Question:
I have installed the various versions of Vista on 56 various computers. On
eight of those computers I have run into, and solved, this nasty boot
problem. I have also assisted with this problem for a rather large handful
of people who post here with a similar condition.
The problem concerns computers with the following configuration/condition:
1. A computer with multiple hard drives (any mix of S-ATA or PATA it
turns out)
2. Any of the 2nd, or higher, drives has been setup as having a logical
partition/partitions
3. The user installs Vista by booting from the DVD
Answer:
When a drive is setup with a logical partition, 8 meg of unallocated space
is reserved at the beginning of the drive.
The Vista installer, it appears, will start installing boot code to the
unallocated space on a 2nd, 3rd or 4th drive. I have used a hex editor and
have found this code there. This 8 meg of unallocated space is quickly
filled and the installer places the remainder of the code on the disk chosen
by the user for the Vista install.
The Vista install completes and the user removes the DVD. Upon startup, the
user finds that Vista will not boot. Vista is looking for the boot code on
the drive where the user had chosen to install Vista (system partition). It
is not there. Part of it resides on another drive where it is not
recognized.
If the user puts the DVD into the drive tray, Vista boots fine. Startup
takes the code from the DVD.
This should not occur, but it is too late to change the code on the Vista
DVD's at this point. The work around is to physically disconnect any drive
that you do not want the Vista installer to touch. In this way, all of the
code is written to the desired drive/partition.
Upon arriving at the Windows desktop, go to system management | Disk
Management and change the drive letters for your CD drive, DVD drive, USB
drives, card readers etc. to the end of the alphabet. This gets them out of
the way prior to you shutting down the computer and reconnecting your other
drives.
Now, shut down your computer and reconnect your drives. Upon booting to the
desktop, you will see that the new drives are recognized and initialized.
You will also see that the drive letters are in sequence, and not broken up
by the various other drives (you previously moved them). You may be asked to
reboot so the changes can be made permanent. Do so if directed.
The next time you boot to the desktop you can rearrange those re-lettered
drives if you so desire.
Now, I am not certain how pervasive this problem is but I have seen it on
old/new motherboards from 3 major M/B manufacturers. It is not, of course,
going to affect those who purchase a new computer with Vista on it. It
"will" affect those who upgrade or build their own computers, as these are
the users who are more likely to have multiple drives installed in their
machines.
I also saw the same issue and communicated to Microsoft, but have not
received resolve from them...... Also for-your-information....Complete PC
backup and restore feature on computers you mentioned will not work...You
will be able to make a Complete PC backup without issue, but the Complete PC
Restore will fail....The SATA-PATA issue is real and Microsoft is aware, but
no answer yet.....
This "workaround" will allow Vista to boot and operate, but WILL NOT solve
the Complert PC Backup and Restore issue.....Thus giving a false sence of
security..thinking one can do a complete backup and then depend on being able
to restore it....In my opinion this is unacceptable and the Vista code must
be changed to correct this, and new DVD's issued to those affected.....Lets
see how Microsoft respondsto this issue as they have known about this for
almost a month now....
