Vista won't boot after using gparted to move a ntfs partition

L

legoFan

Member
Hi
I've got a fujitsu amilo li1818 laptop which came with vista preinstalled. It had at least 3 partitions; winre(sda1), system(sda2) and data(sda3). I shrunk system and data from within vista and used the new space to dual boot to linux. Then, as I hardly ever use vista, and never this data partition, I used gparted to move it further along the disk. Between sda2 and sda3 I already had an extended partition sda4. Here's the result of fdisk from my linux installation:

Code: 
   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1        1530    12288000   27  Unknown
/dev/sda2            1531        7308    46411785    7  HPFS/NTFS <-vista os is here
/dev/sda3           16506       17996    11976457+   7  HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda4            7309       16505    73874902+   5  Extended
/dev/sda5            7309        8327     8185086   83  Linux
/dev/sda6            8328        8836     4088511   82  Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7           13875       16505    21133476   83  Linux
/dev/sda8            8837       10206    11004493+  83  Linux
/dev/sda9           12437       13874    11550703+  83  Linux
/dev/sda10          10207       12436    17912443+  83  Linux

Partition table entries are not in disk order
So, having moved sda3, a ntfs partition, I tried to boot into vista, and after getting the microsoft green bar, I get a blank screen and nothing else. So I backed up my linux partitions (not the vista cos I never use it - the children use it for some games that need ms) and popped in the recovery disk that came with the machine. I got the microsoft green bar and then the vista green hanging curtain wallpaper with a mousepointer which I could move about, but that was it.
Then I moved my partition back to where it had been with gparted and got this error:
HTML: 
GParted 0.3.4

 Libparted 1.7.1

 
Delete Logical Partition (ext3, 11.19 GB) from /dev/sda  00:01    ( SUCCES ) 
      
   calibrate /dev/sda11  00:01    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  path: /dev/sda11
start: 265152888
end: 288623789
size: 23470902 (11.19 GB) 
   delete partition  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 

  ========================================

 
Shrink /dev/sda4 from 81.64 GB to 70.45 GB  00:01    ( SUCCES ) 
      
   calibrate /dev/sda4  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  path: /dev/sda4
start: 117403020
end: 288623789
size: 171220770 (81.64 GB) 
   calculate new size and position of /dev/sda4  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  requested start: 117403020
requested end: 265152824
requested size: 147749805 (70.45 GB) 
  new start: 117403020
new end: 265152824
new size: 147749805 (70.45 GB) 
   shrink partition from 81.64 GB to 70.45 GB  00:01    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  old start: 117403020
old end: 288623789
old size: 171220770 (81.64 GB) 
  new start: 117403020
new end: 265152824
new size: 147749805 (70.45 GB) 

  ========================================

 
Move /dev/sda3 to the left  49:49    ( ERROR ) 
      
   calibrate /dev/sda3  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  path: /dev/sda3
start: 288623790
end: 312576704
size: 23952915 (11.42 GB) 
   calculate new size and position of /dev/sda3  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  requested start: 265152825
requested end: 289105739
requested size: 23952915 (11.42 GB) 
  new start: 265152825
new end: 289105739
new size: 23952915 (11.42 GB) 
   check filesystem on /dev/sda3 for errors and (if possible) fix them  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  ntfsresize -P -i -f -v /dev/sda3 
      
  ntfsresize v1.13.1.1 (libntfs 9:0:0)
Device name : /dev/sda3
NTFS volume version: 3.1
Cluster size : 4096 bytes
Current volume size: 12263887360 bytes (12264 MB)
Current device size: 12263892480 bytes (12264 MB)
Checking for bad sectors ...
Checking filesystem consistency ...
Accounting clusters ...
Space in use : 91 MB (0.7%)
Collecting resizing constraints ...
Estimating smallest shrunken size supported ...
File feature Last used at By inode
$MFT : 1 MB 0
$MFTMirr : 12141 MB 1
Ordinary : 12208 MB 2
You might resize at 90103808 bytes or 91 MB (freeing 12173 MB).
Please make a test run using both the -n and -s options before real resizing!
 
   move partition to the left  00:01    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  old start: 288623790
old end: 312576704
old size: 23952915 (11.42 GB) 
  new start: 265152825
new end: 289105739
new size: 23952915 (11.42 GB) 
   move filesystem to the left  49:48    ( SUCCES ) 
      
   perform readonly test  08:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
   using internal algorithm 
   read 23952915 sectors 
   finding optimal blocksize 
      
   read 32768 sectors using a blocksize of 128 sectors  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  32768 of 32768 read 
  0.594235 seconds 
   read 32768 sectors using a blocksize of 256 sectors  00:01    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  32768 of 32768 read 
  0.55676 seconds 
   read 32768 sectors using a blocksize of 512 sectors  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  32768 of 32768 read 
  0.599035 seconds 
   optimal blocksize is 256 sectors (128.00 KB) 
   read 23854611 sectors using a blocksize of 256 sectors  07:59    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  23854611 of 23854611 read 
   23952915 sectors read 
   perform real move  41:48    ( SUCCES ) 
      
   using internal algorithm 
   copy 23952915 sectors 
   finding optimal blocksize 
      
   copy 32768 sectors using a blocksize of 64 sectors  00:03    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  32768 of 32768 copied 
  3.19884 seconds 
   copy 32768 sectors using a blocksize of 128 sectors  00:03    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  32768 of 32768 copied 
  3.16689 seconds 
   copy 32768 sectors using a blocksize of 256 sectors  00:06    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  32768 of 32768 copied 
  5.15375 seconds 
   optimal blocksize is 128 sectors (64.00 KB) 
   copy 23854611 sectors using a blocksize of 128 sectors  41:36    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  23854611 of 23854611 copied 
   23952915 sectors copied 
   updating bootsector of ntfs filesystem on /dev/sda3  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  echo 39e9cd0f | /usr/bin/xxd -r -p | /bin/dd conv=notrunc of=/dev/sda3 bs=1 seek=28 
      
  4+0 records in
4+0 records out
4 bytes (4 B) copied, 0.0035971 s, 1.1 kB/s
 
   check filesystem on /dev/sda3 for errors and (if possible) fix them  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  ntfsresize -P -i -f -v /dev/sda3 
      
  ntfsresize v1.13.1.1 (libntfs 9:0:0)
Device name : /dev/sda3
NTFS volume version: 3.1
Cluster size : 4096 bytes
Current volume size: 12263887360 bytes (12264 MB)
Current device size: 12263892480 bytes (12264 MB)
Checking for bad sectors ...
Checking filesystem consistency ...
Accounting clusters ...
Space in use : 91 MB (0.7%)
Collecting resizing constraints ...
Estimating smallest shrunken size supported ...
File feature Last used at By inode
$MFT : 1 MB 0
$MFTMirr : 12141 MB 1
Ordinary : 12208 MB 2
You might resize at 90103808 bytes or 91 MB (freeing 12173 MB).
Please make a test run using both the -n and -s options before real resizing!
 
   grow filesystem to fill the partition  00:00    ( ERROR ) 
      
   run simulation  00:00    ( SUCCES ) 
      
  ntfsresize -P --force --force /dev/sda3 --no-action 
      
  ntfsresize v1.13.1.1 (libntfs 9:0:0)
Device name : /dev/sda3
NTFS volume version: 3.1
Cluster size : 4096 bytes
Current volume size: 12263887360 bytes (12264 MB)
Current device size: 12263892480 bytes (12264 MB)
New volume size : 12263887360 bytes (12264 MB)
Nothing to do: NTFS volume size is already OK.
 
   real resize  00:00    ( ERROR ) 
      
  ntfsresize -P --force --force /dev/sda3 
      
  ntfsresize v1.13.1.1 (libntfs 9:0:0)
ERROR(95): Opening '/dev/sda3' as NTFS failed: Operation not supported
The NTFS journal file is unclean. Please shutdown Windows properly before
using this software! Note, if you have run chkdsk previously then boot
Windows again which will automatically initialize the journal correctly.
 

  ========================================
Then I found this site and downloaded the rescue-your-vista-disk, which booted exactly as my system rescue dvd, with the same screen and everything. I left it sitting there in case it was analysing something but after a couple of hours, I decided it wasn't and that I was in need of more help. So here I am. I even consulted the manual that came with the machine, and pressed F8 during the boot process, presenting me with a menu. I chose safe boot mode and watched lots of files whizzing by until it got as far as crcdisk.sys (I think that was the spelling) and then it stopped. I also tried loading the last successful boot but that resulted in my blank screen again.


I really don't know what to do. Googling suggests that vista's partition table is screwed, but how on earth do I mend it? If I wipe vista completely will my recovery disk install it afterwards, or does it only work on a more or less instact os?

Help would be very much appreciated

LF
 
Hi Legofan, welcome to NST.
I recommend you read this which will explain what's happened to your disk.
If you have to use the recovery partition to reinstate Vista, I imagine it will put you back to factory condition (i.e. sans Linux).
The alternative, if you have a friend with a Vista DVD, would be to borrow it and reinstall Vista into the partition where it now resides, using the key from your PC, not the key from the DVD.
There is a thread from a month or two ago, where someone with a similar problem was advised by his OEM to change the HDD type from SATA in the BIOS, which got him out of the problem, but I've had a quick search and can't locate it. Maybe someone else reading this will remember where it is, or you might do a more thorough search to locate it.
 
Last edited:
Hi
thanks for that. Interesting stuff. Its not the end of the world if I lose my linux partitions - they're all backed up. I have a collection of DVDs that came with my laptop - drivers and a dvd entitled Operating System - Recovery DVD. It goes on to say on the disk that
This DVD allows you to restore the operating system on your Fujitsu Siemens Computers system. Warning: all data, applications and settings will be deleted. For the recovery you will also need the "Drivers and Utilities" CD/DVD
Click to expand...
I don't know if this dvd has the vista os on it. Here is a list of the dvd contents:

Code: 
[mum@localhost media]$ ls -l HP00MA04/
total 547
-r-xr-xr-x 1 mum root     43 Nov  2  2006 autorun.inf*
dr-xr-xr-x 1 mum root    402 May 30  2007 boot/
-r-xr-xr-x 1 mum root 438840 Nov  2  2006 bootmgr*
dr-xr-xr-x 1 mum root    110 May 30  2007 efi/
dr-xr-xr-x 1 mum root    410 May 30  2007 langpacks/
-r-xr-xr-x 1 mum root    566 May 30  2007 lang.txt*
-r-xr-xr-x 1 mum root 109160 Nov  2  2006 setup.exe*
dr-xr-xr-x 1 mum root   7142 May 30  2007 sources/
dr-xr-xr-x 1 mum root    146 May 30  2007 support/
dr-xr-xr-x 1 mum root    106 May 30  2007 upgrade/
[mum@localhost media]$
So will I be able to be able to reinstall vista with this dvd?
It has a rtf file on it somewhere about "What you need to know before installing Windows Vista". Do I have to remove any partitions first because when I boot from this disk I'm not offered any options. Booting to the recovery partition allows me to boot in safe mode, etc, but no possiblity to reinstate vista.
But before I do anything radical like that, I'll look into changing the hdd type in the bios.

thanks again.

LF
 
That certainly looks the same, contents-wise as my Vista DVD. If it were identical you should see a screen like the one you see described here underneath the pink box when you boot it.
If it doesn't give you a Vista install option when you boot it, can you execute the setup.exe under Linux ? (forgive me, I'm not a linux user, so I've no idea)
If you do get the screen mentioned, it should allow you to specify the partition where you want to reinstall Vista after you click the "install" button.
 
Terry60 said:
If it doesn't give you a Vista install option when you boot it, can you execute the setup.exe under Linux ?.
Click to expand...

I think Linux requires WINE to be installed to run Windows executibles. Even then, it prob. won't work, so your best bet is booting from a rescue disk/vista dvd to repiar/re-install Vista.
 
Solved!

Hi

I'm so relieved. I've solved my problem with no reinstalls or anything nasty. I read this page
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/using-gparted-to-resize-your-windows-vista-partition/

and all the comments and followed most of the links as well, and ended

up booting my system rescue disk with the live gparted and so forth.
My bad partition from vista's viewpoint was sda3, so I ran this command:
ntfsfix /dev/sda3

booted into vista, where it did a disk check and all was well. There was one small problem: sda7 (my /home partition) and sda9 had disappeared, but as I had only backed them up on Thursday, I recovered them with no problems.

Man I feel so relieved! Thanks for all your help folks. I hope my solution can help somebody else out there.

LF
 
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