emachine recovery CD error XP Home

[critt330]

I have a 1.2 year old emachine recovery CD for reinstalling HomeXP. I choose option 1 so I could keep my files intact. I watched the CD format, install files and finish. It provided a restart button which I pushed. The page (black) then came back with the message -- "NTLDR is compressed - press ctrl,alt,del to restart" I did that numorus times with no success. I then chose R again and told it to do a full, clean install - removing everything.

The CD went through its format, transfer files and finish with me clicking its restart button. It again was unable to finish and asked me to press the ctrl, alt, del. The NTLDR is an issue I have no control over as it has to be on the CD itself. The hard disk will have to be wiped clean somehow. I can not reinstall from scratch.

I need to get "Wipe clean program to wipe the hard disk clean. It must be free and easy to use. Suggestions needed.

Won't I still have the NRLDR issue when I insert the recovery CD?

This was supposed to be a simple recovery project that has wiped my computer completely.

What I really need to know is, if I get a program to wipe and format, are my chances of installing a working OS low, good or impossible?

I only know how to insert the CD and follow instructions. I trusted the CD to know if it was safe or not. silly me.

Any suggestions are welcome, I just need someone to sympathise at this point, and hopefully tell me something I can do.

I won't even mind a laugh at me at this point.

I can't give info on the system because I can't get to it. XPHome, 2 gig ram, lots of room on the hard drive. No virus, no programs.

Thanks.

[jaclaz]

Most probably the OS was installed on a NTFS COMPRESSED filesystem. (it is possible that at some time during the life of the PC the NTFS filsystem was compressed)

When you copy files to a compressed filesystem they get (guess what?) compressed.

Unfortunately NTLDR must be uncompressed in order to work (boot):

http://www.madboot.com/index.php?option=co...msg18;topicseen

http://centralpcrepairs.co.uk/index.php/20...Fix-for-XP.html

If the e.machine Recovery CD does not have a Recovery console option, use this:

http://tips.vlaurie.com/2006/05/23/recover...out-an-xp-disk/

More info/tips/tricks here:

http://www.boot-land.net/forums/?showtopic=2254

(for the record, if you had asked for help BEFORE "removing everything" you'd probably still have your data)

jaclaz