C: is corrupt and cannot be repaired

afireinside1122 · #1 10-13-2003, 02:10 PM

hi, this is my first time on this forum i just found it on google when i was trying to find out what was wrong with my hd
when i try to install windows xp, it starts the setup then restarts my computer then shows up with the windows sign that says windows xp under it then it says C: is corrupt and cannot be repaired. I did a surface scan and reinstalled windows me, windows me installed fine, but xp wont. I dont want to have to reformat if i dont have to and was wondering if anyone else knew what else i could do. thanks, scott

LooseChippings · #2 10-13-2003, 03:21 PM

Firstly can you post back the following info ...

On the XP Install which File System was the drive formatted with - FAT 16 - FAT 32 - NTFS.

On the ME Install which File System was the drive formatted with - FAT 16 - FAT 32.

Make - Model and Partition info for your Hard Drive.

Was your install an update to Windows ME or a clean install of XP?

afireinside1122 · #3 10-13-2003, 03:32 PM

windows me was a fat 32 partition, i dont know about windows xp and my hd is a 80g maxtor 5400rpm and the only partition is C:

afireinside1122 · #4 10-13-2003, 03:34 PM

oh yeah, and i was trying to upgrade, but i can also do a full install, but i get the same error

LooseChippings · #5 10-13-2003, 05:24 PM

Are you using a pirated copy of XP by any chance?

Play_The_0dds · #6 10-13-2003, 06:56 PM

is this the hard drive that came in the pc, if not did you use the cable that came with the drive or the old one that was already in the computer, even though they look the same, plug the same you probably need new new sheilded ultra ata cable, 98 and ME will install and run without problems, or so it seems, 2000, xp, and server 2k3 will cause the problem you describe with the wrong ata cable.

afireinside1122 · #7 10-13-2003, 06:58 PM

oh yeah i bought the hd used and i used my old cable, thanks

milomorai · #8 10-14-2003, 04:53 PM

the error message from the xp install is saying that you have some damaged sectors on the hd. xp will not install on a hd that has damaged sectors. go to maxtor's web site, download the power max diagnostic software. when you double click on it, it will expand and be put on a floppy disk. reboot the pc w/the diagnostic floppy in the drive and run the thorough test. DO NOT RUN THE LOW LEVEL FORMAT! that will wipe the drive clean and set it back to factory original.

Play_The_0dds · #9 10-14-2003, 07:52 PM

milomorai, going by what he posted it had to be the cable, if xp gives this error, but you can install ME or 98 which also run a scan disk before install this is the only thing it could be.

afireinside1122 · #10 10-14-2003, 07:55 PM

thanks, im going to buy some new ide cables, i wanted to buy round ones anyway because i just put a window in my case

milomorai · #11 10-14-2003, 08:25 PM

criminal, i have loaded ME and 98 on hd's with bad sectors many times . when i tried to load w2k on the drives, i found out that they had bad sectors. it was only after i had gotten them replaced that i was able to load w2k. it could be the cables also but i still have a gut feeling that it is the hd.

gavi

Play_The_0dds · #12 10-14-2003, 08:41 PM

could very well be the hard drive, thats why i asked about how ,when , ect... the hard drive was installed, 98% of drives with this problem are good, they just used the old cable that was on a machine or came with a old drive that was for example a ultra 33, you buy a new hard drive say a ultra 100 or 133 use the old cable on a board that has a ultra 33/66 or a 33/66/100 controller the problem does not seem to matter with 98 or ME but on 2k ,xp ,server 2k3 even if you try to install in fat32 it insatntly finds the problem, on 98/ME it is going to cause problems in some applications, aspi services, dma... anyway, i wasnt being a azz about it just hear alot of people going out, buying a new drive only to discover it does the same thing.

afireinside1122 · #13 10-15-2003, 05:02 PM

Hi, i just looked at my puter and i did use the cable it came with and my other computer had the used drive in it, could it be the ide cable from the cd-rom, ill also dl the maxtor thing, thanks