Vista on DualBoot MacBook won't boot up, OS X boots fine...

Setrett

New Member
I am running DualBoot on a MacBook with a base operating system of OS X version 10.4.11. My other operating system, which I installed myself, is Windows Vista. When my laptop starts up, I usually hold down the ALT key and then I can choose to run either OS X or Vista.

My problem is that startup of Windows Vista no longer works. I am able to start OS X just fine and run it without problems, which suggests that this is not a hardware issue. But when I try to run Windows Vista, the system loads for a few seconds and then restarts. I have tried running Vista in safe mode, but encounter the same problem. The inability to start in safe mode began when I was attempting to do a system restore from safe mode and my battery ran out. The system restore never completed and now Vista-side will not start at all.

My instinct is that I will have to reinstall or at least repair Vista to get it working again. There are files on the Windows side that I currently cannot access and which would be painful to lose. Is there any way that I can repair the Vista side of things without losing my data? If not, does anyone know how to do a repair/reinstall in a DualBoot situation such as this?
 

My Computer

I am running DualBoot on a MacBook with a base operating system of OS X version 10.4.11. My other operating system, which I installed myself, is Windows Vista. When my laptop starts up, I usually hold down the ALT key and then I can choose to run either OS X or Vista.

My problem is that startup of Windows Vista no longer works. I am able to start OS X just fine and run it without problems, which suggests that this is not a hardware issue. But when I try to run Windows Vista, the system loads for a few seconds and then restarts. I have tried running Vista in safe mode, but encounter the same problem. The inability to start in safe mode began when I was attempting to do a system restore from safe mode and my battery ran out. The system restore never completed and now Vista-side will not start at all.

My instinct is that I will have to reinstall or at least repair Vista to get it working again. There are files on the Windows side that I currently cannot access and which would be painful to lose. Is there any way that I can repair the Vista side of things without losing my data? If not, does anyone know how to do a repair/reinstall in a DualBoot situation such as this?

Setrett

Might be something as simple as a boot loader issue. Which OS did you install first? I suspect it was OSX. There is a built in app to repair it and a tutorial in the tutorial section. Its called BCDedit.

Let us know if you need help with bcd or anything

Ken
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron E 1405
    CPU
    [email protected]
    Memory
    4 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    integrated intel 945
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    300 gig internal
    Internet Speed
    10 down 1.5 up
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