Interesting install attempt... 1

[wahnula]

Hello all,

Unable to resist the peer pressure I had to spring for the Vista Ultimate OEM for new computers (not upgrade ver.) I have 2 HDDs in RAID 0 that I decided to split for testing purposes.

Steps:
1.Cloned existing XP RAID 0 array to single disk, Raptor (I use Ghost 2003);
2.Separated original RAID 0 array;
3.Cloned back original image to a single former RAID member drive 1;
XP is fully functional as imaged on drive 1;
4.Deleted/formatted other former RAID 0 member drive 2 in Windows;
5. Attempted to load Vista to formatted RAID drive 2
"Windows loads files" then a faint "Microsoft Corporation" appears on a black screen. Forever. No DVD or HDD activity.
6. Ran CKHDSK of Drive 2, fine;
7.Cloned Raptor image to Drive 2;
Drive 2 boots XP just like its momma.
8. Attempted to install Vista to that XP drive, same black screen. When I insert the Vista disk in Windows I get the splash screen, and it prompts to do an upgrade instrall, it also says to create new partitions I should boot to Vista DVD. Same thing. DVD drive is Plextor 740a, has been reading/writing fine, system is Core2duo new smoker. Vista Advisor said all was well (except of course Norton A/V, their competitor).

My guess is that Vista is not liking the fact that the drive was a RAID 0 drive member at one time...I am using DOS Seatools as soon as I post this to write zeros to the entire 320 GB drive ***snore***then going to bed...maybe I will have an "AHA" moment in the morning maybe not...thoughts?

Tony

 

[wahnula]

UPDATE: Zero fill did nothing to change...maybe Vista does not like my Seagate 7200.10. Will try loading on the Raptor tonight. DVD worked fine for RC2 ISO writing & installation.

Tony

 

[linney]

Is Vista getting far enough to create any Setup logging that you can check from the XP install?

You could look at this program which has in the past rectified (formatted) partitions/drives that were a problem.
It might mean more "snoring"?

Darik's Boot and Nuke

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

 

[wahnula]

Is Vista getting far enough to create any Setup logging that you can check from the XP install?

Ahhh...I will look and see, but I doubt it. I will try that utility tonight...before bed!

Tony

 

[wahnula]

linney and others,

Due to XP not clean-installing on wiped disks this thread has been moved to PC Hardware: thread751-1335010

Tony

 

[linney]

Windows XP Bluescreen - session_3_initialization_failed
thread779-1072596

 

[wahnula]

linney,

I read that & others about the error message, all signs point to a hardware conflict. Gonna strip 'er down to the basics & try again. I already had all peripherals disconnected, but I've got loads of PCI & internal USB stuff. Will report back.

Tony

 

[wahnula]

Problem solved. Solution as posted in other thread:

All,

Here's one to file away for that one time when you have a similar head-scratching problem.  After dissecting and meticulous troubleshooting that included a PCI GFX card (16MB woohoo!) as well as several expletives I found the remedy was the same as the K8N-DL I built last year...the P5WDH won't install an OS from an Optical drive on primary IDE master, it has to be a slave.  I changed assignments (and the cable config) for the two Plextor drives and la-de-da Vista is a-bootin' (XP too).  Anybody run into this before?

I am upset that I did not try this earlier as I had encountered the exact same thing before.  All's well that ends well. I reviewed my notes and sure enough I had to load XP from the slave for the XP install, what's the good in keeping a log if you don't read it?

Luckily I had a new build for the office I had to work on anyway (Sempron 3000+, Biostar NF4-A7, 1GB RAM, smokin' number cruncher) to keep me busy, inbetween Windows updates on that machine and parts-swappin' on the other one it was a fun night of PC troubleshooting & construction.  I will wait until I am fully awake to install Vista.

BTW the other machine build went flawlessly...thanks everyone, see ya' 'round!  And linney, feel free to drop by now & then!

Tony