Clean Install Fails

[Guest]

I want a multi-boot system - existing XP-home - and Vista just to have a look
at it
(I'm a PC salesman and will no doubt have to sell PCs with Vista early next
year)

I tried and failed - any advice on how to create this, or what went wrong
please.

I shuffled by partitions and created an empty 50GB primary partition (Drive
G, using partition manager under XP home, (fully updated).
XP still boots - so made a backup.
Downloaded RC1, created DVD and ran Custom Install - set to load into the
emty partition. Update was enabled.
Vista loaded, a multi-OS boot screen was automatically created as part of
the install - I didnt have to select anythingd and selecting Vista at boot
time loaded vista and worked. OK some issues with drivers - see below.
Eventually I decided to return to XP so shut down and re-booted and selected
'Old Windows System' from the multi-boot options - and heres where the
problems started.

XP failed to start - black screen, white text, '<windows
root>\system32\hal.dll corrupt or missing'

Tried again - same
Tried with Vista - it started

So - now what -
recovered my backup to C. - same error message.

Thought it could be a corrupt boot - so tried to re-install XP from CD
CD started and eventually - blue screen of death, 'Stop' error caused by
pci.sys.

Booted old DOS disk and used FDISK - deleted XP and VISTA partitions - still
can not run XP Install.
Deleted ALL partitions - same
Used old Norton DISKEDIT to wipe out scetor zero - same.

OK - got out PC manufacturers recovery disks and booted - it detected the
corrupt boot sector, rebuilt - and bingo - back to scratch
Used Partition manager to recreate partions, recovered my backup again and
TADA - it works - but what a palaver.

Vista driver issues
Upgrade tool advises after installing Vista to get new CREATIC 802.11G
driver - but I cant find one.
Sound dead - upgrade adviser suggests this may be the case - its is a
C-Media High Definition Audio - codec CMI9880L - cant find drivers
TV Tuner - no go - it is a Medion card with the 7134 chip set - cant find
drivers
These arnt an issue as I dont use the wireless, TV or sound very often, and
I just want to get a feel for Vista.

 

[Guest]

Hello

I also had multiple failures with install using the DVD I burned, ended up
formating an PATA drive (could not get Via drivers to work for my SATA)
installed XP Pro SP2 on the drive updated it via windows update (did not
install any programs) then copied the Vista Install DVD to a folder on the XP
disk and installed it from XP using the folder copy of the install disk.

went in like a charm,

I was very frustrated as the DVD was checksumed ok and just stopped
installing for some reason.

very cumbersome way to install, BUT the key is it installed and is working
well

my "bi*ch" is that UAC is unweldy and makes my MS Outlook 2007 Beta not able
to use hyperlinks or update from the help menu. I am using administrator
privileges and still cannot get away from the

" The operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this
computer. Pleas contact your system administrator"

WHAT RESTRICTIONS, WOW

Good luck on your installs

Jones
"There's Things I am and Things I'm Not"