Since I'm sort of a UNIX fiend, this is for any windows guru; my Windows Vista installation died.

I was told to boot from the install disk and click "Repair", but I've tried Startup Repair, and it won't fix it.

It was also brand-new install so I couldn't make a restore point.

Some details:
When I try and boot to Windows, I get the screen that tells me that Windows did not shut down properly. It also asks me if I want to try one of the many versions of safe mode or if I want to start Windows Normally. If I pick an option (It doesn't matter which) it gets partway through the boot and then the computer reboots.

Hard Disk details:
Partition 1 (hda1)-Ext3 [linux root]
Partition 2 (hda2)-Ext3 [linux /home]
Partition 3 (Hda3)-NTFS [Windows Drive C:]

None of these are full, and they've worked fine together before.
Boot loader: GRUB, then the Vista loader.

chkdsk c: /r /f

or, if you can't get into a windows prompt, but have a linux disk,

fsck (http://linux.die.net/man/8/fsck) -N /dev/media #preview changes; pick one of the next two

fsck (http://linux.die.net/man/8/fsck) -a /dev/media #automagically corrects all found errors
fsck (http://linux.die.net/man/8/fsck) -r /dev/media #corrects errors per step

If that still doesn't work...

ntfsfix (http://www.penguin-soft.com/penguin/man/8/ntfsfix.html) /dev/media

where /dev/media is the device location of your problematic hard drive.


In the future, do not mix windows and linux file systems on the same hard disk. This is somewhat of a common problem that commonly results in a complete system reinstall.

Windows prompt is easy. Just boot from Vista disc > repair your computer > command prompt. Tada, there you are.

Thanks! I'll try these. Hopefully...

Otherwise maybe you can boot from the vista DVD and open a recovery console (command prompt) and try to repair your registry.

In the C:\Windows\Backup folder there should be a backup of your registry files. You could try copying them to C:\Windows\System32\Config

Otherwise maybe you can boot from the vista DVD and open a recovery console (command prompt) and try to repair your registry.

In the C:\Windows\Backup folder there should be a backup of your registry files. You could try copying them to C:\Windows\System32\Config
Sorry, not a Windows person. What's the filename of those registry files? And just to make sure; the windows command for "Copy" is "cpdir" right?

copy is *drumroll* copy. As for the filenames, I couldn't help you. I only lightly remember that the system registry hives existed in sys32\conf.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

This should be the same for Vista once you've started the recovery console.

Thanks again. I'll try this.

Another question. I've got another hard drive for the vista installation, but if this works, i'd like to know if there's a method to move the installation from hda to hdb.

EDIT: I tried the tutorial. After I entered the first copy, it said that the directory is corrupt and unreadable. If there's any way to fix this, tell me. Otherwise, I'll just reinstall.

EDIT: For M: I've got Ubuntu 7.10 on a Dell Inspiron 4150 Laptop. Everything is working fine unless I try and switch to the Console, at which point the text is way too large and the screen does not scroll. Any help would be great in case the graphical environment fails.

For corrupt folders chkdsk should be able to fix it. If not, I'd consider doing a harddrive test with a tool from the manufacturer, the HD might be physically damaged.
Don't count on moving the Vista installation from the first to the second harddrive and vice versa. You'll screw up your drive lettering and your boot manager and it will simply not boot anymore at all.

Well, I may as well just not bother fixing it anyway then. Thanks though.