Vista - Vista Won't Boot - BootMGR is compressed :(

First, you have a spare computer...Do you have CD burner?
When your brother mentioned that you Vista is 86 it meant 32 bit (x86)
Do you know what torrent files are?
if you do download Utorrent for your self and follow this link to dowload Vista recovery disc
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/download-windows-vista-x64-recovery-disc/

you need to download Vista recovery disc x86. Burn it to a CD, change boot setting in your BIOS to boot form CD and try to repair installation through command prompt using option 1 in your first post.

Hope this will help you

I just stayed up all night trying to do this. I used utorrent to download the vista repair cd.. but i don't think it worked..I used a imgburn and it seemed to work but when I put it in the laptop it did nothing even when i changed the boot order. i am just so frustrated! And dissappointed. i cant believe its not easier,i cant understand how to do any of the instructions to burn and then it says the disc is not rewritable..I found 1 that was and it looked like it worked. i even tried the file transfer from this laptop(dads) to mine..didn't work.. I love vista but this is jacked up!

You need to get the original OS CD and key to reinstall properly. Can you install two hard drives in your laptop? I would suggest getting a newer larger hard drive. Reinstalling the OS on it. Then, taking ownership of the files on your original hard drive.

@ Halsangels,
What burning software do you use?
You can burn the iso file either on a standard CD or a CD-RW.
I guess that the vista version your brother installed is 32 bit (ask him to confirm), not 64 so download the right iso.

I managed to do the same exact thing and i thought i had to wipe my hard drive but i found out a way to uncompress the boot drive..

1. Boot from Vista cd.
2. When the screen comes up asking which OS to load pick the Vista OS and then click load drivers.
3. A screen kind of like My Computer will pop up and you will see the Vista partition
4. Right click then go to Properties
5. Under the General tab uncheck the box that says "Compress drive to save disk space"
6. Click Apply and then Ok
7. Restart the computer and everything should boot up normally.

Hi, did you read my fist post in this thread?

This will only work if you have enough space available to uncompress all your files. If you have 50GB of files, you need 120GB of disk space to make sure they will uncompress properly. Otherwise, you can lose files. I would not do it if you are close to filling the space compressed.

ah i just read it.
sorry i just went to the first unread post and posted it right away.

Yes Michael, but apparentely she made a new install with no "personal datas" and she compressed the partition by mistake, so uncompressing should not cause any problems.

No problem
BTW, i visited Moreno Valley early this year on my way to Palm Springs