LinuxQuestions.org
Welcome to the most active Linux Forum on the web.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie
User Name
Password
Linux - Newbie This Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question? If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 06-26-2017, 08:26 PM   #1
thepatriot9_9
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2017
Posts: 16

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
How Can I fix a corrupt boot sector on a hard drive


Hi

I have an acer aspire desktop with windows vista since 2007.

Yesterday it wouldn't boot. There is a error like S.M.A.R.T status BAD on the hard drive.

I tried testdisk and ntfsfix to repair the boot sector to no avail. I also tried windows repair disk.

I was able to retrieve my files with photorec which was a good thing.

I don't want to give up, but if anyone knows how to fix a corrupted boot sector, I would appreciate the help. Thanks
 
Old 06-26-2017, 08:48 PM   #2
Ztcoracat
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Dec 2011
Distribution: Slackware, Debian 12, Devuan & MX Linux
Posts: 9,528
Blog Entries: 15

Rep: Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178
I remember from reading other threads here members explained that in order to fix a corrupt boot sector you have to know the exact sector that needs repaired.

I've never done it so I can't advise you. I wish you the best of luck.

Try this tutorial:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootSectorFix
 
Old 06-26-2017, 08:55 PM   #3
syg00
LQ Veteran
 
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: Australia
Distribution: Lots ...
Posts: 21,267

Rep: Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164Reputation: 4164
Vista is the only o/s on this machine ?.
I (and almost everyone else apparently) found Vista was terrible. I haven't had to use it for a while, but I did have to recover it a couple of times. Never worked the first time - I always had to repeat the (Windows) recovery, even from the install disk.
On one occasion I even had to download an iso M$oft had available and use that. Eventually got it working.

Of course if a critical section of the disk (like say the MBR) is truly broken, nothing you can do to make it bootable. You could always replace the disk. But for Vista ?. Why bother.
 
Old 06-26-2017, 08:56 PM   #4
frankbell
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Jan 2006
Location: Virginia, USA
Distribution: Slackware, Ubuntu MATE, Mageia, and whatever VMs I happen to be playing with
Posts: 19,622
Blog Entries: 28

Rep: Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231Reputation: 6231
This article might help. http://www.pcworld.com/article/31135...ricked-pc.html

However, there is a distinct possibility that this is a hardware problem and that the drive is toast. Computers have gotten so reliable that we sometimes forget that stuff does indeed wear out . . . .

Last edited by frankbell; 06-26-2017 at 08:58 PM.
 
Old 06-26-2017, 09:03 PM   #5
Ztcoracat
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Dec 2011
Distribution: Slackware, Debian 12, Devuan & MX Linux
Posts: 9,528
Blog Entries: 15

Rep: Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ztcoracat View Post
I remember from reading other threads here members explained that in order to fix a corrupt boot sector you have to know the exact sector that needs repaired.

I've never done it so I can't advise you. I wish you the best of luck.

Try this tutorial:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootSectorFix
If you still have the Windows Vista disk's you should be able to repair with them.

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...r+window+vista

Last edited by Ztcoracat; 06-26-2017 at 09:05 PM.
 
Old 06-27-2017, 12:05 AM   #6
thepatriot9_9
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2017
Posts: 16

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Hi

I tried all suggestions from the links you guys have in your posts.

Testdisk and the windows repair utilities didn't work. They would have work if the hard drive had some life to it.

I come to the conclusion that my hard drive is dead and gone. At least I was able to retrieve my files with photorec. I added a screenshot of the error messages I get with the windows repair utilities of bootrec and bcdedit.

Thanks again
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMAG0005.jpg
Views:	52
Size:	251.0 KB
ID:	25331  

Last edited by thepatriot9_9; 06-27-2017 at 12:08 AM.
 
Old 06-27-2017, 11:28 AM   #7
Ztcoracat
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Dec 2011
Distribution: Slackware, Debian 12, Devuan & MX Linux
Posts: 9,528
Blog Entries: 15

Rep: Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178
Sorry your HDD went south.
Glad to hear you were able to get all of your files.

It's happened to me and when it did I just picked up a new 500 GB WD and installed it and was up and running again in no time.

Don't forget to mark your thread SOLVED.
 
Old 06-27-2017, 11:53 AM   #8
onebuck
Moderator
 
Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Central Florida 20 minutes from Disney World
Distribution: SlackwareŽ
Posts: 13,956
Blog Entries: 46

Rep: Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185Reputation: 3185
Member response

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

Quote:
Originally Posted by thepatriot9_9 View Post
Hi

I tried all suggestions from the links you guys have in your posts.

Testdisk and the windows repair utilities didn't work. They would have work if the hard drive had some life to it.

I come to the conclusion that my hard drive is dead and gone. At least I was able to retrieve my files with photorec. I added a screenshot of the error messages I get with the windows repair utilities of bootrec and bcdedit.

Thanks again
Good reason to make backups for valued data and positive retrieval/restore from that backup. You should backup any valuable data no real need to backup system data since that OS media should be available unless you wish to restore from the error without reinstall of the OS. Making a image of the storage media will help to save all of the system.

Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!
 
Old 06-27-2017, 08:29 PM   #9
thepatriot9_9
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2017
Posts: 16

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Thanks to all for the replies. I'll probably opt for a SSD since the prices have come down quite a bit.

Also, I will make linux my primary OS because I don't want to use windows 10 because of the reputation I read and heard about it. When you shop for a new computer today, windows 10 is the only option available. As for Macs, they're too expensive.

Last edited by thepatriot9_9; 06-27-2017 at 08:30 PM.
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 06-27-2017, 08:46 PM   #10
Ztcoracat
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Dec 2011
Distribution: Slackware, Debian 12, Devuan & MX Linux
Posts: 9,528
Blog Entries: 15

Rep: Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178
Quote:
Originally Posted by thepatriot9_9 View Post
Thanks to all for the replies. I'll probably opt for a SSD since the prices have come down quite a bit.

Also, I will make linux my primary OS because I don't want to use windows 10 because of the reputation I read and heard about it. When you shop for a new computer today, windows 10 is the only option available. As for Macs, they're too expensive.
You're Welcome.

That's why I don't buy a computer with an os installed anymore. I build my own and that way there is no such thing as Windows installed on it.

Have you considered building your own?

It's not that hard once you get the mobo installed.

Distrowatch is a great place to go to find out all the top Linux distributions.
 
Old 06-27-2017, 09:06 PM   #11
thepatriot9_9
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2017
Posts: 16

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ztcoracat View Post
You're Welcome.

That's why I don't buy a computer with an os installed anymore. I build my own and that way there is no such thing as Windows installed on it.

Have you considered building your own?

It's not that hard once you get the mobo installed.

Distrowatch is a great place to go to find out all the top Linux distributions.
I did a couple of bare bones kits from tigerdirect back in the mid 90's. The mobo and ram was already installed. All I needed to install myself was the hard drive and PCI cards and an operating system.

I have a few linux distros on rader to try. Mint, Ubuntu and PClinuxOS. Thanks
 
Old 06-27-2017, 09:56 PM   #12
Ztcoracat
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Dec 2011
Distribution: Slackware, Debian 12, Devuan & MX Linux
Posts: 9,528
Blog Entries: 15

Rep: Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178
Quote:
Originally Posted by thepatriot9_9 View Post
I did a couple of bare bones kits from tigerdirect back in the mid 90's. The mobo and ram was already installed. All I needed to install myself was the hard drive and PCI cards and an operating system.

I have a few linux distros on rader to try. Mint, Ubuntu and PClinuxOS. Thanks
Mint is Ubuntu done right so I think you will like Mint.

Good luck and let us know how the new SSD goes before marking your thread SOLVED:-
 
Old 06-27-2017, 10:05 PM   #13
Ztcoracat
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Dec 2011
Distribution: Slackware, Debian 12, Devuan & MX Linux
Posts: 9,528
Blog Entries: 15

Rep: Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178
This is good information if you want to read it. It's about bad sectors.

https://www.howtogeek.com/173463/bad...n-do-about-it/
 
Old 06-28-2017, 12:02 AM   #14
thepatriot9_9
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: Jun 2017
Posts: 16

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: Disabled
I marked it SOLVED even though it wasn't solved for me. But there are good links here that could help other people fix the boot sector of their hard drives if their boot sectors are not extremely severe like in my case.

@ Ztcoracat
After reading the howtogeek article, I learn a little more about hard drive failure types. Which is why
when I get a new hard drive I will use a tool called gsmartcontrol to monitor SMART enabled hard drives. I want to avoid repeating this if possible.

Anyway, that hard drive last for ten years, That's the longest I've used that hard drive.

You guys rock!!!
 
Old 06-28-2017, 08:40 PM   #15
Ztcoracat
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Dec 2011
Distribution: Slackware, Debian 12, Devuan & MX Linux
Posts: 9,528
Blog Entries: 15

Rep: Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178Reputation: 1178
Quote:
Originally Posted by thepatriot9_9 View Post
I marked it SOLVED even though it wasn't solved for me. But there are good links here that could help other people fix the boot sector of their hard drives if their boot sectors are not extremely severe like in my case.

@ Ztcoracat
After reading the howtogeek article, I learn a little more about hard drive failure types. Which is why
when I get a new hard drive I will use a tool called gsmartcontrol to monitor SMART enabled hard drives. I want to avoid repeating this if possible.

Anyway, that hard drive last for ten years, That's the longest I've used that hard drive.

You guys rock!!!

If you got 10 years out of it's not only great but you got your moneys worth.

What brand was it?
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
help: best fix for faulty boot sector or ubuntu bootup file(s) maxreason Linux - Software 10 01-09-2012 04:22 AM
[SOLVED] Know if my hard-drive had bad sector qlands Linux - Newbie 8 10-23-2010 02:25 PM
Hard drive sector errors crathm Linux - Newbie 3 12-09-2008 06:59 AM
Bad Sector Hard Drive tsigane Linux - Hardware 16 08-15-2004 04:07 AM
Corrupt Hard Drive?? Memzback Linux - Newbie 2 04-12-2004 06:59 PM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Newbie

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:16 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration