Wiped Hard Drive Can't Boot Vista

Techtardette · Oct 20, 2014

My friend gave me his Compaq Presario CQ60-418DX laptop. He wiped the hard drive and then it wouldn't boot Vista. So, I got the hard drive back into the BIOS boot order and put it first. I asked him what he did to wipe the hard drive, and all he could come up with was that he borrowed a CD to do it.

Could he have wiped out the MBR and VBR? I think the problem is that the preboot execution environment is not finding boot files if they exist. These are the error messages I got: PXE-E61 (Media Test Failure, Check Cable) PXE-MOF (Existing NVIDIA Boot Agent) and then once the BIOS was straightened out to the best of my limited ability, "NVIDIA Boot Agent 249.0542". All that I see when Vista should boot is a cursor. I don't own a computer so my options for fixing my hopefully soon-to-be functional laptop are limited. I do have a smartphone, so I have been researching how to fix the problem.

I am thinking that I could get a Vista DVD to boot and repair. I don't know what else to try. The setup utility is all I can access.

Another problem is overheating random shutdowns. So, for the BIOS diagnostics I had the laptop vertical in an open window with a fan on. Its cold here in Chicago and my hands are still freezing.

I need a computer badly for online classes, and I am very broke. I need to fix this computer so I at least have something. Any ideas on how to bring the boot up action back would be greatly appreciated. This techtard needs help! Thanks to the technically inclined in advance for possible solutions.

Steevo · Oct 20, 2014

Download a copy of Vista from Microsoft, the copy is free, if you have the key built into the BIOS or not you will need the OEM version.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd262148.aspx

Boot to the DVD or USB, once you burn or copy it, and try to see if it can find any OS on the drive, if not just install Vista, use the product key on the sticker to activate it.

OneMoar · Oct 20, 2014

Oo boy you got some work todo
1. if he really wiped the HDD then a full re-install will most likely be necessary
2. The overheating and random shutdowns most likely mean the whole thing is gonna need to come apart and have fresh thermal-paste and thermal-tape applied I know this because I have "fixxed" enough laptops with that chip-set to know where the issues are .. nForce chip-sets of that vintage are widely known for heat issues and generally failure prone ..
3. PXE usually indicates its attempting a network-boot double check the boot order and ensure the bios is detecting the HDD

Techtardette · Oct 20, 2014

I did try every possible boot order and even with deactivated options, which I don't even know how or if that is helpful. I will try the Vista possibilities. The OS was listed in the BIOS, whatever that means, and it said it was a factory version, which I think is a good thing.

The PXE error messages may have occurred when I activated the network adapter and tried that in the boot order. Obviously, I am in way over my head. Thanks for the suggestions!

Jetster · Oct 20, 2014

Consider moving to windows 8. Vista has so many updates it takes days to get all of them

Mussels · Oct 20, 2014

Techtardette said:
My friend gave me his Compaq Presario CQ60-418DX laptop. He wiped the hard drive and then it wouldn't boot Vista. So, I got the hard drive back into the BIOS boot order and put it first. I asked him what he did to wipe the hard drive, and all he could come up with was that he borrowed a CD to do it.

Could he have wiped out the MBR and VBR? I think the problem is that the preboot execution environment is not finding boot files if they exist. These are the error messages I got: PXE-E61 (Media Test Failure, Check Cable) PXE-MOF (Existing NVIDIA Boot Agent) and then once the BIOS was straightened out to the best of my limited ability, "NVIDIA Boot Agent 249.0542". All that I see when Vista should boot is a cursor. I don't own a computer so my options for fixing my hopefully soon-to-be functional laptop are limited. I do have a smartphone, so I have been researching how to fix the problem.

I am thinking that I could get a Vista DVD to boot and repair. I don't know what else to try. The setup utility is all I can access.

Another problem is overheating random shutdowns. So, for the BIOS diagnostics I had the laptop vertical in an open window with a fan on. Its cold here in Chicago and my hands are still freezing.

I need a computer badly for online classes, and I am very broke. I need to fix this computer so I at least have something. Any ideas on how to bring the boot up action back would be greatly appreciated. This techtard needs help! Thanks to the technically inclined in advance for possible solutions.

all those errors are related to booting from the network. reinstall windows from your own DVD and go from there.

Techtardette · Oct 20, 2014

Jetster said:
Consider moving to windows 8. Vista has so many updates it takes days to get all of them

I think I am going to get Windows 7, because really dislike Windows 8. I want a start menu. I could go with 8 and customize it to my liking I suppose. It's a midsize laptop and that bar on the top of 8 that always pops up drives me crazy. I am guessing I could get rid of it somehow. But I loved my Windows 7 home premium 64 bit OS on my desktop that fried. I hate to buy an OS. Its probably worth it.

I can't wait for Windows 10 bringing back the start menu.

Mussels · Oct 20, 2014

Techtardette said:
I think I am going to get Windows 7, because really dislike Windows 8. I want a start menu. I could go with 8 and customize it to my liking I suppose. It's a midsize laptop and that bar on the top of 8 that always pops up drives me crazy. I am guessing I could get rid of it somehow. But I loved my Windows 7 home premium 64 bit OS on my desktop that fried. I hate to buy an OS. Its probably worth it.

I can't wait for Windows 10 bringing back the start menu.

Start8 is fantastic for windows 8.1. just saying.

rtwjunkie · Oct 20, 2014

And add ModernMix to the equation, also by Stardock, and you fully control the apps, inclding their size on screen and their behavior. You can then open start screen or apps from Start8 start menu, like normal programs.

The two combined gives you W7 appearance with benefits o W8.1!

Mussels · Oct 20, 2014

rtwjunkie said:
And add ModernMix to the equation, also by Stardock, and you fully control the apps, inclding their size on screen and their behavior. You can then open start screen or apps from Start8 start menu, like normal programs.

The two combined gives you W7 appearance with benefits o W8.1!

i forgo that, but i use both of them together. one very solid OS once you beat metro out of the way.

OneMoar · Oct 20, 2014

personally I use startisback+ its as close to a native experience as you are gonna get
1. non existent memory footprint
2.no extra processes at startup
http://startisback.com/

Techtardette · Oct 23, 2014

I fixed it! I figured out he had messed the partitions up on the hard drive, so I am running Linux Precise and so far so good.

Thanks everyone!

System Name	Compy 386
Processor	7800X3D
Motherboard	Asus
Cooling	Air for now.....
Memory	64 GB DDR5 6400Mhz
Video Card(s)	7900XTX 310 Merc
Storage	Samsung 990 2TB, 2 SP 2TB SSDs and over 10TB spinning
Display(s)	56" Samsung 4K HDR
Audio Device(s)	ATI HDMI
Mouse	Logitech MX518
Keyboard	Razer
Software	A lot.
Benchmark Scores	Its fast. Enough.

System Name	RPC MK2.5
Processor	Ryzen 5800x
Motherboard	Gigabyte Aorus Pro V2
Cooling	Enermax ETX-T50RGB
Memory	CL16 BL2K16G36C16U4RL 3600 1:1 micron e-die
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Software	Windows 11 +startisallback

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Motherboard	ASUS Prime Z390X-A // ASRock B550 ITX-AC
Cooling	Noctua NH-U12 Black // Stock
Memory	Corsair DDR4 3600 32gb //G.SKILL Trident Z Royal Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 3600
Video Card(s)	ASUS RTX4070 OC// GTX 1650
Storage	Samsung 970 EVO NVMe 1Tb, Intel 665p Series M.2 2280 1TB // Samsung 1Tb SSD
Display(s)	ASUS VP348QGL 34" Quad HD 3440 x 1440 // 55" LG 4K SK8000 Series
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Software	Windows 10 Pro // Windows 10 Pro

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Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage	2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s)	Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) \| Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) \| Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case	Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G560 \| Corsair Void pro RGB \|Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply	Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse	Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores	Nyooom.

System Name	Rainbow Sparkles (Power efficient, <350W gaming load)
Processor	Ryzen R7 5800x3D (Undervolted, 4.45GHz all core)
Motherboard	Asus x570-F (BIOS Modded)
Cooling	Alphacool Apex UV - Alphacool Eisblock XPX Aurora + EK Quantum ARGB 3090 w/ active backplate
Memory	2x32GB DDR4 3600 Corsair Vengeance RGB @3866 C18-22-22-22-42 TRFC704 (1.4V Hynix MJR - SoC 1.15V)
Video Card(s)	Galax RTX 3090 SG 24GB: Underclocked to 1700Mhz 0.750v (375W down to 250W))
Storage	2TB WD SN850 NVME + 1TB Sasmsung 970 Pro NVME + 1TB Intel 6000P NVME USB 3.2
Display(s)	Phillips 32 32M1N5800A (4k144), LG 32" (4K60) \| Gigabyte G32QC (2k165) \| Phillips 328m6fjrmb (2K144)
Case	Fractal Design R6
Audio Device(s)	Logitech G560 \| Corsair Void pro RGB \|Blue Yeti mic
Power Supply	Fractal Ion+ 2 860W (Platinum) (This thing is God-tier. Silent and TINY)
Mouse	Logitech G Pro wireless + Steelseries Prisma XL
Keyboard	Razer Huntsman TE ( Sexy white keycaps)
VR HMD	Oculus Rift S + Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 pro x64 (Yes, it's genuinely a good OS) OpenRGB - ditch the branded bloatware!
Benchmark Scores	Nyooom.

Wiped Hard Drive Can't Boot Vista

Techtardette

New Member

Steevo

OneMoar

There is Always Moar

Techtardette

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Jetster

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

Techtardette

New Member

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

rtwjunkie

PC Gaming Enthusiast

Mussels

Freshwater Moderator

OneMoar

There is Always Moar

Techtardette

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