Fix Windows 8 when it's not booting

Just a post to remember what to do when the harddrive is unable to boot windows 8 after playing around with partitions in linux :)

I tried to use the repair function within the windows 8 installation and got the following message:

Windows 8.1 auffrischen – Fehler “Das Laufwerk ist gesperrt, bitte entsperren Sie das Laufwerk”

To fix it open the command prompt and use these commands:

• bootrec /fixmbr 
• bootrec /fixboot 
• bootrec /scanos 
• bootrec /rebuildbcd

Restart and windows should be able to boot again. If not run chkdsk

• chkdsk C: /f /x /r

Get rid of partitions that are not created with windows

If you try to remove partitions on a harddrive that has been partitioned with a non windows tool you are not able to do this with the disk management tool "diskmgmt.msc".
An easy way is to do this is the use of diskpart.exe
Just type the following:

• list disk -to find out the number of the disk
• select disk ### - to select the disk you want to clean
• clean - to delete all partitions (be careful with this command :) )

After the cleaning the easiest way to create a new partition is to use diskmgmt.msc or just type in the following commands:

• create partition primary 
• select partition=1 
• active 
• format fs=fat32 QUICK 
• assign

That's all you have to do to get an active primary partition formated with fat 32 that is assigned to a drive letter.

Transfer Files to remote desktop (mstsc)

The remote desktop feature of windows (>= xp) allows to control remote pcs. If you're in the need to transfer files to this machine a real easy way would be to mount a local drive into the remote machine.

1. Run mstsc
2. Enter IP or name of the computer you want to connect to
3. Click Options and select the Local Resources tab
4. Select the Disk Drives ou need
5. connect/logon
6. Open the Explorer on the remote machine and there you have the drive from your local machine