Vista conundrum. Exorcist needed!

[MONKEYMAN]

Well, now that I have your attention. Something possessed me to get a computer with Vista Home Premium a few weeks ago. (An Acer Aspire M1100). After turning off many of the features it was running pretty good and almost as well as my Dell running XP Pro. Then something changed. Friday, it would not come out of hibernation. I was having a bad day. It was early in the morning and it was somewhat disturbing. All the glitz and glamour was wearing off and I thought I would rather have XP on this computer and have a more predictable system and run the software I have. Long story short, I tried installing XP. I could not get it all the way installed. I believe it was a problem seeing the SATA drive (or something like that). So, I thought I will just restore Vista with the discs I made. That did not go well. Now the following error:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart you computer.2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."3. Click "Repair your computer."

When I put the discs in it installs Vista and files. There is no "Repair your computer" option. It also says the following: File: \Boot\BCD Status: )xc0000225 Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

I don't have Vista discs with those options. I am trying to get them from Acer. In the meantime, is there a work around without having the Vista disc to get the Boot Manager repaired? Acer's reply to my problem was not helpful. Hind site is more then 20/20. After all this I found some great articles on making a dual boot system with step by step procedures. Next time I will need to look before I leap. Humbly, Monkeym.

 

[furgoon]

You could try blowing out your Master Boot Record. Boot it up with the Windows XP disk and go into recovery mode so that you get the command line (DOS) and at the prompt type: fdisk /mbr. After which you can try to reinstall Vista.

Alternatively, there is always Ubuntu.....

 

[simple_gifts]

I guess this is the "Windows is easier to install" i always hear about.

Do you want XP or Vista? I say go with XP; someone can chime in but Windows XP doesn't recognize SATA drives natively (This is the excellent driver support Windows has) without a special driver disk.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

I have just been reading how you need to put those drivers for the SATA drive on a floppy when new computers do not generally come with a floppy drive. I think XP. But, maybe dual boot. Vista is more of a toy at this point, not very functional for my needs. I read if you install XP first, Vista will be able to install without the boot manager problem. DOS sounds scarey! Guess I have not had to do much of that starting out with Windows 98SE.

 

[-Clayton-]

I cant remember exactly what it says but when you first startup with the xp disc in it asks to push a button to install drivers for sata drives.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

I think F6. At least that is what Wester Digital is saying.

 

[furgoon]

Windows XP SP2 natively supports SATA drives without the need for additional drivers.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Right now XP setup is not seeing the hard drive. Opps, I take that back. I put some drivers from Western Digital on a floppy, pressed S, and it kept saying to could not find a certain file that was there. Now it is copying files. Hopefully it won't stop now. Been working for hour or so. Ok, here is what I have, that happened when I first tried installing XP. After initializing the files, it shows the Acer Screen, restarts, then repeats. It does not install past that point. Any ideas?

 

[Vilan]

Tweeter and the Monkeyman were hard up for cash,
They stayed up all night because Vista had crashed...

 

[MONKEYMAN]

I am beginning to think this computer is possessed by Vista. Vista is saying, if I can't be #1, no way will I let XP install. I installed XP about 5 times this year in other computers without a problem. All Dells. Their website has a great forum, great driver support, etc. As far as ACER support, it is few and far between. Most of the time the site is crashing when you click on the little info they provide for your computer.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Originally Posted By: furgoon
You could try blowing out your Master Boot Record. Boot it up with the Windows XP disk and go into recovery mode so that you get the command line (DOS) and at the prompt type: fdisk /mbr. After which you can try to reinstall Vista.

Alternatively, there is always Ubuntu.....


Well, Acer is telling me they will not support XP, and since things are not going so well, I was going to get (Evil) Vista going. I am in XP recovery. Typed: fdisk/mbr. Told this command is not recognized? I also ordered the recovery disks online since they may have more features for fixing this problem. If they are like HP ones I have, you will be able to select the programs you want to install.

 

[simple_gifts]

You need to find fdisk on the recovery CD since PATH appears not be be setup; (i.e you need to tell Windoze exactly where it is)

Personally I would also remove the NTFS partitions on the disk; Windoze has a annoying habit of retaining information on a disk even after you have told it to "reinstall from scratch"

If there is no NTFS partition, the installer has no choice but to create one and format it.

WRT Acer "not supporting" XP; it is more likely a condition of "our database is not populated with information relevant to this" rather than "It won't work"

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
You need to find fdisk on the recovery CD since PATH appears not be be setup; (i.e you need to tell Windoze exactly where it is)

Personally I would also remove the NTFS partitions on the disk; Windoze has a annoying habit of retaining information on a disk even after you have told it to "reinstall from scratch"

If there is no NTFS partition, the installer has no choice but to create one and format it.

WRT Acer "not supporting" XP; it is more likely a condition of "our database is not populated with information relevant to this" rather than "It won't work"


I comes with at least one partition, but I am not seeing it when putting in the recovery disc (if that is what you are talking about). It just acknowledges drive C. The 320 gig hard drive was cut in half, and there may be a small partition for the restore feature it shipped with. As far as not supporting XP here is the original response:

Quote:
Acer is not offering a downgrade to Windows XP. It is your choice to install any operating system you prefer, but please be aware that Acer can provide support for the computer as it ships from the factory. If you are running a non-OEM version of Windows, please note Acer can provide limited support as we do not test non-OEM operating systems on our products. If you wish to install another operating system, you will need to install a licensed copy, or purchase a retail copy; this is due to licensing agreements with Microsoft. Prior to installing another operating system we recommend you first check our site at http://www.acerpanam.com for available drivers. Please note that our support is limited to the OEM operating system only.


They do have all the needed XP drivers at there support site. In another email, I was told you would see XP on the program for restoring Vista, and was assured that Vista would be installed. I was told the computer originally came with XP. So, this is par for the course, ever since my first Gateway computer. The computer support is proprietary. My understanding if they did not sell it to you, they won't warrant it. I think XP would do fine and be very stable. But, I am thinking of having it as a dual boot situation just in case. There is a lot of info on the proper procedure, if I would have only took the time to look.

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Personally I would also remove the NTFS partitions on the disk; Windoze has a annoying habit of retaining information on a disk even after you have told it to "reinstall from scratch"


I saw what you were saying about the partition. Was able to delete it. Now XP is installing. Thanks. On a sadder note, my stepfather will be told the results of his colon biopsy Friday. Was treated for prostate cancer last year. Looks like it may have spread to his colon.

 

[simple_gifts]

MM, sorry to hear about your step father. It is encouraging he was on the look out and perhaps it was detected early.

Were you able to get XP installed?

 

[MONKEYMAN]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
MM, sorry to hear about your step father. It is encouraging he was on the look out and perhaps it was detected early.

Were you able to get XP installed?


Yes, after removing the partition. Only thing Acer driver support was minimal for XP and was missing many of the programs I liked. I ordered Acer restore CD's and they removed XP when installing yesterday, so now I am running Vista. I bought another monitor. For now, will just use my Dell for work. The Acer is more my play computer. Will meet with my Stepfather's doctor tomorrow. Depending on how it goes, I may be commuting to work 75 miles in the future. I can then use my stockpiled oil and may need to take one of the computers to my parents house.