I'd been toying with the idea of resizing my XP partition and creating a 20GB partition for Windows Vista for quite some time now, so today I though, lets just resize my XP partition for the fun of it.

Was I ever going to regret it...

Followed a guide I found on the internet to the letter, ran 'chkdsk /f' to check my drive before resizing the partition. Downloaded and burnt G-Parted (a free linux-based LiveCD which allows for the management of disk partitions). Resized my XP partition to 129GB and created a new NTFS partition in the Unallocated space that was left over. Reboot...

Hangs on 'Verifying DMI Pool Data...' with random squares of colour dotting the screen...

Hard drive refuses to boot... CRAP!

Frantically, I try the Windows Vista DVD to repair my NTFS partition boot sector and then the hard drives mater boot record. No dice. However, I could still access all the data on my disk so it wasn't QUITE as bad as it could've been...

Secondly, I tried downloading a bootable ISO of the Windows XP recovery console, Tried again to fix the Boot Sector and MBR. No dice. It said it couldn't write a new boot sector.

Thirdly, I rode my bike 3 miles to get my hand on a Windows XP Professional Install CD to try the Recovery Console on that. While this time it actually SAID it had written a new boot sector, it still wasn't fixed.

When I thought all hope had faded, Alex (Nedge2k) finally came to my rescue He provided my with an ISO of the Paragon Partition Manager Recovery Disk and after using the wizards on that disk to reassign my drive letters, repair my Boot Sector and MBR, my PC finally booted

So, what's the moral of this story? NEVER fiddle with your disk partitions unless you either have a complete disk backup or a Paragon Partition Manager Recovery Disk

Also, again a HUGE(that huge enough you reckon? ) thanks to Alex (Nedge2k) for his help I will remember to buy him a drink (or several) at the next MoDaCo event

Phil