOG> Contact info: HTTP://www.DIYDataRecovery.nl
.../000:02/LOG> MemFree: 70Kb
.../000:02/LOG> CommandLineParms:
.../000:02/LOG> LogDate: 01-06-2009
.../000:02/CFG> FilePath="1/.\DPFILES\"
.../000:02/CFG> LogFilename="DP.LOG"
.../000:02/CFG> ReadRetries="32"
.../000:02/CFG> WriteRetries="32"
.../000:02/CFG> MaxReadErrors="32"
.../000:02/CFG> MaxWriteErrors="1"
.../000:02/CFG> LogEachReadError="1"
.../000:02/CFG> ReadDelay="0"
.../000:02/CFG> VfyFixedBadSect="1"
.../000:02/CFG> CleanAfterDOD="1"
.../000:02/CFG> DiskReset="1"
.../000:02/CFG> SectorSkip="1024"
.../000:02/CFG> AutoSaveState="1"
.../000:02/CFG> DumpFoundSectors="0"
.../000:02/CFG> FixFats="1"
.../000:02/CFG> MaxFatScan="51200"
.../000:02/CFG> MaxDataColEntries="256"
.../000:02/CFG> IgnoreF8FF="0"
.../000:02/CFG> DownSizeExt="1"
.../000:02/CFG> ScanSignature="55AA"
.../000:02/CFG> Rebuild="00"
.../000:02/13H> Ext13H installed test requested
.../000:02/13H> Disk found at 128
.../000:02/13H> Ext13H version: 2.1 / EDD-1.1
.../000:02/13H> Ext13H Support: Extended disk access functions
.../000:02/13H> Ext13H Support: Enhanced disk drive functions
.../000:02/13H> Ext13H Flags: DMA boundary errors handled transparently
.../000:02/13H> Drive Interface Info:
.../000:02/13H> Disk 128 X13H data : 16383/16/63 268435455/512
.../000:02/13H> Ext13H tested ok
.../000:02/FDL> DiskList requested
.../000:02/FDL> Disk found at 128
### DISKLIST.ARRAY ###
__D_|________LBA_|___H_|__S_|__GB_|__GEO
128 | .268435455 | 255 | 63 | 127 | BIOS
..0 | .........0 | ..0 | .0 | ..0 | BIOS
..0 | .........0 | ..0 | .0 | ..0 | BIOS
..0 | .........0 | ..0 | .0 | ..0 | BIOS
.../000:02/IAS> AdmiSector found on disk 0 (128)
.../000:02/EXE> Read/Write pattern test for disk 0 (128) successful
.../000:02/WAS> AdmiSectors in use : 0+
.../000:02/KEY> 291OO8O189/4
.../000:02/PFC> PQstuff signature not detected on disk 0 (128)
.../000:03/PFC> UDMA driver not loaded
.../000:03/PFC> Disk health 50-100
.../000:03/PFC> !- Possible 128Gb barrier problem detected for disk 0 (128)
.../000:03/RDS> Read past EOD intercept for disk 128 at 268435456 (16709 85 17)
.../000:03/PFC> Sector test is negative
.../000:04/PFC> Partition State backup not found on disk 0 (128)
.../000:04/PFC> Last Repair (R) for disk 0 (128) performed on 01052009/135147
.../000:11/MNU> - Main, Select Disk
.../000:26/VEC> Start Verify EPBR Chain for disk 0 (128)
.../000:26/VEC> Listing current partitions on disk:
.../000:26/VEC>    FAT16 (P)                       63      546141       (0 Gb)
.../000:26/VEC>     NTFS (P)    (no name)      546210   267883875     (128 Gb)
.../000:26/VEC> Partition Table info for sector 0 (0 0 1)
.../000:26/LOG> PartListDump requested at 0 (0 0 1)
### _ACT_|_TYPE_|__START--C/H/S_|__END----C/H/S_|__LBA-start_|_LBA-length
..1 .128 | ..06 | ....0...1...1 | ...33.254..57 | ........63 | ....546141
..2 ...0 | ..07 | ...34...0...1 | .1023.254..63 | ....546210 | .267883875
..3 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
..4 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
.../000:26/VEC> 55AA sig Ok
.../000:26/LOG> Boot sector dump requested at 63 (0 1 1)
### BootSectorDump for BStype FAT16
...........Jump Code (hex): EB3C90
............OEM Name (txt): MSWIN4.1
....Bytes per Sector (dec): 512
.Sectors per Cluster (dec): 16
....Reserved Sectors (dec): 1
...........FAT count (dec): 2
....Root Entry Count (dec): 512
..Total Sectors (16) (dec): 0
....Media Descriptor (hex): F8
.......FAT Size (16) (dec): 134
...Sectors per Track (dec): 63
.....Heads per Track (dec): 255
......Hidden Sectors (dec): 63
..Total Sectors (32) (dec): 546141
........Drive Number (hex): 80
............Reserved (hex): 00
......Boot Signature (hex): 29
...........Volume ID (hex): 1D3D0EF7
........Volume Label (txt):
..Filesystem Type ID (txt): FAT16
....Sector Signature (hex): AA55
..........1st FAT at      : 64 (0 1 2)
..........2nd FAT at      : 198 (0 3 10)
.../000:26/CF8> FAT sectors are equal
.../000:26/LOG> SectorDump requested at 332 (0 5 18)
###
     Ac.o.m.m.a. COMMAND COM CONFIG  BTS DELL       
     IO      SYS MSDOS   SYS DIR     LST As.e.a.l...
     SEAL    EXE Ac.o.n.f.i. CONFIG  SYS SEAL    INI
     AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC MDM AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC2MDM
###
.../000:26/LOG> Boot sector dump requested at 546210 (34 0 1)
### BootSectorDump for BStype NTFS
...........Jump Code (hex): EB5290
............OEM Name (txt): NTFS
....Bytes per Sector (dec): 512
.Sectors per Cluster (dec): 8
....Reserved Sectors (dec): 0
..............Unused (hex): 0000000000
....Media Descriptor (hex): F8
..............Unused (hex): 0000
...Sectors per Track (dec): 63
.....Heads per Track (dec): 255
......Hidden Sectors (dec): 546210
..............Unused (hex): 00000000
.............Unknown (hex): 00800080
.......Total Sectors (dec): 267883874
........MFT Location (dec): 785817
.MFT Mirror Location (dec): 4053935
....Clusters per FRS (dec): 246
.Clusters/Indx Block (dec): 1
...........Volume ID (hex): 54B42690B42674A0
........Volume Label (txt): (no name)
............Checksum (hex): 00000000
....Sector Signature (hex): AA55
.../000:27/VEC> BS and BBS equal
.../000:52/VEC> Verify EPBR Chain completed
.../001:01/CSD> Start CheckDisk for disk 0 (128)
.../001:01/CSD> CheckDisk complete, ReadErrors 0
.../001:01/USD> Disk 0 (128) selected
.../001:01/GSC> No geo change detected for disk 0 (128)
.../001:01/WAS> AdmiSectors in use : 0+
128/001:01/USD> MBR for disk 0 (128)
128/001:01/LOG> SectorDump requested at 0 (0 0 1)
###
000   FA 33 C0 8E D0 BC 00 7C 8B F4 50 07 50 1F FB FC  |  ?3???.|??P.P.??
016   BF 00 06 B9 00 01 F2 A5 EA 1D 06 00 00 BE BE 07  |  ?..?..???....??.
032   B3 04 80 3C 80 74 0E 80 3C 00 75 17 83 C6 10 FE  |  ?.?<?t.?<.u.??.?
048   CB 75 EF CD 18 8B EE 83 C6 10 FE CB 74 33 80 3C  |  ?u??.????.??t3?<
064   00 74 F4 BE 10 07 B4 06 B0 00 B7 07 B9 00 00 B6  |  .t??..?.?.?.?..?
080   18 B2 4F CD 10 B6 0A E8 9E 00 E8 A4 00 B6 0D E8  |  .?O?.?.??.??.?.?
096   96 00 BE 60 07 E8 99 00 B4 00 CD 16 EA 00 00 FF  |  ?.?`.??.?.?.?...
112   FF BF 03 00 B4 41 BB AA 55 B2 80 CD 13 72 43 81  |  .?..?A??U???.rC?
128   FB 55 AA 75 3D F6 C1 01 74 38 BE AD 07 B1 10 C6  |  ?U?u=??.t8??.?.?
144   04 00 46 E2 FA BE AD 07 C6 04 10 C6 44 02 01 C7  |  ..F????.?..?D..?
160   44 04 00 7C 8B 46 08 89 44 08 8B 46 0A 89 44 0A  |  D..|?F.?D.?F.?D.
176   B8 00 42 B2 80 CD 13 73 29 33 C0 CD 13 4F 75 CA  |  ?.B???.s)3??.Ou?
192   EB 18 8B F5 8B 14 8B 4C 02 BB 00 7C B8 01 02 CD  |  ?.???.?L.?.|?..?
208   13 73 0F 33 C0 CD 13 4F 75 E8 BE 28 07 EA 46 06  |  .s.3??.Ou??(.?F.
224   00 00 BE 47 07 BF FE 7D 81 3D 55 AA 75 07 8B F5  |  ..?G.??}?=U?u.??
240   EA 00 7C 00 00 E9 4E FF B4 02 B7 00 B2 08 CD 10  |  ?.|..?N.?.?.?.?.
256   C3 AC 3C 00 74 09 BB 07 00 B4 0E CD 10 EB F2 C3  |  ì<.t.?..?.?.???
272   49 6E 76 61 6C 69 64 20 70 61 72 74 69 74 69 6F  |  Invalid partitio
288   6E 20 74 61 62 6C 65 00 45 72 72 6F 72 20 6C 6F  |  n table.Error lo
304   61 64 69 6E 67 20 6F 70 65 72 61 74 69 6E 67 20  |  ading operating
320   73 79 73 74 65 6D 00 4D 69 73 73 69 6E 67 20 6F  |  system.Missing o
336   70 65 72 61 74 69 6E 67 20 73 79 73 74 65 6D 00  |  perating system.
352   50 72 65 73 73 20 61 6E 79 20 6B 65 79 20 74 6F  |  Press any key to
368   20 72 65 62 6F 6F 74 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |   reboot.........
384   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |  ................
400   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |  ................
416   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |  ................
432   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 E4 3B E3 65 00 00 80 01  |  ........?;?e..?.
448   01 00 06 FE 39 21 3F 00 00 00 5D 55 08 00 00 00  |  ...?9!?...]U....
464   01 22 07 FE FF FF A2 55 08 00 63 95 F7 0F 00 00  |  .".?..?U..c??...
480   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  |  ................
496   00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 55 AA  |  ..............U?
###
128/001:01/VEC> Start Verify EPBR Chain for disk 0 (128)
128/001:01/VEC> Listing current partitions on disk:
128/001:01/VEC>    FAT16 (P)                       63      546141       (0 Gb)
128/001:01/VEC>     NTFS (P)    (no name)      546210   267883875     (128 Gb)
128/001:01/VEC> Partition Table info for sector 0 (0 0 1)
128/001:01/LOG> PartListDump requested at 0 (0 0 1)
### _ACT_|_TYPE_|__START--C/H/S_|__END----C/H/S_|__LBA-start_|_LBA-length
..1 .128 | ..06 | ....0...1...1 | ...33.254..57 | ........63 | ....546141
..2 ...0 | ..07 | ...34...0...1 | .1023.254..63 | ....546210 | .267883875
..3 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
..4 ...0 | ..00 | ....0...0...0 | ....0...0...0 | .........0 | .........0
128/001:01/VEC> 55AA sig Ok
128/001:01/LOG> Boot sector dump requested at 63 (0 1 1)
### BootSectorDump for BStype FAT16
...........Jump Code (hex): EB3C90
............OEM Name (txt): MSWIN4.1
....Bytes per Sector (dec): 512
.Sectors per Cluster (dec): 16
....Reserved Sectors (dec): 1
...........FAT count (dec): 2
....Root Entry Count (dec): 512
..Total Sectors (16) (dec): 0
....Media Descriptor (hex): F8
.......FAT Size (16) (dec): 134
...Sectors per Track (dec): 63
.....Heads per Track (dec): 255
......Hidden Sectors (dec): 63
..Total Sectors (32) (dec): 546141
........Drive Number (hex): 80
............Reserved (hex): 00
......Boot Signature (hex): 29
...........Volume ID (hex): 1D3D0EF7
........Volume Label (txt):
..Filesystem Type ID (txt): FAT16
....Sector Signature (hex): AA55
..........1st FAT at      : 64 (0 1 2)
..........2nd FAT at      : 198 (0 3 10)
128/001:01/CF8> FAT sectors are equal
128/001:01/LOG> SectorDump requested at 332 (0 5 18)
###
     Ac.o.m.m.a. COMMAND COM CONFIG  BTS DELL       
     IO      SYS MSDOS   SYS DIR     LST As.e.a.l...
     SEAL    EXE Ac.o.n.f.i. CONFIG  SYS SEAL    INI
     AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC MDM AA.d.a.p.t. ADAPTEC2MDM
###
128/001:01/LOG> Boot sector dump requested at 546210 (34 0 1)
### BootSectorDump for BStype NTFS
...........Jump Code (hex): EB5290
............OEM Name (txt): NTFS
....Bytes per Sector (dec): 512
.Sectors per Cluster (dec): 8
....Reserved Sectors (dec): 0
..............Unused (hex): 0000000000
....Media Descriptor (hex): F8
..............Unused (hex): 0000
...Sectors per Track (dec): 63
.....Heads per Track (dec): 255
......Hidden Sectors (dec): 546210
..............Unused (hex): 00000000
.............Unknown (hex): 00800080
.......Total Sectors (dec): 267883874
........MFT Location (dec): 785817
.MFT Mirror Location (dec): 4053935
....Clusters per FRS (dec): 246
.Clusters/Indx Block (dec): 1
...........Volume ID (hex): 54B42690B42674A0
........Volume Label (txt): (no name)
............Checksum (hex): 00000000
....Sector Signature (hex): AA55
128/001:01/VEC> BS and BBS equal
128/001:01/VEC> Verify EPBR Chain completed
128/001:02/USD> Select disk completed
128/001:09/MNU> - Main, Repairs
128/001:29/MNU> - Main, Quit
128/001:29/LOG> RunTime: 001:29
128/001:29/LOG> ### CLOSE LOG ###

[Joep]

Hello,

Aha, from Windows then I assume? The FAT partition is the active partition. You need to make the NTFS partition active instead.

[jlichtig]

After activating the NTFS partition, I'm back to the original problem where the machine does not boot to XP.  I get a black screen with an underscore cursor blinking on the top left of the screen.

Should I try to "repair" the partition table or reinstall WINXP?

[Joep]

Hello,

Right after BIOS POST? Normally you'd then say it's partition table related.

And "every thing looks ok" means you can access the partition? If so then there's a few obvious things to check:

- How did you make that partition active? Make sure there are not 2 active partitions
- write new MBR boot code
- write new boot code to boot sector. If it's XP on there you can use DiskPatch. If Vista use resovery console.

Try in that order one step at the time, then test, then next step.

If that all does not work:

- Make backups of or recover data
- Try a Windows repair

If that does not work:

- Then there's likely a file system problem. If chkdsk can't fix that (only try if you have backed up personal data from the NTFS partition) then reformatting the drive is the only remaining option.

[jlichtig]

Joep,

I tried a Windows repair, but that did not fix the problem.

I ended up restoring the machine from a previous backup made with Windows Home Server.  I lost a couple of days of data, but the system is complete restored.

Thank you very much for all your suggestions.  I did learn a lot.

Best Regards,

John