Thank you for your reply and I do fully appreciate the lengths to which you
have gone in trying to help me. I'll try to make my first post clearer.
I rebuilt my PC with an GigabyteGA-P35C-DS£R board and 4Gb of DDR2 RAM
adding a new SATA 200Gb hdd. My first post described what was meant to be
the first, clean load of my old OS, Windows XP Home and then as a dual boot
option Vista Home Premium. Though I am retired and not an IT trained guy, I
do know enough about partitioning new drives and for years used FDISK for
doing so. This time however, I used the XP CD aware that the best technique
is to load the old OS first. I created four equal sized partitions on this
new hdd with the first two as primary and the last two as logical partitions.
I already had a 150Gb ATA/IDE hdd used for file storage and not OS's.
My XP installation went fine and I used to doing that having had the OS for
a few years and built several PC's for the family in the meantime. That was
fully updated using MS Windows Update and there were over 80 in total.
My drives then when booted to XP are
Disk 1. (150Gb IDE)
C: (System)
E:
F:
Disk 0
WINXP-SYS D: (Boot)
H: VISTA-SYS
I: XP_APPLICS
J: VISTA_APPS
Things went badly wrong when installing Vista to drive H. It ran smoothly
completing expanding files, installing them etc when it went for the first
reboot to run Vista for the first time, THAT was the process which stalled
at the DOS screen listing all the PCI devices. That is the point at which if
"boot to CD" is configured in BIOS, you are invited to hit any key. The
installation simply stopped at that point. Worse, I could not even get it to
boot to the perfect XP installation I had managed earlier.
I tried again but formatted drive H before doing so. The result was exactly
the same.
I did then manage to retrieve XP by doing a repair installation from the XP
CD. This OS now works but it has defaulted to IE 6 for example. THAT is the
XP installation which now runs OK but to which I simply cannot apply Windows
Updates. They are downloaded and the machine goes through the motions of
installing them only to drop out telling me that they have not been
installed. NONE OF THE 77 OR SO ATTEMPTED!!!!! I have installed IE 7 from CD
and if I download individual KB numbers, I can install each one manually.
So I now have an XP installation which is severely compromised and I cannot
get Vista to install without screwing everything up.
Finally, though I have no idea how to use it fully, I downloaded
VistaBootPRO 3.3 which tells me that I have THREE OS's installed. See:
There is currently 3 OS(s) installed on your system.
The current boot timeout is: 3
Default OS: Microsoft Windows Vista
Entry 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Earlier Version of Windows
BCD ID: {ntldr}
Boot Drive: C:
System Bootloader: \ntldr
Entry 2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Microsoft Windows Vista
BCD ID: {default}
Boot Drive: H:
Windows Drive: H:
System Bootloader: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows
Entry 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Microsoft Windows Vista
BCD ID: {08315b6e-42b8-11dc-973b-d05bccd6a037}
Boot Drive: H:
Windows Drive: H:
System Bootloader: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows
------------------------------------------------------------------
Left to my own very limited knowledge resources I would totally repartition
the 200GB drive and start again but I have done that three times and even ran
out of XP activation attempts. If I eventually got to a clean, dual boot
system I would think it worth it but I am now seriously considering
forgetting trying to install Vista at all and just sticking with XP which I
must have for one or two legacy pieces of software without which I am sunk.
I hope that makes things clearer. In the meantime I will try to digest the
wide range of options and process you have offered to see if I can get to a
solution that way. To be honest, I cannot soo much chance of even cleaning
up XP if I am unable to install MS Updates as my PC gives absolutely no error
code numbers to use tackling that rather incidental problem.
"Chad Harris" wrote:
> I'm a little confused by the post. Is Vista booting now or not? Which OS
> had "77 updates left to install and why isn't MSFT Update finding what has
> to be installed and setting it up?
>
> When you installed Vista, was XP already installed? It's much better and
> there are less complications when you install the older Windows OS first on
> a dual boot.
>
> I ususally try to run Vista setup from the XP desktop on a dual boot, and
> then the bios won't change your drive letters which to me is hardly a big
> deal.
>
> If Vista is not booting Lysander, I'd use these steps:
>
> You can try a restore point to before this happened or you try the steps
> below if you have a Vista DVD:
>
> Pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a generic
> way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.
>
> Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:
>
> http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png
>
> You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
> also sometimes effective):
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us
>
> How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>
>
> I'm going to give you a bunch of links and most of them you won't have to
> use, but they are alternative ways to fix Vista.
>
> Right now I want you to put in the DVD and restart. It will automatically
> take you to this on your screen:
>
> http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png
>
> That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on the
> lower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list and
> I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.
>
> The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
> like this:
>
> http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winv...ir/Image17.gif
>
> Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
> let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if not
>
> This should work, but if not,then you can follow the alternative ways to fix
> this including booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
> Restore.
>
> Directions and links for alternative ways to fix this are below, but I hope
> you won't need them:
>
> If you have any questions on getting the Startup Repair done, just post
> them.
>
> If you have a Vista DVD try Startup Repair. If that doesn't work, try
> SafeMode>System Restore from the Recovery Environment, and you always have
> the F8 advanced options ( five of them including Last Known Good
> Configuration) and a repair install (with the DVD) as well.
>
> In addition you can use the Bootsect tool to manually repair the boot sector
> by accessing the command prompt from the DVD or from F8 and typing at the
> prompt:
>
> ****Ten Methods to Repair BSOD No Boots or Serious Problems in Windows
> Vista****
>
> ***Startup Repair and System Restore from the Win Recovery Environment on
> the DVD***
>
> Although MSFT's Official Party Line as expressed by the Win RE team is that
> Startup Repair is only to fix startups, like a lot of features rtm'd that
> have broader application, so does Startup Repair. I have used it many times
> to fix major systemic problems in Vista when it would still boot
> successfully, and am talking with them to try to find out why they seem to
> bill it as only fixing startup problems.
>
> You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after theanguage
> screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same
> location.
>
> You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
> also sometimes effective):
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us
>
> How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>
> Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
> information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
> DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
> 2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
> the Lock button, and then click Restart.
>
> This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
> (sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
> pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order (this
> will allow you to boot from the Vista DVD as well):
>
> See for ref:
> Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS (applies to Vista as well)
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
>
> Boot Order in Bios (Set Boot from HD 1st)
> http://www.short-media.com/images/mm...ios/bios03.jpg
>
> Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
> button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.
>
> 3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.
>
> Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
> do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.
>
> 4. Click Repair your computer.
>
> 5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
> that you want to repair, and then click Next.
>
> 6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
> repair process.
>
> 7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.
>
> Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:
>
> How to Use Startup Repair:
>
> ***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***
>
> 1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)
>
> 2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
> lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***
>
> Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
> http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx
>
> Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
> http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp
>
> How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>
> 3) Select your OS for repair.
>
> 4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
> theWin RE feature:
>
> You'll have a choice there of using:
>
> 1) Startup Repair
> 2) System Restore
> 3) Complete PC Restore
> ___________________
>
> In addition you can use the Bootsect tool to manually repair the boot sector
> by accessing the command prompt from the DVD or from F8 and typing at the
> prompt:
>
> Bootsect.exe is available from the \Boot\folder of the Windows Vista DVD and
> can be run from within System Recovery or Windows XP on a dual boot.
>
>
> 1. Use Bootsect.exe to restore the Windows Vista MBR and the boot code that
> transfers control to the Windows Boot Manager program. To do this, type the
> following command at a command prompt: Drive:\boot\Bootsect.exe /NT60 All
>
> In this command, Drive is the drive where the Windows Vista installation
> media is located.
>
> Note The boot folder for this step is on the DVD drive.
> 2. Use Bcdedit.exe to manually create an entry in the BCD Boot.ini file for
> the earlier version of the Windows operating system. To do this, type the
> following commands at a command prompt.
>
> Note In these commands, Drive is the drive where Windows Vista is
> installed. . Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit /create {ntldr} -d "Description
> for earlier Windows version"
>
> Note In this command, Description for earlier Windows version can be any
> text that you want. For example, Description for earlier Windows version can
> be "Windows XP" or "Windows Server 2003".
> .. Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=x:
>
> Note In this command, x: is the drive letter for the active partition.
> .. Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr
> .. Drive:\Windows\system32\Bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} -addlast
>
> 3. Restart the computer.
> ____________________________
> ******Using the BootRec.exe Tool
>
> Using the System Recovery Tool from the Repair link on the DVD after the
> language choice in the lower left hand corner you can select command prompt
> and you have the following options:
>
> Bootrec.exe (You can use this tool to recover Vista even when you do not
> receive the error message that is the title of the 2nd linked MSKB below):
>
> How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to
> troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392/en-us
>
> Error message when you start Windows Vista: "The Windows Boot Configuration
> Data file is missing required information"
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927391/en-us
> _____________________________________________________________
> ***Using the F8 Environment or a Repair Install from the DVD:***
>
> Pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a generic
> way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.
>
> See for ref:
> Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS (Applies to Vista as well)
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
>
> Boot Order in Bios (Set Boot from HD 1st)
> http://www.short-media.com/images/mm...ios/bios03.jpg
>
> Repair Install (for XP or Vista)
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...ps/doug92.mspx
>
> Repair Install (Method 2): (for XP or Vista)
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/315341
>
> ***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
> by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
> with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:
>
> The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
> options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
> updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
> to both).
>
> Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
> generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.
>
> You could also:
>
> Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
> 1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
> prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
> Configuration
>
>
> Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
> use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
> choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
> Prompt.
>
> These methods are outlined in
>
> A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/
>
> Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../faqsrwxp.mspx
>
>
> System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
> link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
> location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
> locations.
>
>
> How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;304449
>
>
> Repair Install: (This option has the best chance of succeeding and it
> preserves everything in your OS--you do not lose anything with this option):
>
> Make sure the DVD you have is a Vista DVD. Many OEMs will send you a
> Recovery DVD and it may restore you to factory settings, but a high
> percentage of the time it does not in my experience.
>
> Pitfalls: If the DVD came from friend or relative or P2P, you may have
> problems. P2P besides being illlegal in many countries including the U.S.
> can be corrupt. If CD came from friend or relative, they may have given
> you the CD to use but if product key is in use, MSFT is not going to accept
> it for activation. Make sure you clean the CD carefully using proper
> cleaning fluid and strokes that radiate from center like spokes on a wheel.
>
> Again a repair install has the most likely chance to succeed in XP, (and can
> work in Vista) but you need
> to have a Vista DVD.
>