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

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.

 

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

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

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!!

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

If you need to reinstall Vista, do the following:

1. Deactivate OSS (don't uninstall it). Select Vista as the Default OS.
2. Boot to DD. Make sure the XP partition is hidden and the Vista partition is Active.
3. Install Vista normally.
4. 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.

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.

 

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

 

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?

 

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!!

 

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!!

 

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!

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!!

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

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