Windows Vista Startup Problem ( Dual Boot)

[Wingo101]

I've got a dual boot set up on my computer, with Windows XP Professional 32bit & Vista Ultimate 64bit.

I haven't booted into Vista for quite some time now because I get better performance from XP. But now, if I try to boot into Vista, it goes through until after the Welcome screen & just gets stuck on a black screen with the pointer showing.

I have tried repairing the startup using the Vista CD.


Any suggestions?

 

[francis511]

Sure it`s not a license problem ?

 

[Wingo101]

How would I now?

I have the OEM version.

I installed a new HDD recently, could it be that it needs to be reactivated again? If so, how would I go about doing that?

 

[oily_17]

Try Ctrl Shift Esc to launch Task Manager and then on the Applications tab click New Task and put in explorer.exe and see if it will restart.

 

[D4S4]

Which did you install first? It happened to me that XP installation killed Vista installation...

 

[Wingo101]

Which did you install first? It happened to me that XP installation killed Vista installation...

I installed Vista first

 

[oily_17]

After you installed XP where you ever able to boot into Vista..because you usually install XP first.

 

[D4S4]

After you installed XP where you ever able to boot into Vista..because you usually install XP first.

Yes, you should install XP first because XPs boot manager ignores Vista installation if you install it after you have installed Vista, while Vistas boot manager allows you to load XP (it says "earlier version of Windows")

 

[Wingo101]

Yes, I used Vista many times.

I have tried the 'Ctrl + Shift + Esc' thing, I get into Vista, but I can't see my wallpaper & every time I want to enter Vista, I have to restart explorer.exe.

 

[oily_17]

If you can boot into XP then take a read here for fixing the Vista bootloader with EasyBCD

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Recovering+the+Vista+Bootloader+with+EasyBCD

 

[oily_17]

Yes, I used Vista many times.

I have tried the 'Ctrl + Shift + Esc' thing, I get into Vista, but I can't see my wallpaper & every time I want to enter Vista, I have to restart explorer.exe.

Could be a registry problem -

Only try this if you are competent with using the registry.

When in task manager, run a new task called regedit, now in the left hand column navigate to-

HKEY_local machine/software/microsoft/WindowsNT/Currentversion/winlogon.

Now in the right hand panel click on shell. The data value should only be explorer.exe so delete anything after that and then restart.

 

[Wingo101]

I think I should reinstall Windows XP & Vista, and this time install XP first.

Which tutorial did you guys use to set up a dual boot, I would rather use that one.

 

[oily_17]

Did you check out the reg entry that I listed above, might be worth a shot before you reinstall both OS's.

There are loads of guides out there, here is one I used a long time ago

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_xp__stepbystep_guide_with_screenshots.htm

 

[Wingo101]

Could be a registry problem -

Only try this if you are competent with using the registry.

When in task manager, run a new task called regedit, now in the left hand column navigate to-

HKEY_local machine/software/microsoft/WindowsNT/Currentversion/winlogon.

Now in the right hand panel click on shell. The data value should only be explorer.exe so delete anything after that and then restart.

I tried this, there is no data after explorer.exe, so it should be fine.

 

[Wingo101]

Did you check out the reg entry that I listed above, might be worth a shot before you reinstall both OS's.

There are loads of guides out there, here is one I used a long time ago

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_xp__stepbystep_guide_with_screenshots.htm

I also used this guide, only the one with Vista installed first.

It's quite a time consuming process.

Did you also split your HDD into two partitions or did you install each OS on its own drive?

 

[oily_17]

Try using the System Restore to go back to an earlier date and see if the problem persists.

EDIT: I have my system set up in a RAID0 config with it divided into 4 different partitions.

 

[Wingo101]

Try using the System Restore to go back to an earlier date and see if the problem persists.

EDIT: I have my system set up in a RAID0 config with it divided into 4 different partitions.

No luck, I will be formatting this month, just so much effort


Is there any way to backup my Windows Updates, because it will take forever just to get the two Operating Systems up-to-date again.

 

[oily_17]

Is there any way to backup my Windows Updates, because it will take forever just to get the two Operating Systems up-to-date again.

I don't think so.

One more thing you could try is to check for any virus etc on your machine, could be the reason explorer is not starting.

 

[Wingo101]

I don't think so.

One more thing you could try is to check for any virus etc on your machine, could be the reason explorer is not starting.

Well, AVG 8.0 fully up-to-date didn't detect anything.

 

[oily_17]

Not sure what your problem is ..might be a reinstall after all.

You could try this program to search for virus, just make sure it is fully updated before you run your scan.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/


Also open a command prompt and type msconfig and check that there is no odd entries in the start up tab and that all the required services are running under the service tab.

 

[Jeno]

lol avg 8 wouldn't detect my ass you need to get yourself some real protection lad!

next time you boot up in vista hold down F8 (i think) and it sould go into safe mode where you can try system restore or as ^ oily suggested msconfig is a good place to investigate too!

 

[Wingo101]

lol avg 8 wouldn't detect my ass you need to get yourself some real protection lad!

next time you boot up in vista hold down F8 (i think) and it sould go into safe mode where you can try system restore or as ^ oily suggested msconfig is a good place to investigate too!

What would you recommend as "Real Protection"?

I tried booting into safe mode already, that was the first thing I tried. The same thing just happens (Black Screen with Pointer)

 

[Tatty_Two]

Really? 10 year old thread! Closed.