Windows 8.1 64bit won't boot in normal mode after shrinking C: with EaseUS

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 30, 2015

Hi everyone, big trouble here in Amsterdam. My wife asked me to upgrade her laptop to an SSD but something went very wrong.

I cleaned up the drive as much as I could, uninstalled whatever she wasn't using anymore, turned off pagefile etc.. and got required space down to like 65Gb on a 500Gb hdd. Great. Windows booted just fine.

So bought a 120Gb Samsung 840 EVO, got EaseUS Partition manager 14 and told it to shrink C: down to like 85Gb. Asked me to restart windows to apply changes of course, so I did.

Suddenly windows couldn't boot and it auto-rebooted a few times before ending up in recovery. Oh no...

Apparently, when I asked my wife if she had everything backed up, her "YES" actually meant "YES, but not Outlook 2013" :-(

What do I do? Tried Safe Mode, which does work as long as it's JUST that, not with network support. Once there I tried to start Outlook to at least export everything to an external drive, but office won't start.

Ok, back to recovery.
Tried rebuilding MBR. During that process, I noticed it said 0 windows installation. Still wouldn't boot normally, but at least Safe Mode still worked..
Tried chkdsk, nogo. Same for sfc /scannow. Even tried recovery option to fix startup issues a couple of times, no dice.

I've read through this thread:
http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2091642/reduce-partition-size-455gb.html

But it seems my case took a turn not discussed there. As far as I can tell, my partition table is probably not what it used to be. But honestly, I've never faced something like this and I am certainly a limiting factor. But I suspect it can be fixed, just not by me, at least not without help..

Can ANYONE advise how I can get back into normal mode? Please help save a guy from being killed by his wife..

BeADev · Jan 30, 2015

try installing windows in other drive export all the data and then do a complete format
or try linux using live cd to recover the data then do a complete format and a fresh windows installation

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 30, 2015

Hi BeADeve, wow that was fast! Appreciate the reply. Sorry if I'm being a bit dense, but how do you mean installing windows in other drive to export data?

BeADev · Jan 30, 2015

Janneman1979v2 :

as you said you have made a backup of your data but not just Outlook file or outlook, i think
if is that the case
then install windows in which you have backup-ed your data and install windows in that drive
and if you can try, try linux you can operate your is through live usb no need for intallation

hope you get my point

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 30, 2015

I think I see what you mean. I should explain my wife stores actual files on an external drive, not so much as a windows backup. If that makes any sense. So stuff like excel files, pics, etc.. Clean installing windows will be my absolute last resort.

Surely there something that can be done to get it to start normally?

Peasant · Jan 30, 2015

You can do the repair from the advanced boot menu screen. It's the same screen you select safe mode from. Select the "repair your computer option"
.

BeADev · Jan 30, 2015

you can try repairing your computer or do a reset of windows
you can too try refreshing your windows 8.1 by installing your windows cd
refreshing your windows will reset your windows to defualt setting but wont erase any data of yours

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 30, 2015

Peasant :

Thanks, I tried that. Like 4 times now. It takes like 30mins but still ends up in recovery.

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 30, 2015

BeADev :

Indeed, I saw that option. But wasn't sure where that would get me in terms of recovering Outlook files. If that would actually start at all, because it might not actually see the existing windows installation. Isn't there some way to check/fix the partition table or do you guys doubt that is the cause at all?

Peasant · Jan 30, 2015

http://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmanager/partition-fix.html

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 30, 2015

Yeah, EaseUS has a similar option to repair/check partitions. Tried that as well in safe mode. It asks to reboot and I'm back where I started. Or is there a way to run this off a USB stick?

BeADev · Jan 30, 2015

http://www.geekyprojects.com/storage/how-to-repair-a-damaged-partition-table-or-mbr/

BeADev · Jan 30, 2015

using EaseUS on USB you can use it by making bootable USB
http://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-guide/usb-bootable-partition-manager.html
follow this tutorial

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 30, 2015

Thanks, I'll try both of your suggestions and report back as soon as I can (at the office now).

I think it's getting more and more rare to get decent help this fast. Really appreciate it your prompt support guys!

BeADev · Jan 30, 2015

Janneman1979v2 :

Just tell if this help you out or not..

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 30, 2015

Count on it ;-)

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 31, 2015

BeADev :

Running quick scan now. Got to 70% pretty quickly but then like 2secs per cylinder.. This is gonna take a while.

BeADev · Jan 31, 2015

hope this work for you

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 31, 2015

Oh dear, still scanning at 87% and it's reporting heads/cylinder mismatches (255) followed by sectors per track mismatches (63).. And this happens twice.

Still scanning though and it has already found a [system_drv] and a [boot] drive. So how do you think we're looking on this?

BeADev · Jan 31, 2015

did you tried using EaseUS partition manager for bootable USB?

Janneman1979v2 · Jan 31, 2015

Not yet, that was going to be next on my list of things to try. Unfortunately in the mean time testdisk caused a memory exception and crashed. Started it again and now "quick scan" is again at 72%..

Janneman1979v2 · Feb 1, 2015

OK it finished this time. Followed the instructions in the link but it seems to have gone from bad to worse. Now I'm getting a message saying "windows failed to start 0x000000f the boot configuration data for your pc is missing or contains errors".

What's worse, I can't seem to start a bootable cd. I can select it from the boot menu, then the boot menu reappears. Making a windows 8.1 instalation media on USB drive now. Starting to panic!

BeADev · Feb 1, 2015

if you are botting in your laptop use esc key i think to see boot menu
and also there will be a pst file for outlook copy that file from your admin account you can recover your mail afterwards and do a clean installation.
Also you can later on too recover your mail file using any recovery software.
HOpe this helps you out

Janneman1979v2 · Feb 1, 2015

Thanks for the reply and sticking with me on this. I am happy to say that after starting from the USB drive and set it to do a system repair, it actually did it! Suddenly system rebooted in normal mode!! $h1t yeah! :bounce:

Outlook starts, so immediately exporting to external drive! Once done it looks like I'll be getting another shot at shrinking the windows partition. Any pointers there are welcome. Damn I'm relieved! :pt1cable:

BeADev · Feb 1, 2015

Janneman1979v2 :

CONGRATS BRO CONGRATS YOUR LIFE IS JUST SAVED :lol:

Windows 8.1 64bit won't boot in normal mode after shrinking C: with EaseUS

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