Unable to install Vista into a dual boot configuration

I've had a look at that article.  I don't see how it relates to an entirely non bootable machine.  I just cannot get Vista to install, nothing will boot after Vista finishes trying to install.

I have tried to install Acronis OS Selector to boot the XP partition, and that did not get the XP partition working.

I may be able to get my hands on an alternative drive just for testing purposes. I will do that and report back.  

Thanks for the link, that does look useful once I have something to play with.

Yeah - you sorta need to finish installing Vista before that tool becomes useful.
I've dualbooted Vista with XP no less than 3 times before for people and I personally can't see anything wrong with your method.

Did you enter a serial number when asked to by setup or did you just skip it so that you get your 30 days? Maybe try refusing to enter your serial number and then choose to install Vista Ultimate 32bit from the next screen (I've never done Home Premium before). That will give you 30 days usage. See if Ultimate works, if not we may have some sort of hardware/drivers issue  :|

I did not enter a serial number as I don't yet have one.  I'm not prepared to make use of someone else's as that is only going to cause problems.

The reason I tried Home Premium is because that is the OS I plan to buy.  I will try your idea of Ultimate, but I believe that at the end of the 30 day trial period, I would have to re-install if all I buy is Premium.  I believe you can upgrade but not downgrade when it comes to entering codes...all too complex.

Atm, I am just trying to get my hands on another test hard drive.  At least people don't think I have done something stupid :-)  (well apart from Mac users)

:)

You are right - you'd have to reinstall from scratch
I'd just format the drive and put Home Prem back on, the MBR should *still* work if you get that far.

I had a problem similar to this before, I think adding a spare disk to install and disconnecting the other one will get you where you need to be. Then you can use the vistabootpro tool to restore your XP partition.

https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/22134625/A-disk-read-error-has-occurred-after-using-recovery-console.html

*urgh*

My problems continue, I have tried a few things since I posted last.  I used to think I was a knowledgeable amateur when it came to PCs, but after what I am seeing here, I just don't have a clue what is going on.

1)  300GB HDD, the only HDD in the machine
deleted the first 2 OS partitions, leaving the large data partition at the end of the drive.
Created one large OS partition using the Vista DVD, and installed.  At first reboot, machine failed to start...dead install.

2)  Removed 300Gb HDD, inserted blank formated 160Gb
Installed Vista, successful first reboot, but failed on second during install.  Turned off computer and then back on.  Install finished successfully!!  Great :)

3)  So I added a 40Gb NTFS Primary partition at the end of the drive using Disk Director.  Machine still boost.  Recovered an image of XP to that partition and the machine fails.

Boot using Vista DVD to repair the install, it says it fixed it (correct boot manager), and the machine is dead.

No matter what combination I do, I just cannot seem to get both Vista and XP on the same drive.  And I also cannot get Vista onto my 300Gb drive at all....

...given up, used Vista on someone else's machine and decided its just not worth the hassle

Maybe you should just stick to one OS and run the other one as a Virtual PC:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=04d26402-3199-48a3-afa2-2dc0b40a73b6

I'm only posting this as it seems you are starting to give up. If I would do one thing different in the above post I would restore the XP image first, then lauch Vista setup from within XP choosing the Custom install option.

Hope this helps,
Ryan R

Thanks for your suggestion, it is a solution to get some Vista experience.

I was considering purchasing Vista, but will not do so if I cannot get it to reliably install.  There is also the issue of why this is happening that is eating away at me.  I just cannot for the live of me work out what could possibly be going wrong that would cause Vista to stop being able to install itself just because XP is installed on a partition somewhere else on the HDD.

I am not using RAID or SATA.  Just plain old IDE.

The only idea I am toying with at the moment is that the software I am using to partition the drive may be doing it in some way that Vista does not like.  You know where you have a large amount of unallocated space and ask Vista to make a partition, it often leaves a small amount of unallocated space at the end (a few Mb).  When I use Acronis Disk Director to make the partitions, that never leaves any free space.  Perhaps there is something about the partitions themselves that is hurting Vista.

If you can, try doing this

backup needed files and WIPE EVERYTHING
Install XP SP2 on HDD/partition #1
Run XP, insert Vista disk and start 32bit setup
choose custom install and choose to install to a different HDD/partition
let the install finish
everything should be dual booted automatcially - and you can manage this with VistaBootPro

don't use any 3rd party partitioning tools in the above instructions - just use what comes with windows setup if you can at all help it

I sort of did what you suggested (before reading your post).

I formatted and partitioned a drive using Vista, then using Aconis True Image to recover an XP partition to one of the freshly made partitions.  TI would of course fiddle with settings, so maybe thats what the problem is.

Will try what you said...fresh formatting using Vista, fresh install of XP and Vista...oh boy, this is so much fun :)

Just make sure you install XP first   :)
Try to avoid using Acronis if possible - just do this installation as a bit of a test

1)  So, there has been some progress.  It would appear that Windows Vista likes a different flavour of NTFS partitions compared to the type of NTFS partition created by Disk Director.  This is why there are some issues, as somehow, Vista can corrupt data on the original XP partition...which leads me to point two...

2)  Windows Vista will install its boot loading files to the original primary active partition.  Have a fully working system with a spare partition, and boot Vista with the DVD and tell it to install there, and it will.  But it will also install all of its bootmanager files into your current original working partition.  Which for me it corrupted when it did this.

3)  Of course, with it corrupting the active partition, the bootloader failed, and the system fails to boot
4)  Fixmbr for the XP partition from the XP disk fails as that partition is corrupted
5)  Fixing the MBR for the Vista partition fails as its not the active partition...

After finding this out the hard and painful way, I booted Vista and formatted and partition a spare HDD.  XP was installed first, then Vista.  Bingo, successful install.

Now I just have to work out how to get this to work with a current XP partition I need to keep, probably using some sort of partition imaging.  In addition, I will have to work on the bootloader.  Oh, and even though windows computability thingy gives this system a keen bill of health, after installing it moans like hell about my NForce 2 Audio and PCI controllers :(

Here is some more info on the mess that Vista can make of things (in conjunction with using 3rd party partitioning tools at some point in your PCs past):

http://multibooters.co.uk/

Currently working on a solution to get my live drive up and running.  The end result must be compatible with resorting images using Acronis True Image.  I nearly managed, but failed at last hurdle.  Will do the next test on my spare HDD :-)) :-))

Sorted, finally :)

I believe I may have been suffering from multiple issues.  I will try and explain what I did, and why.  Some of what I have done has been from suggestions from people above, so I thank you.  Other things have been suggested from people on other forums. One thing I can really say is that I appreciate the moral support you have offered me, without it, Vista may have been binned :)

1)  My current HDD was setup using Disk Director years ago, 2005 I think.  When using the Vista DVD, if it tries to write anything to any of the partitions that have been setup by DD they are instantly and totally corrupted.  I do mean totally corrupted, with my skills and tools I could get nothing back from the partitions that Vista wrote to.

2)  I am using an NForce 2 motherboard that although Windows Vista Compatibility Tool says will be compatible, it turns out that its not.  Once in Vista I have installed drivers from other NVidia motherboards to get things running, but this too may have been a reason for the issues.

3)  Vista's bootloader BCD, even used in conjunction with EasyBCD never managed to get dual boot working when it had to cope with a restored XP partition from Acronis True Image.

4)  When installing Vista, the area that I was going to install Vista to need to be set as at Primary Active partition before installation started.  This is critically important.  Any partition that is set as Active will be used by Vista as the "system" partition.  That is, it will get the Vista boot files.  So if you have an existing XP partition that you were using, then this will be active, and will get the boot files.  Which leads you back to point 1)  !!  Hiding partitions in the normal way does not let them escape.  You must have the area that you are going to install Vista to as active

5) Reboot the machine using the Vista DVD.  As there are either no active partitions, or the only active partition is the one you are going to install Vista to, Vista does not look at the rest of the HDD.  It does not detect previous OS, and does not try to write files to them.  Great!!  As a safety precaution, I let Vista delete and recreate and format the partition it was going to use.

6)  Install Vista, smile when it all works.  Only VIsta will work, as Vista has been unaware of another other OS, and has installed itself independently :-)

7)  To get dual boot install OSL2000.  This is a boot manager that is compatible with Vista.  It installs itself as an IPL into the MBR.  It therefore exists on no partitions on the drive.  You can ghost, recover and delete any OS at any time, and your boot loader is unaffected.  OSL2000 also automatically detects all OS and boots them.....I wasted days on EasyBCD, OSL2000 took less than 30 secs to download, install and work....just how cool is that!!!

8)  Vista is fine with any of my partitions after it has been installed.  It just seems to be something to do with the Vista DVD and BCD....not sure what.

Sources of good info:
http://multibooters.co.uk/
http://www.osloader.com/
http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/EasyBCD+Documentation+Home;jsessionid=BE816EC0A6458DDD30C6A3331094FE84

Thanks for all your help!

EDIT:

To get from step 4 to step 5 just use any partitioning tool you like.  Boot it up from CD have a look at your drive, and just make sure any existing partitions with an OS on are not active.  Create the area that Vista is going to and make that active.

When you are about to install Vista you can then use Vista to recreate the area it is going to, and let Vista format it.  That way both you and Vista are happy

Well I'm really glad you got yourself fixed up. (I'm sure Bill Gates is too).

For myself, I just formatted a HDD that I wasn't using (using tools that come with XP), popped in the Vista DVD and told it to get to work - an hour later everythings all good. Shame you had those issues in the first place.

Also it would be a good idea to link to the other forum/thread you were using so that there's even more info to be seen from this discussion (and we can see which forum has the brightest members  :)

ps- Interesting how you make 2005 seem like it was 'years ago'. Ok techinally 2 years ago, but still not 'donkeys years' ago  :)


Ryan R

thanks zebler