Vista cannot loadI have been using Vista e successfully fo a few t=years

[mtav]

I have been using Vista successfully for a few years until yesterday when it could not load.and a Startup Repair was run automatically instead. The outcome of this was the essage "Windows cannot repair the computer automatically". Six oprions were offered including "Windows Comoplete PC Repair" and "Windows Memory Diagnostic Test" but each turned out either not to achieve anything or not to be available to me . This sequence was repeatable.

 

But today, I only get the message "Disk Boot Failure. Insert Sysem Disk and press Enter". The only system disk I have is Vista SP1, and that is not accepted.

 

Two questions.

 

1 Can anyone suggest how I can move forward?

 

2 If I buy Windows 8.1, is it likely I will be able to install it and regain access to all my Windows files?

 

I have found the help available on this site in the past absolutely invaluable. Hoping it will get me our of a hole again now Thank you.!.

[Plastic Nev]

Don't go buying a copy of Windows 8.1 just yet.

 

There are a few things first to check, but I have a suspicion it may be the hard drive has failed.

 

First thing is can you tell us please what make and model your computer is, or if a built either by yourself or for you, the motherboard make and model.

 

From pushing the start button try tapping the F2 key and see if it will open the BIOS pages, if so look for the boot order and change it to the CD/DVD ROM to be the first. then try the Vista disk again.

 

If you can't get in to the BIOS with F2 we will need to know the make and model to help further.

 

Nev.

[mtav]

(Sorry about all the typos in my original post.) Vista has now reverted ro its behaviour of yesterday, as follows.

.

After the motherboard opening process, the only available option is "Launch Startup Repair". After a while, the message is "Your computer was unable to restart" followed by "Searching for problems" accompanied by the warning that it may take over an hour, though in fact it takes only several minutes. The next message is "Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically". A drop-down list offers "View problem details" for "Startup Repair V2" which are:

01 AutoFollower

02 6060011800060600118000

03 3

04 the 6-digit number here varies from run to run.

05 NoRootCause

06 CorruptVolume

07 0

08 1

09 Chkdsk

10 0

OS Version: 6060012102561

Locate ID: 1033

 

"Advanced options for system recovery and support" are available after logging in as the user:

Startup Repair

System Restore

Windows Comnplete PC Restore

Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

Command Prompt

Resrore CS Image

 

but none of these does anything useful.

 

Can anyone suggest what I should do next? "Corrupt Volume" looks ominous Could it prevent me loading Windows 8.1?

[mtav]

Thank you, Nev

 

The computer is a Mesh Elite Pulse HD built by them in 2008..

 

The motherboard is an ASUS P5N-D Mainboard - Nvidia nForce 750i SLI - Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad/Extreme- ATX

 

Your other questions may have been overtaken by my second post which overlapped with yours.

 

Mike

[KenB]

Hi Mike

 

"Disk Boot Failure. Insert Sysem Disk

06 CorruptVolume

 

Disk Boot Failure ties in with the Corrupt Volume ...... it looks like a hard disk problem.

 

I would be inclined to check the hard drive out.

 

There are 2 ways you can do this.

1. - take the drive out and connect it to another machine using either an enclosure or an adapter.

 

2. - download Seatools for DOS ( ISO file that needs to be put on a DVD ) and use this in the DVD CDROM Drive

 

The advantage of option 1 is that we can run more than one test and you MAY be able to access your files etc.

[mtav]

Thanks, Nev

 

i have a PATA enclosure and will now buy a SATA one and let you know the results.

 

Mike

[KenB]

Thanks, Nev

 

??? :)

 

Laptops are 2.5 inch

Desktops 3.5 inch

( I assume that you knew that already :) )

[mtav]

I have ordered a 3.5 inch enclosure to receive the drive from my desktop and plan to try reading it on my laptop. Hope that's okay. Delivery due tomorrow.

[KenB]

Hi Mike

 

Let us know if you can see a drive letter allocated for that drive and also if you can access it.

[mtav]

Great news!

 

The drive from my PC is seen as G: on my laptop and all my files on it are accessible. I am backing them up to an external drive and now that I have a working computer again I will use it like that for a while as I have work to do.

 

I am using the operating system on the laptop, of course, and I wonder what will happen when I put the drive back in the PC. If it behaves as before, I may need to come back to you for further advice.

 

But thank you very much for your prompt help in sorting me out so far.

 

Mike

[KenB]

But thank you very much for your prompt help in sorting me out so far.

 

You are welcome MIke [ from both Nev and myself ] :)

 

I wonder what will happen when I put the drive back in the PC.

It will probably be the same as before as we really have not done anything.

[ unless it became loose ?? ]

If you can access the drive then there doesn't seem to be too much wrong with it.

[mtav]

As I said, I am now working (temporarily) with the drive removed and connected (as G:) to my laptop, and all my files are accessible. BUT they have all become read-only, although their Properties do not show this. Is there a way to write to them other than saving as a file with a new name first?

 

Mike

[mtav]

Don't bother to answer query about read-only files -- sorry to have bothered you. I can copy files from the desktop drive to my laptop where they are no longer read-only and I can continue to work on them. Will continue to do this for a while before trying to put the desktop drive back in place.

 

Mike

Edited October 25, 2014 by mtav

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Mike, OK, when you can, do try the hard drive back in, you never know the original problem may just have been a poor connection and replacing it tightly just could get it going again. If not, let us know as there are ways to at least reinstall Vista if everything else seems to fail.

 

Nev.

[mtav]

Thanks, Nev

 

Having removed the hard drive from my PC and found it to be working perfectly, I copied its contents to an external drive and put it back in the PC. As KenB predicted, it behaves just as before, including showing the "6 CorruptVolume" error. What do you suggest I do next?

 

Mike

[Plastic Nev]

OK Mike, at least it is good to know the hard drive is seemingly OK.

 

You mentioned in post 1 that you do have a vista service pack 1 disk. Can you tell us what is actually written on that disk, or better show us a photo of it please?

 

Next question, do you have the product key code still on the sticker at the side or back of the computer?

 

Nev.

[mtav]

Nev,

 

That disk says: SERVICE PACK 1 ... Contains 32- and 64-bit software ... C 2008 ...Part No X14 33274-01.

 

But I have also found the Mesh Computers disk "For distribution only with a new Mesh PC" which says: Windiws Vista Home Premium SP1 ... External Recovery (32-bit).

 

I thought I had told you two days ago about finding the recovery disk but I see that post didn't go.

 

The product key code is ****

 

Mike

 

[ Product Code removed by KenB ]

If you advertise this you will find that other ( not so honest ) people will use it and then, in a very short time, Microsoft will have it listed as an illegal Product Code.

[mtav]

Oh! Thank you for removing it, Ken.

 

Mike

[KenB]

I have also found the Mesh Computers disk "For distribution only with a new Mesh PC" which says: Windiws Vista Home Premium SP1 ... External Recovery (32-bit).

 

This is the disk that Nev will require.

 

Not sure if Nev is thinking of a "Repair" .....if this is the case take a look here - click here

[ also - you may not be able to use this disk for a "Repair" ..... you will soon find out ]

 

You will need to check that the DVD CDROM is first in the boot order.

Switch on and alternate between F2 / DEL about once per second.

This will take you into the BIOS.

 

Move around using the arrow keys.

 

If you need to move the DVD CDROM up then it will explain on screen.

 

If you do move it don't forget to Save and Exit.

Usually F10 ...but again it will say on screen.

 

Is there ANYTHING on that disk that you need to take off - this is the time to do it

 

Now back to Nev :)

[Plastic Nev]

Thanks Ken, that more or less covers it. I did look in earlier and saw you had the disk but I was needed elsewhere so didn't have time to reply then.

 

Mike, make absolutely sure you have got everything backed up on the other computer or external hard drive.

 

Using the Windows Vista disk that you have, try and see if a repair can be carried out using that disk as per the link Ken gave.

 

If it fails to see the disk, leave it in, turn the system off, then reboot trying the F2 or Del keys as Ken mentioned to get to the BIOS page and set it to boot from the CD/DVD drive, then try again.

 

If still a failure to use that disk, then you can try the other Mesh Computers disk, again make sure it is set to boot from the CD/DVD drive.

 

If no repair is available with that disk, you will have to allow it to go for the full recovery.

 

Once the full recovery is completed the computer will be back to how it was when you bought it, so any programs will have to be reinstalled, so make sure you have the disks or if downloaded that you have the downloaded installation files saved on the external drive.

 

After the recovery the first thing will be to reinstall all the previous updates, including the service pack 2, be warned this may take some hours, however while the system is downloading them and installing you can still start putting back some of the data. However don't install any programs till the updating is done, it will only tax the system and slow things down while the updating is going on.

 

Best of luck with it,

 

Nev.

[mtav]

I thought I had replied last night, but today I see no record of what I sent. The same happened a while ago. I wonder what I am doing wrong. I will send this now, and if it is successful will re-write last night's post.

 

Mike

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Mike, that one posted OK, you just might have hit the "Advanced" or even "Cancel" buttons, easily done and you think the post has gone when it hasn't. I have done it myself before now.

[KenB]

I thought I had replied last night, but today I see no record of what I sent.

Nothing in the thread from last night Mike - not even "unapproved" ( hidden )

Can you post it again please ?

[mtav]

Nev, the post I sent last night was showing afterwards as having been sent, but not now. Likewise, after testing that I could send the post at 11.18 today I sent the gist of last night's message again -- but as before it showed afterwards as having been sent, but not now.

 

Should I send it a third time? (I begin each time by pressing Reply below the post I am replying to, and end by pressing 'Post Quick Reply'.)

 

Mike

[KenB]

hi Mike

 

This is very strange - especially as you have 97 posts.

You are, of course, posting correctly.

 

Post it again .....then before you hit the "Post Quick Reply" copy what you have written and paste it into a PM to either Nev or myself.

( click on my name ( or Nev's ) > Private Message )

 

Was this a very long post?

There is a limit. If so ...... share it over two posts.