Can't start eCS - partition problem

Trying to get some empty space on my HD  to make a trial installation of 
R4, somehow I got the partition table messed up.

1) I have two version of eCS2: beta3 is in D: volume, RC1 is in E: volume. 
Now the boot manager shows beta3 as being in E: and RC1 as in G:

2) When I try to boot either of them, I get the opening splash screen, 
then the dreaded message "OS2 cannot operate your diskette or hard
drive." 
This has happened in the past; before I fixed it by using chkdsk /f from a 
command line.

3) Problem is, I can't get to a command line. Alt-F1 at the opening blob 
gives the Recovery Choices screen, but F2 does not give me the command 
line - it goes into the eCS splash screen, then the message from 2).

4) I tried getting into things using DFSee from a bootable disk. I was 
able to get a command line there, but trying e.g. chkdsk e: /f did not 
help. (Syntax wrong, maybe?)

Obviously, in trying to put that empty space to use I have done something 
that messed up the partition table, and now BM can't find a good volume 
for booting.

Any suggestions on how I might proceed from here?

Clyde

Hi Clyde

Clyde Stauffer wrote:
> Trying to get some empty space on my HD  to make a trial installation of 
> R4, somehow I got the partition table messed up.
> 
> 1) I have two version of eCS2: beta3 is in D: volume, RC1 is in E: 
> volume. Now the boot manager shows beta3 as being in E: and RC1 as in G:
> 
> 2) When I try to boot either of them, I get the opening splash screen, 
> then the dreaded message "OS2 cannot operate your diskette or hard 
> drive." This has happened in the past; before I fixed it by using
chkdsk 
> /f from a command line.
> 
> 3) Problem is, I can't get to a command line. Alt-F1 at the opening blob 
> gives the Recovery Choices screen, but F2 does not give me the command 
> line - it goes into the eCS splash screen, then the message from 2).
> 
> 4) I tried getting into things using DFSee from a bootable disk. I was 
> able to get a command line there, but trying e.g. chkdsk e: /f did not 
> help. (Syntax wrong, maybe?)
> 
> Obviously, in trying to put that empty space to use I have done 
> something that messed up the partition table, and now BM can't find a 
> good volume for booting.
> 
> Any suggestions on how I might proceed from here?
> 
> Clyde
> 


Use the eCS install to get a command line: Instead of installing select 
to open the maintenance console.

Run LVM to ascertain what has happened to the drive letters - and why.

Have you attached a USB drive and forgot to eject it before un-attaching 
it? - that could cause a drive letter shift.

Regards

Pete

Peter Brown wrote:

> Hi Clyde

> Use the eCS install to get a command line: Instead of installing select 
> to open the maintenance console.

> Run LVM to ascertain what has happened to the drive letters - and why.

> Have you attached a USB drive and forgot to eject it before un-attaching 
> it? - that could cause a drive letter shift.

> Regards

> Pete

Pete:

That worked, and I was able to straighten things out. Now I put RC4 on 
another volume, with another problem, which I will post here.

Thanks for the advice.
Clyde