I have careless used PartitionMagic8 while running w2k to resize my systempartition, now it's gone.

System: W2K AMD 1800XP nforce2 256MB RAM 80GB IDE HDD with 2 ntfs partitions:

1) primary.active C:system ntfs

2) extended. D:data ntfs

How can I try to recover my system?

I have tried to use different BartPE rescue CDs but they don't run. PC hangs at setup!!!

(Maybe BartPE does not work without working HDD at all?)

W2k CD works (I can start recovery console) but it shows only partition 2)

PM8 bootdisk shows both partitions but 1) has partitiontype "3C"

(PartitionMagic recovery partition)

how can I change the partitiontype to have access again?

Do I have to fix the mbr?

You'll likely have to boot to the w2k recovery console and run fixboot and fixmbr, and maybe even perform a repair install once you can see the volume. Otherwise, you'll probably want to image that partition (sector copy to save the data on it) and reinstall.

You can try to change the partition type and maybe it will be enough. If not, you can try either Acronis partition expert or Disk director to recover it.