I am a PC salesman and want to get feel for Vista before I am expected to
start selling Vista based systems. I want a dual boot so I can use my
existing XP home system (fully updated) when I am not ‘playing’ with Vista.

I tried – and failed – any advice – help appreciated. – it’s a long story.

I downloaded RC1 and burned a DVD and backed up my system
I used Partition manager to re-organise my disk and created an empty 50Gb
(Drive G primary partition. I also have ‘Recovery’ (primary) and a Dive C
(primary, active) and an extended partition with 3 logical drives. Tested and
XP still OK.

I ran the Vista install, selecting to install in the G partition, with
update enabled.
Vista installed and as part of the install created a dual-boot menu
Selecting Vista worked and Vista was functional – some driver issues with
Sound, TV and wireless net card but these are unimportant at this stage as I
rarely use them.

After having a ‘play’ I shutdown in order to re-boot in XP. I selected the
‘Old Windows System’ option from the boot menu.
Error – white text on black screen – ‘<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
missing or corrupt’
Tried again – same, Tried selecting Vista – OK
Now what?
Tried using backup boot recovery to recover drive C backup. Completed
Tried re-boot – same problem.
Decided to re-install from XP CD
Boot – blue screen of death – ‘stop’ error – caused by pci.sys.

Used DOS/FDISK to remove C and G partitions Tried install again – same.
Removed ALL partitions – same.

Used old Norton DISKEDIT utility to write all ‘00H’ to physical sector 0 –
same result.

Used PC manufacturers recovery CD – this detected corrupt sector 0, rebuilt
partions and recovered to original shipping state. From here I was able to
re-partition and recover my backups – now XP is working again

I am only taking a wild guess, here, but the troubles may have started
because you chose "Upgrade" and then selected a different partition for the
installation. If you were going to Dual-boot, perhaps "Custom" was the
better choice.


"TSR Webman" <TSRWebman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:31CBA7F2-847D-426A-ADDB-E3794A68485B@microsoft.com...
>I am a PC salesman and want to get feel for Vista before I am expected to
> start selling Vista based systems. I want a dual boot so I can use my
> existing XP home system (fully updated) when I am not 'playing' with
> Vista.
>
> I tried - and failed - any advice - help appreciated. - it's a long story.
>
> I downloaded RC1 and burned a DVD and backed up my system
> I used Partition manager to re-organise my disk and created an empty 50Gb
> (Drive G primary partition. I also have 'Recovery' (primary) and a Dive
> C
> (primary, active) and an extended partition with 3 logical drives. Tested
> and
> XP still OK.
>
> I ran the Vista install, selecting to install in the G partition, with
> update enabled.
> Vista installed and as part of the install created a dual-boot menu
> Selecting Vista worked and Vista was functional - some driver issues with
> Sound, TV and wireless net card but these are unimportant at this stage as
> I
> rarely use them.
>
> After having a 'play' I shutdown in order to re-boot in XP. I selected the
> 'Old Windows System' option from the boot menu.
> Error - white text on black screen - '<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
> missing or corrupt'
> Tried again - same, Tried selecting Vista - OK
> Now what?
> Tried using backup boot recovery to recover drive C backup. Completed
> Tried re-boot - same problem.
> Decided to re-install from XP CD
> Boot - blue screen of death - 'stop' error - caused by pci.sys.
>
> Used DOS/FDISK to remove C and G partitions Tried install again - same.
> Removed ALL partitions - same.
>
> Used old Norton DISKEDIT utility to write all '00H' to physical sector 0 -
> same result.
>
> Used PC manufacturers recovery CD - this detected corrupt sector 0,
> rebuilt
> partions and recovered to original shipping state. From here I was able to
> re-partition and recover my backups - now XP is working again
>
>

Perhaps I wasnt clear - I choose 'Custom' and then Drive G:. I Turned on the
feature to allow Vista to 'Upgrade' during installation.

Allan

"Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote:

> I am only taking a wild guess, here, but the troubles may have started
> because you chose "Upgrade" and then selected a different partition for the
> installation. If you were going to Dual-boot, perhaps "Custom" was the
> better choice.
>
>
> "TSR Webman" <TSRWebman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:31CBA7F2-847D-426A-ADDB-E3794A68485B@microsoft.com...
> >I am a PC salesman and want to get feel for Vista before I am expected to
> > start selling Vista based systems. I want a dual boot so I can use my
> > existing XP home system (fully updated) when I am not 'playing' with
> > Vista.
> >
> > I tried - and failed - any advice - help appreciated. - it's a long story.
> >
> > I downloaded RC1 and burned a DVD and backed up my system
> > I used Partition manager to re-organise my disk and created an empty 50Gb
> > (Drive G primary partition. I also have 'Recovery' (primary) and a Dive
> > C
> > (primary, active) and an extended partition with 3 logical drives. Tested
> > and
> > XP still OK.
> >
> > I ran the Vista install, selecting to install in the G partition, with
> > update enabled.
> > Vista installed and as part of the install created a dual-boot menu
> > Selecting Vista worked and Vista was functional - some driver issues with
> > Sound, TV and wireless net card but these are unimportant at this stage as
> > I
> > rarely use them.
> >
> > After having a 'play' I shutdown in order to re-boot in XP. I selected the
> > 'Old Windows System' option from the boot menu.
> > Error - white text on black screen - '<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
> > missing or corrupt'
> > Tried again - same, Tried selecting Vista - OK
> > Now what?
> > Tried using backup boot recovery to recover drive C backup. Completed
> > Tried re-boot - same problem.
> > Decided to re-install from XP CD
> > Boot - blue screen of death - 'stop' error - caused by pci.sys.
> >
> > Used DOS/FDISK to remove C and G partitions Tried install again - same.
> > Removed ALL partitions - same.
> >
> > Used old Norton DISKEDIT utility to write all '00H' to physical sector 0 -
> > same result.
> >
> > Used PC manufacturers recovery CD - this detected corrupt sector 0,
> > rebuilt
> > partions and recovered to original shipping state. From here I was able to
> > re-partition and recover my backups - now XP is working again
> >
> >
>
>
>

You do not use upgrade when you are installing to a new and empty partition.
You do a clean install, and it is better to do this by booting up from the
DVD you create from the .iso file you downloaded.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"TSR Webman" <TSRWebman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0451E8D4-9B6C-49C1-B182-C53715E69B4D@microsoft.com...
> Perhaps I wasnt clear - I choose 'Custom' and then Drive G:. I Turned on
> the
> feature to allow Vista to 'Upgrade' during installation.
>
> Allan
>
> "Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote:
>
>> I am only taking a wild guess, here, but the troubles may have started
>> because you chose "Upgrade" and then selected a different partition for
>> the
>> installation. If you were going to Dual-boot, perhaps "Custom" was the
>> better choice.
>>
>>
>> "TSR Webman" <TSRWebman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:31CBA7F2-847D-426A-ADDB-E3794A68485B@microsoft.com...
>> >I am a PC salesman and want to get feel for Vista before I am expected
>> >to
>> > start selling Vista based systems. I want a dual boot so I can use my
>> > existing XP home system (fully updated) when I am not 'playing' with
>> > Vista.
>> >
>> > I tried - and failed - any advice - help appreciated. - it's a long
>> > story.
>> >
>> > I downloaded RC1 and burned a DVD and backed up my system
>> > I used Partition manager to re-organise my disk and created an empty
>> > 50Gb
>> > (Drive G primary partition. I also have 'Recovery' (primary) and a
>> > Dive
>> > C
>> > (primary, active) and an extended partition with 3 logical drives.
>> > Tested
>> > and
>> > XP still OK.
>> >
>> > I ran the Vista install, selecting to install in the G partition, with
>> > update enabled.
>> > Vista installed and as part of the install created a dual-boot menu
>> > Selecting Vista worked and Vista was functional - some driver issues
>> > with
>> > Sound, TV and wireless net card but these are unimportant at this stage
>> > as
>> > I
>> > rarely use them.
>> >
>> > After having a 'play' I shutdown in order to re-boot in XP. I selected
>> > the
>> > 'Old Windows System' option from the boot menu.
>> > Error - white text on black screen - '<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
>> > missing or corrupt'
>> > Tried again - same, Tried selecting Vista - OK
>> > Now what?
>> > Tried using backup boot recovery to recover drive C backup. Completed
>> > Tried re-boot - same problem.
>> > Decided to re-install from XP CD
>> > Boot - blue screen of death - 'stop' error - caused by pci.sys.
>> >
>> > Used DOS/FDISK to remove C and G partitions Tried install again - same.
>> > Removed ALL partitions - same.
>> >
>> > Used old Norton DISKEDIT utility to write all '00H' to physical sector
>> > 0 -
>> > same result.
>> >
>> > Used PC manufacturers recovery CD - this detected corrupt sector 0,
>> > rebuilt
>> > partions and recovered to original shipping state. From here I was able
>> > to
>> > re-partition and recover my backups - now XP is working again
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>

Perhaps I misunderstood - the tick box clearly said Vista will remain
connected to the internet during the installation and find any necessary
updates - theres the key -
I used the term 'upgrade' - I meant 'update' - sorry for any confusion.

So I didn't select Upgrade - which mans I diod it correctly - and had this
problem

Allan

"Richard Urban" wrote:

> You do not use upgrade when you are installing to a new and empty partition.
> You do a clean install, and it is better to do this by booting up from the
> DVD you create from the .iso file you downloaded.
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>
> Quote from George Ankner:
> If you knew as much as you think you know,
> You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
>
> "TSR Webman" <TSRWebman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0451E8D4-9B6C-49C1-B182-C53715E69B4D@microsoft.com...
> > Perhaps I wasnt clear - I choose 'Custom' and then Drive G:. I Turned on
> > the
> > feature to allow Vista to 'Upgrade' during installation.
> >
> > Allan
> >
> > "Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote:
> >
> >> I am only taking a wild guess, here, but the troubles may have started
> >> because you chose "Upgrade" and then selected a different partition for
> >> the
> >> installation. If you were going to Dual-boot, perhaps "Custom" was the
> >> better choice.
> >>
> >>
> >> "TSR Webman" <TSRWebman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:31CBA7F2-847D-426A-ADDB-E3794A68485B@microsoft.com...
> >> >I am a PC salesman and want to get feel for Vista before I am expected
> >> >to
> >> > start selling Vista based systems. I want a dual boot so I can use my
> >> > existing XP home system (fully updated) when I am not 'playing' with
> >> > Vista.
> >> >
> >> > I tried - and failed - any advice - help appreciated. - it's a long
> >> > story.
> >> >
> >> > I downloaded RC1 and burned a DVD and backed up my system
> >> > I used Partition manager to re-organise my disk and created an empty
> >> > 50Gb
> >> > (Drive G primary partition. I also have 'Recovery' (primary) and a
> >> > Dive
> >> > C
> >> > (primary, active) and an extended partition with 3 logical drives.
> >> > Tested
> >> > and
> >> > XP still OK.
> >> >
> >> > I ran the Vista install, selecting to install in the G partition, with
> >> > update enabled.
> >> > Vista installed and as part of the install created a dual-boot menu
> >> > Selecting Vista worked and Vista was functional - some driver issues
> >> > with
> >> > Sound, TV and wireless net card but these are unimportant at this stage
> >> > as
> >> > I
> >> > rarely use them.
> >> >
> >> > After having a 'play' I shutdown in order to re-boot in XP. I selected
> >> > the
> >> > 'Old Windows System' option from the boot menu.
> >> > Error - white text on black screen - '<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
> >> > missing or corrupt'
> >> > Tried again - same, Tried selecting Vista - OK
> >> > Now what?
> >> > Tried using backup boot recovery to recover drive C backup. Completed
> >> > Tried re-boot - same problem.
> >> > Decided to re-install from XP CD
> >> > Boot - blue screen of death - 'stop' error - caused by pci.sys.
> >> >
> >> > Used DOS/FDISK to remove C and G partitions Tried install again - same.
> >> > Removed ALL partitions - same.
> >> >
> >> > Used old Norton DISKEDIT utility to write all '00H' to physical sector
> >> > 0 -
> >> > same result.
> >> >
> >> > Used PC manufacturers recovery CD - this detected corrupt sector 0,
> >> > rebuilt
> >> > partions and recovered to original shipping state. From here I was able
> >> > to
> >> > re-partition and recover my backups - now XP is working again
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

I know it may a petty issue, but one does not
"create" a bootable DVD from the .iso file. One
"burns image to disc" to create the DVD. The
wording could confuse some people about how to
transfer their .iso to CD or DVD.


Richard Urban wrote:
> You do not use upgrade when you are installing to a new and empty partition.
> You do a clean install, and it is better to do this by booting up from the
> DVD you create from the .iso file you downloaded.
>

Where did I say "create a bootable DVD"?

I said, boot from the DVD you create from the .iso file.

That is a huge difference in terminology.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"Theo" <tvf@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:uXYpbU75GHA.1256@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I know it may a petty issue, but one does not "create" a bootable DVD from
>the .iso file. One "burns image to disc" to create the DVD. The wording
>could confuse some people about how to transfer their .iso to CD or DVD.
>
>
> Richard Urban wrote:
>> You do not use upgrade when you are installing to a new and empty
>> partition. You do a clean install, and it is better to do this by booting
>> up from the DVD you create from the .iso file you downloaded.
>>

I booted DVD as instructed and ran a new clean install and lo and behold - it
worked
Thanks

"Richard Urban" wrote:

> You do not use upgrade when you are installing to a new and empty partition.
> You do a clean install, and it is better to do this by booting up from the
> DVD you create from the .iso file you downloaded.
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>
> Quote from George Ankner:
> If you knew as much as you think you know,
> You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
>
> "TSR Webman" <TSRWebman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:0451E8D4-9B6C-49C1-B182-C53715E69B4D@microsoft.com...
> > Perhaps I wasnt clear - I choose 'Custom' and then Drive G:. I Turned on
> > the
> > feature to allow Vista to 'Upgrade' during installation.
> >
> > Allan
> >
> > "Mark D. VandenBerg" wrote:
> >
> >> I am only taking a wild guess, here, but the troubles may have started
> >> because you chose "Upgrade" and then selected a different partition for
> >> the
> >> installation. If you were going to Dual-boot, perhaps "Custom" was the
> >> better choice.
> >>
> >>
> >> "TSR Webman" <TSRWebman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:31CBA7F2-847D-426A-ADDB-E3794A68485B@microsoft.com...
> >> >I am a PC salesman and want to get feel for Vista before I am expected
> >> >to
> >> > start selling Vista based systems. I want a dual boot so I can use my
> >> > existing XP home system (fully updated) when I am not 'playing' with
> >> > Vista.
> >> >
> >> > I tried - and failed - any advice - help appreciated. - it's a long
> >> > story.
> >> >
> >> > I downloaded RC1 and burned a DVD and backed up my system
> >> > I used Partition manager to re-organise my disk and created an empty
> >> > 50Gb
> >> > (Drive G primary partition. I also have 'Recovery' (primary) and a
> >> > Dive
> >> > C
> >> > (primary, active) and an extended partition with 3 logical drives.
> >> > Tested
> >> > and
> >> > XP still OK.
> >> >
> >> > I ran the Vista install, selecting to install in the G partition, with
> >> > update enabled.
> >> > Vista installed and as part of the install created a dual-boot menu
> >> > Selecting Vista worked and Vista was functional - some driver issues
> >> > with
> >> > Sound, TV and wireless net card but these are unimportant at this stage
> >> > as
> >> > I
> >> > rarely use them.
> >> >
> >> > After having a 'play' I shutdown in order to re-boot in XP. I selected
> >> > the
> >> > 'Old Windows System' option from the boot menu.
> >> > Error - white text on black screen - '<windows root>\system32\hal.dll
> >> > missing or corrupt'
> >> > Tried again - same, Tried selecting Vista - OK
> >> > Now what?
> >> > Tried using backup boot recovery to recover drive C backup. Completed
> >> > Tried re-boot - same problem.
> >> > Decided to re-install from XP CD
> >> > Boot - blue screen of death - 'stop' error - caused by pci.sys.
> >> >
> >> > Used DOS/FDISK to remove C and G partitions Tried install again - same.
> >> > Removed ALL partitions - same.
> >> >
> >> > Used old Norton DISKEDIT utility to write all '00H' to physical sector
> >> > 0 -
> >> > same result.
> >> >
> >> > Used PC manufacturers recovery CD - this detected corrupt sector 0,
> >> > rebuilt
> >> > partions and recovered to original shipping state. From here I was able
> >> > to
> >> > re-partition and recover my backups - now XP is working again
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

It is not my intention to offend you, but to me,
in the context you presented "booting up from
the DVD you create from the .iso file you
downloaded" implies "to make" a bootable DVD
from the .iso file. There have been quite a few
people who have tried "to make" a bootable DVD
from the .iso file by extracting the files and
'making', or creating, a bootable DVD. The
results were that the DVD would not boot.

When one "burns the image to DVD" you actually
only transfer the image from one location to
another. Perhaps it is somewhat about
semantics, but I have seen the results.

Apologize if I offended you.


Richard Urban wrote:
> Where did I say "create a bootable DVD"?
>
> I said, boot from the DVD you create from the .iso file.
>
> That is a huge difference in terminology.
>

No offense taken.

But, you can not make the DVD from the .iso file without it NOT being
bootable, can you?

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

"Theo" <tvf@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:uAFve975GHA.4832@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> It is not my intention to offend you, but to me, in the context you
> presented "booting up from the DVD you create from the .iso file you
> downloaded" implies "to make" a bootable DVD from the .iso file. There
> have been quite a few people who have tried "to make" a bootable DVD from
> the .iso file by extracting the files and 'making', or creating, a
> bootable DVD. The results were that the DVD would not boot.
>
> When one "burns the image to DVD" you actually only transfer the image
> from one location to another. Perhaps it is somewhat about semantics, but
> I have seen the results.
>
> Apologize if I offended you.
>
>
> Richard Urban wrote:
>> Where did I say "create a bootable DVD"?
>>
>> I said, boot from the DVD you create from the .iso file.
>>
>> That is a huge difference in terminology.
>>