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vista wont boot from DVD properly

post #1 of 8
2/13/07 at 12:04am
Thread Starter 
I had originally posted this in general but figured it would be better off in this section.

I am trying to install windows vista on my laptop (sager 9860) and the vista DVD wont boot up properly. I was originally installing it through windows but i had no room because my linux partitions and the vista DVD doesnt alter linux partitions. I loaded a linux live CD to alter the partitions but some error happened while doing so and now windows XP BSODs a couple seconds into loading the OS.

I now had no choice and had to do a boot install, but after it loaded (and the mouse appeared) the screen just idled and did nothing. I can move the mouse, but no windows appear and nothing else happens.

Does anyone know why this is happening? i am stuck on linux right now and need windows for my school work.

Thanks.
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post #2 of 8
2/13/07 at 8:42am
Knowing the BSOD info would probably help us provide a solution....with what you provided we are left to speculate.

Corrupt partition table? Since you used a third party linux partition software, and since Vista must either create a partition, or install to a known partition type, perhaps your error lies there.

What I would try, I think, is destroy the existing non-linux partition with fdisk, install vista, the reinstall a linux boot loader.

You are in unchartered waters though, as whatever linux loader you use may have issues with vista.

Ideally, you should install the most recent OS last.

So, if you really want this to work, back up linux data, wipe the entire drive, partition the drive using fdisk, re-install linux, install vista.
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post #3 of 8
2/13/07 at 2:41pm
Thread Starter 
I think i should have been a little more specific. When i booted the vista CD (that brought up the boot installation) it would freeze there. i had no opportunity to insitall vista. I deleted all my partitions already and reinstalled linux before trying to install vista (i had left 60gb of unallocated space for vista). My problem is that i dont know why the boot installation is idling. It shouldnt be because of a lack of RAID drivers or anything because a boot CD doesnt need any of that. It only needs it when its actually installing the OS.

Im in kind of in a predicament because i dont have my external floppy to install XP and vista wont install by boot and at the moment i need XP running to install it.
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post #4 of 8
2/13/07 at 3:12pm
Are you blue screening or not? You said you were.

Or are you just not booting from the dvd (idling?)? Whate version (home, premium, ultimate) and type (upgrade or retail, or oem) of Vista?

If Linux is installed, can you see the file system on the Vista DVD? Is it possible the dvd-rom is broken? The DVD is dirty? Is the DVD readable in a different DVD-rom?
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post #5 of 8
2/13/07 at 4:18pm
Thread Starter 
windows XP BSODed whenever i tried running it (after screwing up the partition) so i just got rid of the partition to try and install vista there since i was going to install vista anyway. Currently i just have linux installed (and working) with the rest of the hard drive unallocated. The DVD is fine because i tried two different DVDs (my roommate got one too) and his does the same thing. I have Vista business OEM full version that i got from my school.
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post #6 of 8
2/13/07 at 4:44pm
so...the dvd itself is fine, but perhaps not the dvd player in your 9860.

holding your finger lightly on the door, can you feel any type of vibration from spinning up? Can you hear anything?

Have you ever cleaned the lense with a cd-cleaner?

Do you know what kind of dvd-rom it is (make and model)--do you know what firmware it is currently using?
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post #7 of 8
2/14/07 at 1:09am
Thread Starter 
getting closer...

For some reason when i stuck my USB flash drive in one of the USB ports and booted the vista DVD, the window popped up for installing vista instead of just idling. I tested and it only loads when i have the USB drive it. However, the promise SATA RAID drivers arent working properly. I load them from the USB stick (they are the correct ones) and vista still doesnt recognize my hard drive. /sigh
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post #8 of 8
2/14/07 at 8:38am
What bios version?
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