SteveR

Quote:

Not sure what didn't happen?  Were you able to change to the Ghost subdirectory and you were able to run *ghreboot* and it didn't work?  Or you were not able to change directories and run *ghreboot*?

If *ghreboot* doesn't work, then you have to manually edit the partition table--hiding the Ghost virtual partition and unhiding the OS partition and making the OS partition active again.

Here's resources to help:

How to use GhReboot

Cannot start Windows after starting a Ghost 2003 task from Windows

How to restart the computer into Windows if a problem is encountered after running Ghost 2003

If the *automated GhReboot* does not work, check this thread on how to use the Symantec Ghost DOS command line partitioning program, *gdisk*, as to how to manually change the active partition back to your original partition:

Ghost 2003 -operating system not found

Other partitioning tools (such as PartitionMagic, or this free tool MBRWizard - The MBR Management Utility that can change partitions from active to inactive, and can hide and unhide partitions--as well as delete partitions from the Master Partition Table--can also be used to manually reset the correct active OS partition for booting!

This is another tool: 

And, this probably can come in handy:  MBRtool

Quote:


Initially, you want to simply *Display* the partitions on the boot drive--read the User Manual to get an idea of how to do that!

Always be careful with a MBR tool--a wrong edit can really screw things up!

SteveR

Quote:

Can you do a directory command (dir--then enter)?  Is the Ghost partitioning tool *gdisk.exe* also present in that directory?

As a matter of fact, gdisk is present in the ghost directory, so we may be in business.  I'm going to read the materials referenced in the last post and maybe give this a try.  My (admittitedly limited) understanding so far is that i'm simply switching partitions from active to inactive.  We're not making MBR changes that couldn't be reversed; correct?

My fear is screwing up the MBR and losing everything.

I should add that from this point the only way I've found to get back to a C prompt is to restart the computer and start over.

SteveR

Quote:

Correct--but, so far we're not even doing that!  We're also *hiding* the Ghost *virtual paritition*!

Quote:

Darn--it's always frustrating when the *simple* stuff doesn't work! 

So, let's continue....

Firstly--don't get frustrated and try something in *desperation*--I still think we can recover--we just need to find the right settings and tool that will work.

So, obviously there's something interfering with DOS and the running of the DOS Ghost programs. 

Let's find out more about the system:

Is the HDD SATA or PATA?  If SATA, are you able to get to the system's BIOS and look around there?  What you want to find is the options for the SATA controller.  You're looking for something like *Combined* or *Compatibility Mode* or *DOS* mode or something such as that.  If you find something along that line, you want to change it to whichever mode is similar to the above and not something that is SATA only. 

Write down the current setting before you change it.  This will be only a temporary change just to get this problem solved in DOS.  Then we will change it back before attempting to boot to Windows.  If this doesn't make sense--ask questions before proceeding.

Then once you select the *DOS* mode, save the changes, re-boot and let the DOS boot files run.  If you have been successful in booting, try running *ghreboot* again.  Did it work this time?  If no, try running *gdisk*.  Did this work this time?

If neither of those worked, try re-booting to DOS, but this time hit you F8 key for the step-by-step confirmation of loading the boot files.  Say *Y* (yes) to everything except say *N* (no) to the line you said no to previously ("Device=\USB\ASPIEHCI.SYS /INT /ALL [Y,N,ESC]?").  Again try *ghreboot* and *gdisk*--results?

If any of the above work--then re-boot, but go to the BIOS immediately and reset the SATA controller to its original setting.

Let us know if this works.  If not, then we will have to try other Master Boot Record utilities that hopefully will work!

Don't give up!!!!

NightOwl

For my own interest I started a Ghost 2003 backup from Windows. When the backup was 10% completed I pressed the power button to shutdown the computer. I then booted from a BING CD to look at the partition table. The VPSGHBOOT partition was active, size 16065 sectors and was situated inside the WinXP partition. Its starting sector was about two thirds into the WinXP partition. I had two partitions on the HD prior to using Ghost and there was a large area of unallocated space following the WinXP partition.

I deleted the VPSGHBOOT partition, set WinXP partition active and the OS booted. I know I wasn't "stuck" in the virtual partition but would you expect the above method to work for people stuck in the virtual partition?

NightOwl

I looked in my C: drive and there was a 26 MB file, VIRTPART.DAT. No problem with deleting it. I'll try everything again and bailout of Ghost at 90% this time.

Edit... The file was still 26 MB

Edit... The file was still present after a full Ghost backup to completion