Error loading operating system

[Flime]

I built this system
EVGA 750i SLI MB- Intel Duo Core Quad 6700 CPU - EVGA 9800GTX- Samsung 750GB
SATA HDD. 2 Opticle drives SATA & Logitech G15 keyboard. I have all current &
appropriate drivers for Vista 64 Bit OS.

I initially insatlled Win XP (32bit) while waiting for Vista (64bit) to get
here. I originally had a partition, but I deleted partitions & reformat to
install Vista on one primary drive.

Now on initial start I get 'error loading operating system' but when I
restart PC it boots up ok. I have Googled & employed numerous suggestions
regarding BIOS setting for SATA HDD to Large, Boot priority..ect. I have
tried reformating HD & repartition again, all no help.

My system works, it just gives me the error when I turn on the PC after it's
been off-but boots up ok when doing re-starts. Anyone help with this? I'm
considering going back to WinXP & just write off the $$ spent on Vista.
Please help frustrated PC novice.

 

[peter]

And in the BIOS the SATA drive boot order is set right???

peter

 

[Flime]

Peter-
I tried setting BIOS boot order to the SATA HDD first, then to the SATA
CD's, but this made no difference, So I reset BIOS back to boot CD first,
then the SATA HDD. Does it matter which SATA headers on MB are used to hook
up the drives? and should the boot order be HD first, then CD's?

PS: no floppy drive installed.

 

[Flime]

After more research I'm thinking I need to set up a dual boot Vista & XP with
Vista installed first . Looking at EasyBCA bootloader program. Does this
sound like a possibility? I have jacked my hard drive around so much trying
to fix this problem.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Vista has a startup repair tool that you can access by booting with the dvd.
Give it a try.

 

[Flime]

Thanks, I tried that also, still "error loading os" on initial startup.