Vista Won't Boot

Hi, I've been dual booting Vista x64 & x86 (64bit for gaming and the 32bit
for general computer use). I was on the 64bit partition earlier this
afternoon & it froze so I pressed the restart button on the case. Now, when
the computer starts it doesn't get as far as being able to select which
operating to load before a boot failure screen appears.

I have tried repairing from the installation dvd but it does not detect
either OS and crashes with a blue screen when I try to load the RAID
drivers.

It seems as though whatever boot information starts up each operating system
is corrupt. Is there any way to repair without losing files? I don't mind
losing the x64 partition as it's only got games & music whereas the other
partition has emails & documents.

I haven't installed any new hardware.

TIA

Dave

On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:09:15 +0100, "Dave" <at@dot.com> wrote:

>Hi, I've been dual booting Vista x64 & x86 (64bit for gaming and the 32bit
>for general computer use). I was on the 64bit partition earlier this
>afternoon & it froze so I pressed the restart button on the case. Now, when
>the computer starts it doesn't get as far as being able to select which
>operating to load before a boot failure screen appears.
>
>I have tried repairing from the installation dvd but it does not detect
>either OS and crashes with a blue screen when I try to load the RAID
>drivers.
>
>It seems as though whatever boot information starts up each operating system
>is corrupt. Is there any way to repair without losing files? I don't mind
>losing the x64 partition as it's only got games & music whereas the other
>partition has emails & documents.
>
>I haven't installed any new hardware.
>
>TIA
>
>Dave

Sounds like a corrupt or missing MBR.

Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the disc drive then start
the computer. Select a language,time,keyboard or another input method
if prompted, and then click Next.

Now click Repair your computer. Pick the OS that you want to repair,
then click Next. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click
Command Prompt.

Type following in exactly including spaces shown, press Enter Key
where indicated.

BOOTREC /FIXMBR press Enter.

BOOTREC /FIXBOOT press Enter.

C:\boot\Bootsect.exe /NT60 All Press Enter.

This should fix the Master Boot Record and let the system boot
normally again.

Download, install and configure VistaBootPro:
http://www.vistabootpro.org/

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

"Dave" wrote:

Hi, I've been dual booting Vista x64 & x86 (64bit for gaming and the 32bit
for general computer use). I was on the 64bit partition earlier this
afternoon & it froze so I pressed the restart button on the case. Now, when
the computer starts it doesn't get as far as being able to select which
operating to load before a boot failure screen appears.

I have tried repairing from the installation dvd but it does not detect
either OS and crashes with a blue screen when I try to load the RAID
drivers.

It seems as though whatever boot information starts up each operating system
is corrupt. Is there any way to repair without losing files? I don't mind
losing the x64 partition as it's only got games & music whereas the other
partition has emails & documents.

I haven't installed any new hardware.

TIA

Dave