Windows Vista Boot Problems

MrCodeDude

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
13,674
1
76
This same error occured when I tried to install Vista ~6 months ago. I was too lazy to fix it, so I just went back to XP.

I installed Vista and my system gives me an Invalid System Disk if I ever reboot (or cold boot).

Here's my current setup and observed results:

I have 2 hard-drives, a 250GB Hitachi that has my current Windows XP OS on it and a brand-new (I opened it last night) 400GB Seagate that has the newly installed Vista on it.

If I change the boot priority to boot HDD only and have the XP HD first, it boots into XP fine.

If I change the boot priority to boot HDD only and have the Vista HD first, it gives me the "Boot Disk Failure. Insert System Disk and Press Enter" error.

If I change the boot priority to boot CD-Rom and have the Vista HD first, it will prompt me "Press Any Key to load DVD..." If I press a key, it goes into the Vista Installation. If I don't press a key, it goes to the Vista Boot Selection where it asks if I want to load Vista or a Previous Version of Windows. Selecting Vista allows me to boot into Vista.

Someone suggested repairing the boot loader; so I googled this and this site says that with my current setup, I shouldn't be experiencing this problem.
 

TG2

Banned
Nov 14, 2005
774
0
0
You shouldnt have to change the boot order if you have the 250gb "C" drive and the 400gb "D" drive and installed Vista to the D drive.

Leave the boot order as it was when installing and it will give you the option to choose previous install (XP) or Vista.
 

MrCodeDude

Lifer
Jun 23, 2001
13,674
1
76
Originally posted by: TG2
You shouldnt have to change the boot order if you have the 250gb "C" drive and the 400gb "D" drive and installed Vista to the D drive.

Leave the boot order as it was when installing and it will give you the option to choose previous install (XP) or Vista.
That wasn't the problem at all.

I fixed it by just re-installing Vista with none of the other hard-drives attached.