Vista - Safe Mode only - Repair finds Vista on wrong drive

The main Vista drive has d: which is primary Windows Vista drive, j: with 415392 MB capacity and 9MB unallocated.  They and the WD disks are ATA drives, with 2 internal SCSI drives.  I know I need to replace this old ASUS MB, and want to upgrade to Windows/7 once I get this stuff stable again, since all the power management related issues between Windows and the MB Bios are in competition.

Main Windows "D" drive is ATA disk 2 with 300003 MB capabity and shows it is Basic, Boot, MBR, with page file.   What is really odd about this, is that the old Windows C drive, which WD anfd is disk 1, shows a capacity of 103026 MB.  When I was going through the Repair process after loading DVD of Vista Ultimate, it cited the Vist results to be in C:  which also showed the "D" drive,not "C": drive capacity of 300003 MB.  It's really crazy.   If you need more on this, let me know.

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I'm in the system now in SAFE  MODE, logged in as ADMIN.  Went through Device Manager including hidden elements and found some strange stuff.   Using VGASave monitor/environment, and when I check display/video card details,shows a lot of conflicts.  The actual monitor was always fine, the video card is NVIDIA GeForce 7800GS, with 9/17/08 drivers loaded v. 7.15.11.7813.

These NON PLUG n PLAY Hidden drivers in Device Manager may also be involved in this fiasco...

I do video editing/DVD creation and have various Pinnacle suites, and assume some hidden device driver in Safe Mode of Device Manager showing Pinnacle Marvin Bus must be somehow related, so just disabled it.  No idea what this is about.

On the USB Root Buses, disabled all power savings modes/options to minimize conflicts between Vista and MB Bios settings

Also just uninstalled Bitlock Drive Encryption ...

Thanks for trying here.  Appreciate your insights.

Ok, you are in Windows even in Safe Mode and it is good. In Window enter Windows Disk Management snap-in and get a screen shot of it. Right click on My Computer - Manage - Disk Management.
Post the capture here. Do not try to repair it till I look the capture.

Will do, although currently running sfc /scannow so will need to wait.  As it is, I cannot access Safe Mode with Networking, only normal Safe Mode.  Disk Management looks fine to me on all drives, though.  Not sure what that will show us.

D (Seagate drive) shows Healthy, if I failed to mention this.  But, also running chkdsk and did cleanup at next reboot, although having done this for the past 30 some houjrs without a nap, mind-boggled.  Not sure what settings to employ in msconfig in terms of boot options, services and start ups.  Listening on my laptop, as the main system continues with the sfc /scannow processes.

Scannow complete, no problems found thus none fixed.

Checked control panel in Vista about Bitlocker, said drive configurations and MB Bios not OK to run Bitlocker, so will try a reboot now after having uninstalled that function to test.

Will you take the capture for me? =)

Yes, on memory stick, but not there.  Will follow.

Here's the snapshot attachment.

 I was in Safe Mode a long time yesterday doing changes to settings, ran sfc /scannow and checked details on all the hard drives.  Uninstalled Bitlocker, disabled Pinnacle Marvin Bus in Safe Mode, display type was VGASave and in details showed tons of comnflicts on AGP controller for this Safe Mode default monitor setting.  Scheduled chkdsk for the Hard drives to run at reboot, rfeboot never happened.  Modified BIOS settings and saved to disabled the floppy drive (not there).

Watched the boot process which loads all as SMART and status OK, in this order..

WD2500SB Primary Master

WD1200JB Primary Slave

Sony DVD Second Master (the DVD drive which has  the Vista Upgraded DVD in it)

ST3750640AS as 3rd Master...  This is the D: Windows Vista Seagate 750GB drive which is paritioned as D:  J:  and the 9MB unallocated space.

After all these line items, get this onscreen:

Overclocking failed!  F1 to run setup to reconfigure system  or F2 to load defaults and continue

Entered Setup to check/reconfigure (again) ... this fiasco has been intermittent for quite sometime.  I noticed that 32 BIT Data transfer was disabled on all drives, so enabled on all drives

S-ATA to run as Raid?  Remained at NO

AI Oveclock Tuner remained at standard.

NO BOOT and no changes even in Safe Mode.

Asta

The JPG is pretty ugly, remembering I'm in Safe Mode.

Here also is Doc I snapped from the Event Logs showing recurring problems.

Asta

Why do you keep that dynamic drive? Can you disconnect it and try to boot without it?

When you did try to perform repair was the dynamic drive connected?
Also, please check if E: volume has Bootmgr file on it.

Will do, if I can ever again get in via Safe Mode.  So far today's efforts all failed.  Will try again when I return later today and chck these things out and report back.  

The Dynamic drive, which I think is E is the backup drive with tons of my artwork on it as well.

YES, all  drives connected when I tried the repair process.  I think the bootmgr file is there, but really need to verify that when I return.  Again, thank you.

Verify it and I would recommend converting the dynamic drive to basic state with special tool. So you do not loose the data from it.
Do you have backup software to image this drive?

Wouldn't Vista Ultimate provide me a way to modify the drive to basic without losing data?  When you say special tool, not sure about what type.  I have software I purchased in 1997 called Powerquest's DriveImage Professional... haven't used it since then.  Will pull the E drive out tomorrow morning, since it looks hopeless on booting this system at all at this juncture.

Do yo3 have a drive with enough free space you could copy data from dynamic drive to? If yes then copy out all of your data from dynamic drive.
Then delete volume from dynamic drive and after that you will be able to convert the drive to basic state with vista tools.
If you simply disconnect the dynamic drive then connecting it back could cause problems. That's why I am recommending backup first.
Also I use personally Paragon Drive Backup for imaging and for your needs the trial version of Drive Backup 9.0 Pro should be enough. The only thing you need to have is the drive of the same or bigger capacity.

Yes, I can definitely fit the E drive to another existrng drive.  STILL CANNOT GET IT BOOTED, though.

Even to safe mode?

Yes

Ok, then try to use PartedMagic 4.5 to copy out the data from drive first.

astaec, have you tried Drive Backup 9 Pro Recovery CD as I recommended in post  ID: 25473395?

Thanks for all the help.  I've been inundated and offline working on all the thoughts and recommendations, but want to get back with a progress report so far.  

Did a thorough cleaning of all components, CPU, power supply unit,, fans etc.  Much needed from dust inside.  Disconnected the WD 250GB Dynamic drive, all others remained connected, SCSI drives and S-ATA Seagate, and another ATA WD drive.  

Boot sequence consistently halts at crcdisk.sys when normal or safe mode requested.  Earlier research found many with that same problems after a Vista update last year.  All their 'successful' efforts failed here.

Eventually was able to boot to the Vista DVD and ran the repair.  Said  one item repaired, must reboot to continue.  Reboot again failed, halting at crcdisk.sys ... Updated BIOS again to correct default settings which never worked on this MB with Vista and rebooted to boot menu and selected other drive with previous operating systerm which was XP Pro, and memmtest ran (two level scans) and found all memory passed and report would come on reboot.  On this reboot attempt to the same XP system, advised that boot manager corrupt or missing.  Found the article below, which appears to apply and provide some  alternatives.  

I'm taking all your advice seriously and am reseraching Motherboards right now, and will invest in Windows 7 Ultimate Full Version asap, and report back.  Here's the MS link that sounds on spot.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927523

From the above link, this appears the possible route.

Unsuccessful rollback phase -  Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: File name

These symptoms may occur for any of the following reasons: The boot sector on the hard disk is still using the Windows Boot Manager (Bootmgr) instead of Windows NT Loader (NTLDR). The rollback data for the installation is corrupted or is inaccessible. The rollback phase was not completed successfully.

If you cannot start the previous operating system, use one of the following methods to access your personal data files. By using one of these methods, you can obtain a working environment on the computer. In this environment, you can back up your personal data files and do additional troubleshooting. Method 2: Install Windows Vista in a new folder You can install Windows Vista in a new folder. This configuration is known as a parallel installation. After the Windows Vista installation is complete, you can access your personal data files by using Microsoft Windows.

If you install Windows Vista in a new folder, remember the following important points: You must click Custom Install when you select the installation type during setup. Make sure that you leave the partition intact. Do not use any advanced operations on the hard disk drive. After a successful installation, your personal data files are located in the following folder: \Windows.OLD\Documents and SettingsYou can also use the search feature in Windows Vista to locate your personal data files. After you locate the files, you can manually move them to the location that you want by using Windows Explorer. Because this is a custom installation, programs that were previously installed on Windows XP must be reinstalled in Windows Vista. Such programs include Microsoft Office.

Other things here that "may" apply follow here, since I really want to recover my apps, much $ invested in them.

Method 3: Install Windows XP in a new folder If you cannot install Windows Vista because of unresolved compatibility issues, you can install Windows XP in a new folder. This configuration is known as a parallel installation.

If you install Windows XP in a new folder, remember the following important points: Parallel installations should be installed on separate hard disk partitions. If you cannot do this, you can install Windows XP on the same partition as the current installation by specifying a new folder name during setup. However, there is a possibility of data loss. The "Program Files" folder and the "Documents and Settings" folder may be overwritten.

Therefore, it is best not to use the parallel installation over a long time. You should use this method only temporarily to access and to back up your personal data files. After a successful parallel installation, your personal data files may be located in one or more of the following folders: \$WINDOWS.~Q\DATA\Documents and Settings\Username \$INPLACE.~TR\Machine\Data\DATA\Documents and Settings\Username \Users\Username
You can also use the search feature in Windows to locate your personal data files. After you locate the files, you can manually move them to the location that you want by using the drag-and-drop feature in Windows. After the parallel installation is complete, you must reinstall your programs, the latest service pack, and the latest critical updates.
Back to the top Method 4: Use the command prompt in the Windows Recovery Environment This method is the quickest way to access your personal data files. However, the command prompt is more complex to use than the drag-and-drop feature in Windows.

If you are confident that you can use the command prompt to manually copy files, this method is the most direct way to complete a backup. After the backup is complete, you can format the hard disk and perform a clean installation of the operating system.

To start the Windows Recovery Environment and to open a command prompt, follow these steps: Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the disc drive, and then restart the computer. Press a key when you are prompted to restart from the disc. Select a language, a time, a currency, and a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next. Click Repair your computer. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.

JUST ONE MORE QUESTION ON PREVIOUS INPUT ABOUT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE DYNAMIC DRIVE.  IT IS NOW DISCONNECTED AND DOES CONTAIN ALL MY BACKUPS.  I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY ALL BASIC DRIVES ARE OK, BUT A DYNAMIC DRIVE COULD BE THE CONFLICT OR PROBLEM.  CAN YOU HELP ME OUT WITH THAT PLEASE.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU,  THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP HERE.

Hello astaec, as your dynamic drive was set as first HDD in Windows Disk Management (according to your screenshot) I suspected that Windows Repair fails because you cannot install Windows onto dynamic drive or perform repairs to MBR as dynamic drive does not have it. So Windows would refuse doing changes to dynamic drive.
Removing it would help putting Bootmgr of Windows Vista to Basic HDD and possibly make it boot or narrow the problem.

Thank you, that helps.

SO ... if you would please clarify ... if/when I can recover and/or after the new MB is installed, will this existing dynamic type of drive be OK in either a fresh Vista install or the Windows 7 environment so I can then get my backups to be used?  I'm totally in a fuzz.... too many days troubleshooting and fiddling and researching and I totally lack clarity and forgot most of what I should know.  Rough times.  

Finances are a key consideration at this time, so although I'd opt for all new everythings, not reality for us at this time.  

I'm still researching the ideal motherboard for my environment (another Q) so I can get the speed and functionality I need to support as much existing hardware and software as possible.  Since Vista was (to be kind), less than acceptable on this particular system for nearly 2 years and have limped along nonetheless, making all things work, I'll be looking for sure to migrate to Windows 7 Ultimate.

The PSU is just a little of a year old, and is a 650 watt box.  Worked with ASUS for decades on many PCs, and until this Vista upgrade have been very pleased.  So much to learn.
Thank you, will keep you posted, and sure hope the existing RAM will be OK, 3GB wasn't cheep.

I appreciate all the insights offerred.

":0)  Asta