I hate Windows (the OS)

[TrogL]

One of the cats was hiding back of the computer desk and jostled the power cord, causing Craftygal's computer to reboot a couple of times. Now I'm getting the blue screen of death asking for a chkdsk /F. Problem is, I don't have a boot disk.

I've fixed so many other Windows computers for neighbours, relatives and friends that I've had to lend out all my boot media so THEY can fix their Windows computers. I throew my media out 'cause it was so scratched it wouldn't boot.

I've got a working computer (obviously) with a burner and media to burn to, but no place to download a working Windows OS so I can boot from it an run chkdsk.

If this was a UNIX box this wouldn't even be an issue, or I could download linux for free and boot from there.

[Solon]

1. Here you go...

http://www.bootdisk.com/

Find what you need there, very useful utilities for Windows/DOS, Linux, etc.

[TrogL]

2. Not all that helpful

I need some way of creating a bootable cd then loading checkdsk. I found pebuilder, it boots OK, but then demands the XP install disk, which I don't have 'cuase this was a pre-built machine.

[Solon]

9. Well, you could download an ISO editor...

take one of the basic bootable images from the site I mentioned(without all recovery tools) and then edit it to add checkdsk yourself. Its a command line utility, so all you need is a prompt, not a full windows environment, so you shouldn't need a Windows XP setup disk. Just make sure its one of the bootable images that can read/write to NTFS, and you should be fine.

Also, I believe you can use the OEM disk that came with your computer with some of these utilities, just a thought!

[TrogL]

11. Fixed it

Downloaded PE Builder and told it to use c: partition. Earlier I was using d: partition, which didn't load enough of the os.

WAs able to chkdsk from that then reboot.

[JCMach1]

3. Have you tried loading in safe mode?

then running chkdsk from there?

[yellowdogintexas]

4. husband sitting here says there should be a 'recovery' partition

watch the screen during the hardware boot to tell you what key to press, in the first screens that come up when you turn on the computer.

Hope this helps

(he did tech support for years on pre set Windows PCs

[DS1]

5. only on systems by big vendors

people who build their own PCs won't have a recovery partition, and they usually don't work anyway

[yellowdogintexas]

10. ok didn't catch that...and he hates Windows too, FWIW nt

[DS1]

6. search here for an ISO

www.mininova.org

[Schema Thing]

7. I hate graveyards and old pawn shops

[dembotoz]

8. the fundies say when god closes a door he opens a window

but apparently not on my machine....