How to Fix Windows XP ntfs.sys Errors Using a Linux LiveCD

KNOPPIX

KNOPPIX logo from http://knoppix.org

Is your Windows XP computer giving you the Blue-Screen-of-Death? Not booting to Windows? Are you seeing the error "Stop 0x24" or "NTFS_FILE_SYSTEM" or other problem related to ntfs.sys? Before slicking the disk and losing all your files and settings with a new installation of Windows, try using the utilities on a LiveCD to fix it. A LiveCD is a CD (or DVD) that will boot an alternate operating system without installing or changing any of the files on your hard drive. This makes them ideal troubleshooting and repair tools. In this eHow, we're using KNOPPIX, a version of Linux.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A second, working computer with a CD burner and Internet access
• A blank CD-RW disc

1. Step 1
   
    
   CD
   Download the latest KNOPPIX LiveCD image and burn it to CD: Browse to http://www.knoppix.org/ and download the latest image file. The file you'll download is an archive image of a CD and will have a .iso file extension. Use a CD/DVD burning application such as Roxio CD Creator or Nero Burning ROM to burn the .iso image to a blank CD. In Nero, simply insert a blank CD-RW disc, select File > Open, browse to the .iso file, and click the "Burn" button. Refer to the Resources section for help with downloading KNOPPIX and burning the CD.
   
2. Step 2
   
    
   Setup (pcsupport.about.com)
   Configure the failed computer to boot from CD/DVD: Your system normally boots from a hard drive, but if Windows won't load, you'll need to boot from the CD to make this fix. Turn the failed system off, then on again. When the prompt for entering the Setup utility appears, press the key specified. Depending on your computer's manufacturer, this might be the F1, F2, DEL, ESC, F10, or F12 key. Once in the Setup utility, navigate to the boot device section and select the CD/DVD drive as the first boot device. Navigation directions are usually provided on each screen. When you're done, save the settings and exit. Some systems will allow you to select a boot device without having to go into the Setup utility and making a permanent change. This is preferred as it eliminates having to go back into Setup to change the boot device back to the hard disk after you've made the fix. Refer to the Resources section for help with booting from a CD.
   
3. Step 3
   
    
   KNOPPIX desktop
   Boot to KNOPPIX: Insert the KNOPPIX CD in the failed computer and reboot. This may require turning the computer off and then on again. The computer should boot from the CD into the KNOPPIX operating system. The screenshot for this step shows the KNOPPIX desktop. A Web browser opens by default. You can minimize or close it to get it out of the way.
   
4. Step 4
   
    
   KNOPPIX Terminal Program icon
   Open a terminal window: A KNOPPIX shell window is launched by clicking the Terminal Program icon at the bottom of the screen (see screenshot).
   
5. Step 5
   
    
   Shell window, switching to root
   Become the root user: To switch users to root, type "su" (with no quotes) in the shell window and press the Enter key (see screenshot).
   
6. Step 6
   
    
   cfdisk utility
   Use the cfdisk utility to display partitions: In the shell window, type "cfdisk" (with no quotes) and press the Enter key. cfdisk is the Linux partition editor, but you'll use it to only display partitions on the failed computer. The screenshot here shows one partition, hda1. If you have more than one hda listed, write down all the ones listed with NTFS file systems. You'll need this information in the next step. When you've finished making your list, quit the cfdisk utility by pressing the "Q" key.
   
7. Step 7
   
    
   ntfsfix utility
   Use the ntfsfix utility to fix ntfs.sys: In the shell window, type the command "ntfsfix /dev/hda#" (with no quotes, and where hda# represents each hda on the list you made in the previous step). Repeat this step for each hda/NTFS partition on your list. As depicted in the screenshot, the ntfsfix utility will respond each time with "OK" and "NTFS Partition /dev/hda# was processed successfully" if everything goes well.
   
8. Step 8
   Exit KNOPPIX and remove the CD: Exit the KNOPPIX operating system by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting the "Log Out" option from the menu. When KNOPPIX has shut down, remove the CD and turn the computer off.
   
9. Step 9
   Configure the failed computer to boot from hard disk: As you did in Step 2, enter the Setup utility, but this time configure the system to boot from the hard disk instead of CD/DVD. If you used the temporary boot device provision to boot from a CD only once, this won't be necessary. Although it may take a long time, Windows should boot if the ntfsfix utility was successful. Be patient. As long as a blue screen does not reappear, you've likely made the fix.
   

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