Vista won't boot - can't repair

[lhg1]

Hi

I have a laptop Vista machine, that won't boot.

Every time i start it it goes into windows repair, and can't repair the error.
I have no system restore points on it.

I have data on there that I need.

Best thing would be to get windows to work again.

Secound best, get data extracted from the system. A boot CD ect.?

I don't have the original vista CD (came preinstalled on the laptop) But i do have a xp install cd - I thought about installing XP to get the data out.

Very open to sugestions

Thanks
LHG

 

[linney]

You might be able to make use of BartPE (a mini XP self contained on a bootable CD and run from CD).

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

Dual booting with XP is another option.

How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide with screenshots

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm

Windows XP Recovery Console Equivalents in Windows Vista

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd367881.aspx

Have a read of these XP related articles.

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

Guided Help to recover a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

After you have read them, have a look at this location in Vista and see what you think, and "if" you are up to a bit of experimentation?.

C:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack

 

[lhg1]

using the BartPE - i doesn't seem to find the Hard drive.

I've found something called
Active@ Boot Disk Creator v4.05
This finds the hard drive, but has no tool that makes it easy to copy data to a USB drive.

Any boddy know now to copy a dir, and all subdirs in dos?

Or a boot that will find Hard drive and have a tool.

Did I mention that the cached system is windows vista, the guides refer to windows xp.

Regards.

 

[linney]

Guides are just guides, if it was corrupted registry then they might fire your imagination into attempting something similar in Vista. It however looks like you may be having a hard drive problem? Does your hard drive require Sata drivers loaded via the F6 button at Setup to make it recognizable? BartPE is used my many people in similar circumstances and it does have a good reputation as a repair tool.

Another thing you van look at is the Ultimate Boot CD.

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/download.html

The hard drive manufacturer will have free diagnostic software on their site to thoroughly check the condition of your hard drive.

DOS will only work with FAT not NTFS, although there are some tools such as DOS for NTFS but they are expensive and not always successful for large scale operations.

 

[lhg1]

I've gotten the data using a Acronis boot disk that had an ability to clone the disk to a USB disk.

I'll try to look at the registry now

Thanks
LHG

 

[linney]

Is it an exact clone of the old drive with Vista? If it is have your tried booting from that external drive? You might have to run the Vista Startup repair to get the booting files setup correctly (it would be a dual boot).

 

[lhg1]

It is a clone.

Sounds like a great ideer, And I've tryed. But I probaly not dooing it right.

I looks to be starting right, but then the USB drive powers down and I get a blue error screen.

/LHG

 

[linney]

Is the Bios setup to handle USB devices and booting options?

What error number is the BSOD. are there file names mentioned?

Alternatively now that you have backed up your valuable files, you could proceed with clean installing Vista on your original drive.

 

[lhg1]

I can select to boot from the USB, and i can see that is loads from the USB hard drive.

Tecnical information
*** STOP: 0x0000007B (0x89A03BA0, 0xC000034,0x00000000,0x00000000)

I will do a clean install of vista, but I really would like the office files, espacialy the calander. (The other ticket )

/LGH

 

[BadBigBen]

For BartPE to see any SATA/SCSI drives you will need to add the correct drivers first!!!

Adding drivers

http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/help/english/drivers.htm

The error you are getting, from the USB HDD, is caused by the USB drivers not starting early enough in windows, thus the BOOT process looses contact with the boot medium and crashes...

Installing Vista/XP on USB disk, Tutorial: boot Vista/XP from USB wihout INF modification


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[linney]

BartPE has a F6 option too.