error message: "Error loading OS"

[belmont717]

Today, I had decided to defrag my computer since it had been ages since the last defrag. I figured it would take a couple of hours to defrag, so I left the computer on to defrag while I went out. I came back home 8 hours later to see that the computer had rebooted and was stuck on the part after the memory test runs when the computer first turns on. I see a message saying "Error loading OS." I don't know what could have happened. Maybe the computer rebooted during the defrag and messed everything up.

I have two hard drives in the computer. I unplugged the second hard drive to let the hard drive on Windows XP on it load to see what happens. Instead of getting a "Error loading OS" message I get a message telling me to press "CTRL + ALT + DEL" to reboot the computer. I did as told and the same message appears.

I tried to use Windows Recovery from the XP cd, but I do not know the commands run a check or restore. Thanks for any help.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

From the command console run chkdsk /r

 

[belmont717]

When I am in the command console do I have to be in the location of the damaged drive? If so, I can't seem to get into that drive. My d: is the drive that is not working and it won't let me change from c: drive to the d: drive.

edit: trying to use the recovery console to repair drive, but I can't access the drive. Is it possible to type a command like "chkdsk d:" , so that it would scan that drive instead of the current drive I am in?

 

[belmont717]

I tried to hook up my hard drive to a USB connection to try and read the drive on another computer. My hard drive has two partitions. The first partition won't read at all. It says it has 0gb free and used. The second partition reads perfectly fine. I can look through the folders and what not.

Can I still format my first partition and install Windows again? I was just worried I wouldn't be able to install Windows again because it wasn't getting any information about the size of the partition.

 

[dclive]

Google is a good way to search for command templates if you aren't sure how to proceed.

10 seconds in Google found this:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

That should address your chkdsk and selecting a drive question.