Vista/XP dual boot - OSS can't find Vista!?

[Oddlimbs]

Hi,
I have installed Vista and XP on two Primary partitions, XP works fine, but OSS can't find Vista, if I use DD to manually hide XP & set Vista as active Vista works fine too.

I have used the OS Detection Wizard to try to discover the Vista OS on the Vista partition, but on the final sceen it says "No new operating system is found in specified partition. Try to change boot partition or boot sector file name."

I am running DD build 2,160, which produces OSS bootable media V10.0.2117.

Can anybody tell me what I need to do to get around this?

Thanks!!

[MudCrab]

This problem can usually be fixed easily. However, before we try anything, can you verify which build of OSS is actually installed?

When you boot OSS and check the Help >> About menu, what build is displayed?
If you have OSS installed in Windows, run it and check the build too. Check both the booted OSS and the Windows OSS -- they should be the same.

Sometimes the builds can get messed up in Media Builder, but be correct in the actual program. Build 2,160 or later should be installed to allow OSS to work with Vista. If build 2,117 is really installed, then it will need to be updated.

[Oddlimbs]

Thanks for your reply Mudcrab.

The OSS was build 2117, it appears that although I had updated DD to build 2160, it was still creating DD rescue media at 2117. I uninstalled & reinstalled DD & it now creats build 2160 media!

Whilst playing around earlier OSS showed me 2 XP OSs, so I deleted the second one, assuming that it was just a shortcut, but it appears to have actually deleted the OS! After updating OSS to build 2160, it could see Vista, but not XP (as I had deleted it), so I reinstalled XP. Now guess what! - OSS can see XP, but not Vista again!

Any ideas?

PS I have just deleted XP again, so that I could try to reinstall it after protecting Vista folders, but OSS still can't see or find Vista.
I thought that I would deactivated OSS, then re-activate it to see if it would then see Vista. When I go to deactivate OSS it asks me what OS to boot from after deactivation and guess what!? It gives me Vista as an option!!!???

[MudCrab]

Can you post a copy of the BOOTWIZ.OSS file (instructions can be found here (http://www.themudcrab.com/acronis_oss_bootwiz.php))? Please attach the file instead of pasting the contents into the post.

Also, let me know which partition has Vista on it.

Does Vista still boot properly if you deactivate OSS (don't uninstall), hide the XP partition and set the Vista partition Active?

[Oddlimbs]

Hi Mudcrab,
thanks for your further reply, unfortunately I did not notice that you had replied so quickly and I kept playing until I broke it completely!!

I've had to reinstal Vista as it would not boot manually anymore, I also deleted XP so I need to start again! I will do that later this evening (UK time), is there any order that I should do things in to make it more likely to succeed? At the moment Vista is on the first partition & XP will be on the second, unless you recommend otherwise!

Many Thanks,
Odddlimbs.

[MudCrab]

Regardless of the order in which you do the installations, the main thing is to make sure that the partition for the OS that's being installed is set Active and the other OS partition is Hidden.

Since Vista is installed now, you could go ahead and install OSS. It should recognize the Vista installation. Once that is working, proceed as follows:

Deactivate OSS (don't uninstall) and select Vista as the default OS.
Boot to the DD CD and use DD to set the XP partition Active and hide the Vista partition.
Install XP.
Once XP is installed and working properly, reactivate OSS. It should find XP and add it to the menu.

[Oddlimbs]

Hello again Mudcrab!

Right, I have had problems along the way, but I now have a Vista installation that will boot when manually set to active, but OSS still can't find it!

At this point in time I have no XP inst., but I do have an empty, hidden partition ready to receive it. One other thing that may be relevant, this is Dell computer, so it has an 80MB Fat16 partition with the Dell test utility on it.

Any ideas on how best to proceed now?!

Cheers,
Oddlimbs.

[MudCrab]

Is OSS currently installed, but deactivated so you can boot into Vista?

[Oddlimbs]

Ooops - schoolboy error!!:-[ :-[

After managing to get Vista working again I quickly created a TI backup using my old rescue disc, as my new one did not have TI on it, I then inadvertently used the same disc to reinstall OSS (at build 2117), hence it would not find Vista! (Old disc now destroyed & TI added to new one!!)

Having updated OSS to build 2160 it would see & boot Vista OK. I then deactivated OSS, hid Vista, set the XP partition as active & reinstalled XP from a TI backup. Now I cannot boot either OS manually or with OSS, I get a message something like "BOOTMGR file is corrupt, unable to boot" for all! I did not restore Track 0 & MBR is that right?

I did not explain the problems I had getting Vista to work last night as it was past my bed-time, but now I have time:
I tried to restore Vista from a Vista "Complete PC Restore" backup, but it would only give me one restore date, which was after the date that I wanted to restore to, so I tried to reinstall Vista completely from CD/DVD. Everything went fine until it got to the Restart point about 80% through the installation, it shuts down & when it comes back all I got was a blank screen with a cursor about 3 lines down and nothing else happens. I tried again, with the same result.
I did, however, manage to use "Complete PC Restore" to get it working again (briefly!!), trouble is that the only restore option it gives me (even if I use the "restore a different backup" option) is one that has a small problem with it. Strange thing is that if I go to make a new backup it tells me that there are earlier backups, but it won’t show them when I go to restore!?
The problem with the Vista restore is that my accounts program (Sage) won't find it's data which is held on an NAS unit, even though the data path is correct & the network drive is mapped. This used to work OK, but seemed to stop working around the same time as Vista added a Windows "Security Shield" to Sage's Desktop shortcut! - Any idea what this means/does?
I notice that Vista has added the same "Shield" to the TI & DD Icons too, but no others!

Hope you can shed a bit of light on this lot!!

Many thanks,
Oddlimbs.

[MudCrab]

The "Security Shield" on the shortcut just means that the program needs to be run as an Administrator. If you have Vista's UAC turned on, you should get the box asking if it's okay to run the program every time you start it.

What version and build of TI are you using?

[Oddlimbs]

Hi Mudcrab,
thanks for your reply & the info on the Windows shield – strange thing is that I had the program on there for some time before the shield appeared & I had the difficulty finding the data on the network! I will try re-installing the Sage program sometime!

Anyway, back OT, I am running TI 2009, build 9646.
I have played a bit more & managed to get the system a bit more alive that it was:

I restored both Vista & XP, including their respective Track 0 & MBRs, from TI backups, & both would boot manually. I installed OSS & it could see both OSs & boot XP, but not Vista, it just went to the "Windows Error recovery" screen.
I deactivated OSS and told it to use Vista as boot OS, which didn't work either, so I went into DD where the Vista partition was set as Primary, Active & Hidden so I un-hid it, but this made no difference. I can still manually boot to XP, but not Vista.
I have now reactivated OSS, which will still not boot Vista. I guess that your next request will be to see the bootwiz file, but therein lies another problem - I have a bootwiz folder on each partition, but neither one contains any bootwiz files!!!

Oddlimbs

[MudCrab]

Don't uninstall OSS. If it's been reactivated, deactivate it. If you did uninstall OSS, then the files will be gone.

Boot to the DD CD and do the following: Hide the XP partition, set the Vista partition Active. Apply the changes.

Boot to the Vista DVD and do the following: Select the Repair mode. Cancel any automatic repair offers/procedures. Start a Command Prompt. Run the following commands at prompt (<ENTER> means to press the ENTER key):
bootrec /fixmbr <ENTER>
bootrec /fixboot <ENTER>
Next, run the bcdedit command:
bcdedit <ENTER>
What is shown for the {bootmgr} and {default} entries (especially, the device and osdevice values)? (You can find sample output in this thread (http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=185731).

If you get an error when you run bcdedit, post back with the error message.

I doubt the bootrec changes will allow Vista to boot, but at least I'll know the starting point.

---

Do you have any other partitions on the drive? Could OSS have installed itself into one of them? Check all the partitions -- OSS has to be somewhere if it's installed.

[Oddlimbs]

Thanks again Mudcrab,

Results were:

Windows Boot Manager
device partition=C:

Windows Boot Loader
device partition=C:
osdevice partition=C:

You are correct, the bootwiz files are on the Dell Utility partition, I have attached the .oss file.

Many Thanks,
Martin.

[MudCrab]

I'll look at the file.

Did Vista boot up okay?

[Oddlimbs]

Yes it did! First time I tried to boot Vista it went to the "Windows error recovery" screen, I selected "Start normally" & it booted up OK, but the boot up is very slow.

[Oddlimbs]

Just worked out why the boot was slow - I had tried hiding the Dell Utility partition, the system must have wasted time looking for it, un-hid it and boot is "quick" again!

[MudCrab]

Try this file. OSS may fuss at it or it may add some data back in, but see if it works.

[Oddlimbs]

OSS now sees 2 Vista OSs, I tried to boot the second one, but it keeps going round in circles & back to OSS.

I tried the first one & it went to the "Wingows Error recovery" screen, I selected start normally & it got as far as the Login screen. I logged in & it said something like "setting up your desktop", but then came up with an error window headed "ie4uinit.exe - Entry Point Not Found" & "The procedure entry point SdbGetAppCompatDataSize could not be located in the dynamic link library apphelp.dll."

After pressing OK (the only option) it eventually came back with another similar error screen "rundll32.exe - Entry Point Not Found" & "The procedure entry point SdbGetAppCompatDataSize could not be located in the dynamic link library apphelp.dll."

I then got another error message, which I did not note as I thought it was going to go on for ever, it then repeated the first message & started Vista in a temporary user profile.

I will post the bootwiz file shortly.

[Oddlimbs]

Here's the bootwiz file...

[MudCrab]

Try this one. Hopefully, nothing got messed up with the previous Vista boot attempt.

[Oddlimbs]

OSS only lists 1 Vista now & it started to boot OK, but got stuck at the "Preparing your desktop" screen for a few minutes & has now gone to a blank blue screen!

[MudCrab]

I think the drive letters got messed up with the previous failed boot attempt (because the Vista partition was hidden [an OSS bug]).

I'm assuming that Vista's booting files are on the Vista partition. Can you verify this? The bootmgr file and the BOOT folder should be in the root folder of the Vista partition.

When you get to the blank screen, can you press Ctrl-Alt-Del and then start the Task Manager from the menu?

If so, clean out the MountedDevices Registry entry and then do a reboot and see if it will work okay.

From the Task Manager, run Regedit. Browse to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices key. Delete all entries except for the (Default) entry. Close the Registry Editor. Press Ctrl-Alt-Del again and choose to restart the computer.

This will force Vista to reassign drive letters and C: should be assigned to the Active partition (the Vista partition).

[Oddlimbs]

I've managed to get into the Task Manager, but regedit won't run - "Windows cannot find 'E:\regedit.exe'. ........."

Looks like you are right about the drive letters!

[MudCrab]

Does c:\windows\regedit work?

Can you run explorer or c:\windows\explorer from Task Manager? If so, you can see which drive letter is assigned to which partition.

When you previously could boot into Vista, was C: assigned to the Vista partition? If it had a different drive letter, then it'll take a little more work to fix.

[Oddlimbs]

I shut the computer down & booted to DD to check where Vista booting files were before your last reply - they are on the Vista partition.

I hope I haven't messed things up with the bootwiz file as when I went back to boot Vista it ran the Checkdisc & did a bit of fixing!

I got back to the blank blue screen & got into Task Manager, I tried running all of the tasks that you suggested, but it kept saying tha c: was unaccessable. Not sure if this is what did it or it just got bored of waiting, but when I ran "explorer" it let me into Vista on a temporary user profile, where I was able to see that Vista is on E:, C: is the XP partition!

I didn't actually take note, but I'm fairly sure that before I set-up OSS Vista was on C: (Likewise when I was in XP that was on C: too).

[MudCrab]

Okay. Trying starting the Registry Editor using e:\windows\regedit and see if that works. If it does, proceed as Post #22. If not, it can be reset from the Vista DVD.

[Oddlimbs]

Got into regedit, deleted mounted devices & restart and ........it works!!:D :D

I can now boot to Vista or XP, just as it should, well done Mudcrab!!:thumb: :thumb:

One other thing concerns me now - if I need to restore or reload Vista or XP will I screw up all the good work you've done? Reason that I ask is that I still have that problem with Sage to sort!!

[MudCrab]

You should create a new image of the partitions. The new images will contain the OSS info.

If you do need to restore an older image, it can be done too. However, OSS will redetect the OS.

If you do need to have OSS redetect an OS (for example, you restore an older Vista image), make sure to restore the partition as Active and make sure the restored partition is not hidden when OSS tries to detect it. That's what started the problem here.

[Oddlimbs]

So when I first installed OSS should I have set both Vista & XP partitions as un-hidden?

I've got a feeling that I may need to reinstall Vista from the DVD to sort my Sage problem (as the Vista complete pc restore images don't seem to want to work properly!!:( ) Fortunately this is a new PC that I am just setting up, so there' not too much to re-do, unless I mess OSS up again!! If I need to re-install how should I proceed?

Once again, well done Mudcrab, I can't thank you enough for you help!!
Oddlimbs.

[MudCrab]

-{ Quote: "So when I first installed OSS should I have set both Vista & XP partitions as un-hidden?" }-
Correct if you install OSS from the DD CD.

Generally, if you only restore one OS partition at a time, both OSS and the OS can adjust. OSS is detecting your Vista installation, it just got messed up.

-{ Quote: "I've got a feeling that I may need to reinstall Vista from the DVD to sort my Sage problem (as the Vista complete pc restore images don't seem to want to work properly!!" }-
If you need to reinstall Vista, do the following:

Deactivate OSS (don't uninstall it). Select Vista as the Default OS.
Boot to DD. Make sure the XP partition is hidden and the Vista partition is Active.
Install Vista normally.
Once Vista is working okay, reactivate OSS. OSS should find the new Vista installation. If it doesn't remove the old one, you can just delete it.

-{ Quote: "Once again, well done Mudcrab, I can't thank you enough for you help!!" }-
You're welcome. By the time you're through with this, you'll be pretty well set on fixing most problems that may come up.

---

In case you're curious about the "hidden partition" bug... When you install OSS, it will scan the partitions for operating systems. It will usually get the Active (booting) partition setting correct. However, if that partition is hidden at the time OSS does the scan, it retains the hidden attribute. This means that when you try to boot that OS, the partition is set as Active and Hidden. Windows can't run from a hidden partition and it fails.

You would think that the easy solution would be to just make sure all the partitions are not hidden and then install OSS from the DD CD. However, this can cause another bug (the "cross-linking" bug) to occur.

Both bugs are fixable by editing the BOOTWIZ.OSS file (preferably before you try to boot the OS).

These two bugs are the reason I tell people to deactivate OSS instead of uninstalling it. When you just deactivate OSS, all the current boot settings, IDs, etc. are retained. Then, when you reactivate OSS, only the "new" OS has to be detected because all of the others are already known and setup.

[Oddlimbs]

Thanks for the extra info Mudcrab, it's nice to learn a bit more about it! To be fair, for the amount I will need to swap OSs, I could have done it manually, but I enjoyed the challenge of something new! I hope you did too - in fact I'm sure you did, that's probably why you like to help!!

Anyway, talking of challenges, I've just noticed that I have "lost" 4 drives that used to show up for my 19in1 card reader!! Got any ideas about that 1one?

I may just back all the partitions up & start again from scratch, just to see if I can get it right next time!!

Cheers,
Oddlimbs

[MudCrab]

If the "lost" drives are from the Vista OS (drive letters reset), you may just need to use Disk Management to reassign the drive letters. Another option would be to use the Device Manager, uninstall the card reader driver and then reboot. It should be redetected and reinstalled.

If you put a card in the reader, does the drive show up?

[Oddlimbs]

The system just does not see the card readers (in Vista or XP), I first noticed that the drives were missing when I went in to disc management to do some re-labeling! It doesn't come up when I insert a card either.

I have already looked in device manager, but I can't see it there either, mind you I didn't install it myself so I'm not really sure what it'll come up under - any ideas?

I'm actually half way through restoring Vista from a pre-OSS backup at the mo, don't worry (too much!), I backed the whole lot up first - as long as TI 2009 build 9709 works OK that is!!

[Oddlimbs]

Hmmm, most strange, I restored my pre-OSS Vista from backup, but the card reader drives are still not there. Just to make sure I hid Vista & restored the XP partition from a backup that I made when the computer was brand new - still no card reader drives. I even tried restoring the Dell Utility partition to it's new state, but that didn't help either!

I wonder if the card reader has deceased!!??

Anybody got any idea where a card reader should show in the Device Manager??

ETA: Just noticed that there is an LED on the card reader that is not emitting any light! Not sure if it used to be lit or if it should light when a card is inserted (not actually used it yet), but it doesn't light at all now!!

[Oddlimbs]

OK, I've sorted the card reader issue - followed the troubleshooter on the Dell web-site. What actually sorted it was totally powering the system down - hold power button in for 10 seconds(from on), remove power lead, hold power button in 10 seconds & power up. Drives showed up, inserted card, light came on & could access data!:thumb:

Trouble was next time I rebooted the system I got "bootmgr is corrupt, unable to boot".

I have, however, managed to start again from scratch & get everything working fine.
When I re-installed Vista & XP before setting up OSS (with all partitions visible & Vista active), Vista couldn't find my user profile again & I had to clear out the "registered devices" in the registry.
I have found that the best way to get OSS working is to set it up when only Vista is installed, de-activate OSS, re-install XP (from backup) & re-activate OSS with XP partition Visible & Active, that way all works fine without any messing about!! :thumb: :thumb:

With your help MudCrab, I seem to have got the hang of it!! :D :thumb:

Just need to work out the changes you made to my bootwiz files now!