Corrupt Vista installation?

[Brad.]

Some of you may know that I bought a new hard drive today as my only one had decided to stop working.

First thing I had to do was install vista on my new hard drive, I entered the product key, and it slowly went through the installation process.

Now, my problem is that my pc won't boot Windows now, it just loops before loading the windows loading bar.

I can boot from my Vista Installation disc and then search for repairs, but I was told that the installation can't be repaired, so I tried to install it again, yet the same things happen.

I can't format my hard drive, so is it worth trying to install Windows Vista again?

Thanks in advance

[Brad.]

The error message says the installation is missing one of the start up drivers, any ideas guys?

[Matthew S.]

sure your new hard drive is set to primary/master?

[Brad.]

I'm pretty sure, I'll check now. Although if it wasn't would it show me a message saying it's missing one of the boot up drivers?

Also, my vista installation disk is one of the Acer Upgrade Disks I received with my Desktop PC, could that be the issue?

[Brad.]

Anyone? :(

Tried to install a couple more times, still no luck. one time it didn't say that the installation was missing a boot up driver, but it just said it was a failed install.

Meh.

[39 Thieves]

Why can't you format the drive?

[koppit]

i had this problem before - it happened for some reason when i used an ide drive instead of a sata drive.

have you tried installing to a new folder yet?

[bjoswald]

Maybe you need RAID drivers for your system. Have you tried downloading them to a removable disk or something?

[coolkat007]

not even in safe mode?

if safemode is stuck at some point.. make a note of the last file name.. may be that will help?

[Brad.]

Why can't you format the drive?

I can now, I figured how to do it, but with my new drive being my ONLY drive I have to do it just before installation, where i select where I want to instal the OS. I formatted and tried again, no luck.

i had this problem before - it happened for some reason when i used an ide drive instead of a sata drive.

have you tried installing to a new folder yet?

This is definitely a SATA Drive. I cannot install to a new folder as this HDD is completely empty, brand new.

Maybe you need RAID drivers for your system. Have you tried downloading them to a removable disk or something?

Where can I download these? I've never dealt with RAID drivers before. How would I get them onto the PC without having an OS installed?

not even in safe mode?

if safemode is stuck at some point.. make a note of the last file name.. may be that will help?

Safemode won't boot as the OS is not installed.

Thanks for the replies guys!

[koppit]

ok, is your copy of vista legit?

have you tried installing xp?

[Brad.]

My copy of Vista is legit, it's the Express Upgrade Disc that I got with my PC, including a legit product key.

I haven't tried installing XP as I don't have an XP disc/key.

[Brad.]

Is it worth trying to install it on a proper retail disc? I'm not sure how I'll get my hands on one bu tI could ask my friends.

[coolkat007]

Safemode won't boot as the OS is not installed.

Thanks for the replies guys!

my bad.. i thought u were reinstalling

[coolkat007]

i got this error when i tried to install XP on a USB harddrive. i had to use a modified installation ISO.

[koppit]

how about you do a fresh wipe, clean install, and then repair the installation after booting using the recovery console. make sure it's the active partition and boot drive.

apart from that, since you are using an upgrade disc, try a full install disc?

[Foub]

Some of you may know that I bought a new hard drive today as my only one had decided to stop working.

First thing I had to do was install vista on my new hard drive, I entered the product key, and it slowly went through the installation process.

Now, my problem is that my pc won't boot Windows now, it just loops before loading the windows loading bar.

I can boot from my Vista Installation disc and then search for repairs, but I was told that the installation can't be repaired, so I tried to install it again, yet the same things happen.

I can't format my hard drive, so is it worth trying to install Windows Vista again?

Thanks in advance

What's the hard drive you are installing? Maybe you don't have the right drivers for it?

[Guest]

My copy of Vista is legit, it's the Express Upgrade Disc that I got with my PC, including a legit product key.

I haven't tried installing XP as I don't have an XP disc/key.

Wouldn't this Upgrade disk suggest that you have to upgrade from something?

I'd expect that you would upgrade from XP, not absolutely nothing.

When you upgrade, you move from old to new. Usually the new thing does the same job, but better.

Just like you upgrade your PC speakers. You sell your old ones and replace it with the new, better speakers. There was something there originally.

If the OP didn't have the correct drivers for his HDD, surly he wouldn't even be able to format the disk?

[Brad.]

Wouldn't this Upgrade disk suggest that you have to upgrade from something?

I'd expect that you would upgrade from XP, not absolutely nothing.

When you upgrade, you move from old to new. Usually the new thing does the same job, but better.

Just like you upgrade your PC speakers. You sell your old ones and replace it with the new, better speakers. There was something there originally.

If the OP didn't have the correct drivers for his HDD, surly he wouldn't even be able to format the disk?

I know what an upgrade is :p

When I go to install the OS there's an option for Upgrade or Custom install.

The drive I'm using is a Hitachi 160gb, but my guess is that I just need to get my hands on a retail Vista disc.

[bjoswald]

If your motherboard manufacturer provides RAID drivers, all you need to do is download them, extract them to the removable media (floppy, USB, etc.) and reboot with the disk in your system. Then, boot from the CD or DVD and press F6 when prompted. It should ask you for the media with your drivers on it. Follow the instructions. If that doesn't work, then I'm stumped.

[Brad.]

Where can I find RAID drivers?

I'll do a quick look and get back with my results.

[jesseinsf]

First...why did you buy a new HDD? Who is the manufacturer of your HDD? And what model is your HDD? Is it a Hybrid drive? Have you tried wiping the drive clean by doing a "Zero Write" to the whole drive (Low Level Format) using the manufacturer's CD boot disk utility? As for what others are saying....you don't need RAID drivers if you are not combining 2 HDDs in a RAID Array. Now if you have a Hybrid drive then the HDD manufacturer asks that your computer is within one years old and that you install the latest Motherboard BIOS for your computer before installing Vista. Btw, doing a "Zero Write" will clear out any disk errors that can cause installation issues.

[Brad.]

First...why did you buy a new HDD?

Because my only hard drive wouldn't load windows.

As for what others are saying....you don't need RAID drivers if you are not combining 2 HDDs in a RAID Array. Now if you have a Hybrid drive then the HDD manufacturer asks that your computer is within one years old and that you install the latest Motherboard BIOS for your computer before installing Vista. Btw, doing a "Zero Write" will clear out any disk errors that can cause installation issues.

Thanks for the help, I did a ''Zero Write'' and the same thing happens, I'm finding it really hard to find someone with a retail Vista disc I can borrow.

[jesseinsf]

Because my only hard drive wouldn't load windows.

Thanks for the help, I did a ''Zero Write'' and the same thing happens, I'm finding it really hard to find someone with a retail Vista disc I can borrow.

Because you could not load Windows on your first hard drive.....it now sounds like it could be a hardware or motherboard issue. The Vista has a memory testing feature. Restart your computer. You need to keep pressing the F8 key before windows starts loading, you will then see a boot screen, now hit the Esc button and scroll down to the "Windows Memory Diagnostics" option. Now test your memory. If you get an error then replace your memory. If no error then (For a desktop only) I would take all PCI & PCI-X cards out and unplug all USB peripherals....only keeping only the Video card installed. If you have onboard sound then turn that off to in the BIOS. Now try to boot....Is everything ok? No...Then now you have narrowed it down to the motherboard and video card. If you have onboard Video then you have narrowed it down to just the Motherboard.