Windows won't boot

variant

Okay so I was trying to install XP on my flash drive to have like my own copy of windows where ever I go but I think I fucked up.
I plugged in the flash drive, booted my computer as normal and popped in the XP cd and chose Install XP...I didn't realize that it didnt ask me what drive to install it on but almost immediately it told me that the current version was higher than the one on the disk and asked me to cancel, so I did. Then I figured I'll do it some other time and left my computer on, everything was fine, but now when I try to turn it on I get this message:

Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem
Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.
Please check Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.



I went in to the repair console and did bootcfg /rebuild and it told there was nothing to rebuild...

Am I totally screwed?

Lykouragh

Sounds like you hosed your MBR. Get into the BIOS and make sure you are trying to boot from your hard drive first, then try whatever automatic "Repair windows installation" utility there is on your Windows disk. Then if that doesn't work try fixboot and fixmbr in the recovery console. See http://pcsupport.about.com/od/termsf/p/fixmbr.htm, http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/bootcons_fixboot.mspx?mfr=true

variant

I forgot to mention, the entire disk is encrypted w/ PGP, would that be causing any problems?

Also, when i go to repair using the CD it just goes in and asks me to install --- it doesn't see the C drive as having an XP build so there's no "R" option.

just tried the fixboot and fixmbr options, still no dice... any other options? I do have a backup at work but I want that to be the last option as it's gonna be embarrassing, plus I have to go to a client's @ 9 am and need stuff off the laptop for it.