win xp pro: bootmgr compressed

[Ice hearted killer]

whilst atempting to fix another problem with my old girl i compressed my C:\ dir but windows being the well bread creature it is managed to compressed bootmgr which needs to be un compressed in order for xp to load.

My problem, i am unable to load xp to un compress the file. Even after removing my other OS(an old win7 beta) i still get an error say "bootmgr compressed pres ctrl alt del to restart" i am unable to use repair concole on the windows cd as it asks for an administrator password which i don't have, im the only user on the machine so i didn't set a password.
Is there anyway to fix this with out reinstalling xp which is something id rather avoid due to the mass of other programs i will subsequently have to re install.

 

[Passerby]

i really do have to say fail compressing a drive in windows is pretty stupid and it olny get a very small storage increase for the amount of issues and slowness it costs.

ok now your problem

2 ways to fix it

use the windows install disc, to get into the recovery console than run fixmbr C:\

or use a live linux distro and fix it with the filesystem tools on there.


edit i didnt read about you not haveing admin PW

so use a linux distro to fix it

 

[Angellas]

First, you will need to gain access to Administrator functions. If you do not have a way to wipe your administrator's password -AND- have a machine with a CD/DVD burner handy, let me know and I'll fix that for you.

Once you have Admin privs, you can then boot into a slim-copy of XP and function on your hard-drive native style. Again, if you do not have a slim-copy of XP, let me know.

Just a warning, you MUST provide me with your XP CD-Key for owner verification. I cannot unlock your computer without verification else I may lose my license. You can PM it to me if you like or read it over vent. Your choice.

I hope this helps you,

-Angel

 

[Ice hearted killer]

use use a linux distro to fix it

Iv got ubuntu installed in another partion on one of my drives, what else do i need to do?

PS ty for the amazingly fast responce, iv had nothing on the microsoft forum and its been there a day and a half

 

[Angellas]

You'll have to rely 100% on Passerby using an actual Linux install. My solution requires a specific tool set and a specific *nix boot environment. Best of luck to you!

 

[Passerby]

ok i recreated your same issue in a virtual machine and am just waiting for ubuntu to download cause to make it easier i want to try it on the same distro as you use.

so once that is done i will try my idea out and let you know if it works and how.


edit:

i didnt think that windows XP used "bootmgr" i thought it was NTLDR

 

[Passerby]

i think you have 2 issues

the boot files in XP are compressed the NTLDR file and that your MBR is still pointing to BOOTMGR which is part of the old windows 7 install.

so even if i show you how to decompress you will still need to use a windows recovery disk and run fixmbr to make the MBR point to the right place.

 

[Passerby]

it worked on my test setup.


just boot up off of the live linux disc.

than open the partition that windows is on in a files manager and find the NTLDR or BOOTMGR file and move it to your desktop than delete it from the windows drive and move it back on from the desktop.

reboot and it should work if that is the only problem.

but i dont think that is the olny problem since XP uses the NTLDR to boot and your going on about bootmgr, which is what vista, and seven use.

but i have a fix for that too so if the issue still presits tell me and i will walk you threw rewrting the mbr from linux.

 

[Davethegreat]

Easist way, grab a windows XP disk, when it asks to go into the recovery console hit R and in the command line it gives you type

FIXMBR
followed by
FIXBOOT

and this will fix your issues.

 

[Passerby]

Easist way, grab a windows XP disk, when it asks to go into the recovery console hit R and in the command line it gives you type

FIXMBR
followed by
FIXBOOT

and this will fix your issues.

ya i already told him that but that requires an admin password which he doesn't have so im going to show him how to use the equivalent commands in linux to do this without windows admin access

 

[Ric]

If you don't know your admin password then more likely then not it's default.

Can you list your motherboard and CPU specifics so I can look up the default password, please?

 

[Passerby]

If you don't know your admin password then more likely then not it's default.

Can you list your motherboard and CPU specifics so I can look up the default password, please?

the default windows admin pass wouldn't relie on the hardware once he get back to me i can send him a way to with out the windows admin password

 

[Ric]

No, but if he bought his computer from DELL or someone like that, they might've put the password on their specifically for that company's tech support.

Hence is why I suggested it, most passwords are posted on LUE/endoftheinternet's forums.

Another idea was to clear that password by removing the CMOS battery, depending on how your BIOS is set up..

Or at least that's what I did on Windows98/XP.

edit: I've seen some motherboards come preinstalled with the login credits of "default" and "default" or "admin" and "default", I've bought at least 3 off of new egg with this circumstance.

 

[Simon]

No, but if he bought his computer from DELL or someone like that, they might've put the password on their specifically for that company's tech support.

Hence is why I suggested it, most passwords are posted on LUE/endoftheinternet's forums.

Another idea was to clear that password by removing the CMOS battery, depending on how your BIOS is set up..

Or at least that's what I did on Windows98/XP.

edit: I've seen some motherboards come preinstalled with the login credits of "default" and "default" or "admin" and "default", I've bought at least 3 off of new egg with this circumstance.

Passerby's solution of using a linux system to fix it seems the best and simplest by far.

 

[Passerby]

No, but if he bought his computer from DELL or someone like that, they might've put the password on their specifically for that company's tech support.

Hence is why I suggested it, most passwords are posted on LUE/endoftheinternet's forums.

Another idea was to clear that password by removing the CMOS battery, depending on how your BIOS is set up..

Or at least that's what I did on Windows98/XP.

edit: I've seen some motherboards come preinstalled with the login credits of "default" and "default" or "admin" and "default", I've bought at least 3 off of new egg with this circumstance.

your talking about the wrong type of password all together the one he needs threw is set in windows no tin CMOS or bios, and i found easy way threw it but it takes a few steps.

 

[Ric]

edit:
Well, it's hard to understand grammar like that since there's no ending of sentences and so forth, no offense to anyone.

Please excuse the improper suggestions and I wasn't aware Windows had a password on their CD's anyways..

Now that I think about it..
I had this problem too.
First I tried the default passwords, it didn't work.
I just hit enter at both prompts and it worked, but the Linux(Which beats Windows, btw) live-disc seems the best solution.
Good luck! ^_^

Q) Wait, what? Since when does XP use a bootmanager? I always thought it was NTLDR..Considering the dreaded "ntldr file is missing, please hit CTRL,ALT,DEL to restart."

 

[Passerby]

OH.

Well, it's hard to understand grammar like that since there's no ending of sentences and so forth, no offense to anyone.

Please excuse the improper suggestions and I wasn't aware Windows had a password on their CD's anyways..

it is not on there cd's if the recovery detects a windows install it makes you use the admin Password of that install before you can access it via the recovery console.

i am going to show him a way via linux case a linux distro will just ignore all of that false security windows has.

 

[Ice hearted killer]

Easist way, grab a windows XP disk, when it asks to go into the recovery console hit R and in the command line it gives you type

FIXMBR
followed by
FIXBOOT

and this will fix your issues.

No offence dave, might want to read my wall of text next time.

Passer il try that in the morning and om you the result

 

[Passerby]

No offence dave, might want to read my wall of text next time.

Passer il try that in the morning and om you the result

ya what i alreadn mentioned should decompress the files needed but if you still got issues i can walk you threw how to write the mbr for windows via the ubuntu disc,

it is a bit more complicated but i could just write a script to do it for you if needed.

 

[Ice hearted killer]

hmm doesn't seem to have worked but i have now hacked my registory and gained acces to repair console, but even running fixmbr and fixboot still leave me with the bootmgr is compressed error.
Is there likely yo be an eneter in the registry that needs to be deleted?