Vista - Vista won't startup, won't repair, or let me reinstall.

I'm trying to fix a Dell Dimension 1501 with Windows Vista 32 Bit Home Basic for a friend. The problem is, when Vista loads I get the Windows Boot Manager screen which tells me to insert the install disc and repair my computer, file boot\bcd status 0xc000000f. When I do that and select repair the problem, a message displays saying that there are problems with your computer's startup options, do you want to repair and restart? I click yes and it takes me to system recovery options and wants me to select an OS.
There's no option to select an OS, it's completely blank as if it doesn't see Vista installed at all. I can either select Load Drivers, which doesn't help me because I don't know what I'm looking at, or click next. If I click next I get to the System Recovery Options.

Startup Repair fails and says it can not fix the problem automatically...looking into the details, it performed a few checks and then failed at the end with No OS files found on disk.
I then went back and tried to do an install from the recovery disk, and that seemed to work, however right at the end it gives me a message saying there was a problem preparing the computer to reboot and that the install failed.
My last resort was to do the factory restore, however upon boot up, I can't even get to the advanced boot up screen by tapping F8 or CTRL + F11 like I've seen in a few other posts.
Can anyone please help me on this one? I'm completely lost on this one.

You have sata drives. You must load the 3rd party sata drivers for Vista to see the HDD Windows volume and then perform the startup repair. Sometimes this repair must be done twice.


Reboot the system, at the Dell logo it will tell you what to hit in order to boot into the recovery utility-if it still exists. Dell still requires the SATA/RAID drivers be loaded even for system recovery/reinstall.

If this fails, you can rebuild the boot config data (BCD):
Dual Boot using free partitioning software

The /RebuildBcd option scans all disks for installations that are compatible with Windows Vista. Additionally, this option lets you select the installations that you want to add to the BCD store. Use this option when you must completely rebuild the BCD


To repair/rebuild the Boot Config Data Use the Bootrec.exe Tool

To run the Bootrec.exe tool, you must start Windows RE. To do this, follow these steps:




How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista

1. Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.
2. Press a key when you are prompted.
3. Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
7. Type Bootrec.exe, and then press ENTER.

Note To start the computer from the Windows Vista DVD, the computer must be configured to start from the DVD drive. For more information about how to configure the computer to start from the DVD drive, see the documentation that is included with the computer or contact the computer manufacturer.
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Note If rebuilding the BCD does not resolve the startup issue, you can export and delete the BCD, and then run this option again. By doing this, you make sure that the BCD is completely rebuilt. To do this, type the following commands at the Windows RE command prompt:

• bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
• c:
• cd boot
• attrib bcd -s -h -r
• ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
• bootrec /RebuildBcd

Bootrec.exe options

The Bootrec.exe tool supports the following options. Use the option that is appropriate for your situation.

/FixMbr

The /FixMbr option writes a Windows Vista-compatible MBR to the system partition. This option does not overwrite the existing partition table. Use this option when you must resolve MBR corruption issues, or when you have to remove non-standard code from the MBR.

/FixBoot

The /FixBoot option writes a new boot sector to the system partition by using a boot sector that is compatible with Windows Vista. Use this option if one of the following conditions is true:

• The boot sector has been replaced with a non-standard Windows Vista boot sector.
• The boot sector is damaged.
• An earlier Windows operating system has been installed after Windows Vista was installed. In this scenario, the computer starts by using Windows NT Loader (NTLDR) instead of Windows Boot Manager (Bootmgr.exe).

/ScanOs

The /ScanOs option scans all disks for installations that are compatible with Windows Vista. Additionally, this option displays the entries that are currently not in the BCD store. Use this option when there are Windows Vista installations that the Boot Manager menu does not list.



/RebuildBcd

The /RebuildBcd option scans all disks for installations that are compatible with Windows Vista. Additionally, this option lets you select the installations that you want to add to the BCD store. Use this option when you must completely rebuild the BCD

Manually re-install Dell Operating System:
http://support.dell.com/support/topi...5&docid=339949

See Also:
Vista Reinstall Failure
Wiping my HD, fresh install Home Prem. 64bit




The dell resource cd is the driver app cd for vista 32-bit installed on your pc. You have a scsi controller for your sata drives. these sata/raid drivers are not slipstreamed into your Vista disk
When you insert disk, restart, hit any key to boot from disk, it will load files-afterwards you will be required to load the sata driver or the install will not complete (as vista will not see your Hard drive)

Another way around this is to go into the bios of your dell and switch the controller from ACHI to IDE. It will then install without loading 3rd party drivers. YOU MUST switch this back after installation and install the sata/raid/scsi controller.

When You come to your partitions screen (where do you want to Install screen), DELETE all partitions, and reinstall Vista into unpartitioned space (if installing from recovery partition, do not delete this partition. This is for disk installation only). Deleting the recovery partition will render this unrecoverable.

Thanks for the response...I really do appreciate it.

I looked into this, since this made perfect sense, however I can't get this to work. I tried to load the drivers from the dell drivers and utilities disk, however when the checkbox for "hide drivers that are not compatible with this computer's hardware" is checked, nothing shows up. If I uncheck, like 20 drivers show up. I entered the service tag on dell's site and looked up all of the drivers that are available for download, and there's actually nothing even listed for the hard drive.

Can I get the drivers from somewhere else?

Please ellaborate. I'm willing to try anything, but I don't know how to do this.

Also, I tried to rebuild/repair the BCD before I posted this and it failed every time. If you have any more advice, please let me know.

Dell doesnt have a downloads/driver page for a Deminsion 1501, they have a notebook Inspiron 1501.

What is the model # of the system? You need to navigate to the driver for the scsi controller whe installing the driver for your sata drive on the Dell resource CD.

I'm sorry, that was dumb of me. It's an Inspiron 1501 notebook. I went to Dell's site and checked out the drivers that came shipped with this laptop by entering the service tag and then I checked out the results for all of the drivers associated with an Inspiron 1501. I didn't see any drivers for the scsi controller for the sata drive on the website or on the utilities and drivers CD that came with the computer.

When installing the driver from the CD, no drivers show up if the check box for "Hide drivers that are not compatible with hardware on this computer" is checked. If I uncheck it, a bunch of drivers show up.

ATI AHCI Compatible RAID Controller
ATI AHCI Controller - HP Dc5750
ATI RAID Console
ATI RAID Controller - HP Dc5750
Intel(R) 631xESB/632xESB SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 631xESB/632xESB SATA RAID Controller
Intel(R) 82801 FBM SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 82801 FR SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 82801 FR SATA RAID Controller
Intel(R) 82801 GBM SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 82801 GHM SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 82801 GR/GH SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 82801 GR/GH SATA RAID Controller
Intel(R) 82801 HEM SATA RAID Controller
Intel(R) 82801 HEM/HBM SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 82801 HR/HH/HO SATA AHCI Controller
Intel(R) 82801 HR/HH/HO SATA RAID Controller

If you can hold my hand and walk me through this, I'd appreciate it.

Are you using the righr resource disc? the one that came with your Inspiron?

Yeah, it was right out of the box with everything else that came with the computer...the CD was never even out of the case when I got it.

I just tried reinstalling Vista again and the message I get is "Windows could not prepare the computer to boot into the next phase of installation. To install Windows, restart the installation." It does this on the second to last step of the install on the "Installing Updates" section.

Restart the notebook, at the dell logo you should see keys to enter BIOS, RAID setup, Recovery.

I think your recovery is:
Ctrl key and tap on the F11 key (hold control , and keep tapping F11-this will require a restart, so just start tapping as soon as system boots to splash screen "Dell" Logo.


If this fails tell me what it says/ If it attempts to boot into Windows it is incorrect, or the recovery partition is gone (in this case there will be a error at top screen)

I also need to see your AHCI/SCSI controller so I can locate the driver.
Use the snipping tool (see below), and attach a screen shot.