Desktop Specs (this system was built for me in 2005):
Motherboard: Asus a8v Deluxe
CPU: AMD 64 3200 (Winchester)
Boot disk: WD Caviar SE 160GB
Add'l disks: WD Caviar SE 160GB, Maxtor DiamondMax 21 (IDE-320 GB), Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 (IDE-250GB), WD My Book Essential (External USB-500GB)
OS: Windows Professional SP2 - 32-bit (OEM)
Optical drive: LG GSA-4120B (A115 update)
I am the only person who ever uses my desktop; the PATA, and external disks I added on later without a hitch.
This mess began last night when I flashed my desktop's mobo BIOS to the 1018.002 beta upgrade, which I did from the ASUS upgrade utility on Windows. Once I rebooted, I went into the CMOS and changed the onboard controllers to turn off Promise and pick up my SATA drives from the VIA controllers. The BIOS found those (and the PATA, optical and external drives) just fine.
Rebooted and got the NTLDR error. Set up CMOS to reboot from Optical drive, put the CD in, rebooted, F6'ed at the blue screen, put in the VIA controller update from the floppy and all went well. The recovery console found my SATA drive where the OS is installed and prompted me to enter my password.
I entered the password I've been using at login for the last few months. No dice. Twice. No. Three and I was out. I am fortunate to also have a laptop or I would be absolutely livid right now. I've googled for help to no avail.
What are my options? Thanks!