"Error loading operating system" error after reboot

[Sl33py]

Hi
I was scanning a customer’s PC for viruses, I went out of the office and came back and I had a DOS screen with the following error "Error loading operating system" I plugged in their hard drive into my pc and it asked me if I wanted to format the drive. What the hell happened?

It shows up as RAW under Disk Management. I am using Recover my files to get back what I can off the drive, but how do I explain this to the customer.

Is there a way I can restore the windows or anything to get it back to its old state? Or am I grasping at straws?

 

[Drake2007]

Ouch.
HD lost its filesystem table, maybe you can rebuild it after the recovery has run through.

 

[Sl33py]

How would I rebuild it?
Thanks

 

[Drake2007]

[-]It's a long shot but
boot the OS disk to the repair prompt, there may be some tools to help there.

I know of fixmbr in xp but that's changed since vista, there's some others I can't remember just now (type help, see if there's something relevant).[/-]

Rather use Hirens boot CD if you have it.

 

[Sl33py]

I tried all sorts of recovery programs of the Hirens boot CD in the end I used Microsoft Recover console and did a fixmbr and fixboot and what you know it booted I nearly fell out of my chair...

 

[Drake2007]

/me falls off chair

 

[Sl33py]

cant hide that I am a dutchman

 

[Drake2007]

LOL I didn't notice, I'm was merely as suprised as you where.

 

[The_Unbeliever]

you're lucky