Re: Please help! Multi-boot option not working anymore

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Hi Shawn & Others
Many thanks for offering to help me.
First, when I boot up, I do see Vista's System Recovery Options (after
selecting keyboard and language). But none of the other options in the
menu seem to work.
For instance, the option to do startup repairs (the 1st one in that
list) does not repair the startup. I am afraid to do complete recovery
(one of the other options) as I will lose all of my data.
I did try the 3 switches as mentioned by CH (bootrec /fix mbr, bootrec
/fixboot and bootrec /rebuildbcd). The 1st 2 worked but it could not
find any Vista installations in the 3rd switch.
For all 3 switches, it did say operation completed successfully but for
the 3rd switch it said: Total Identified Windows Installations: 0


Even in the recovery options window, it could not locate any windows
installations on any drive, nor could it find any backup or restore
files. In that window where it is searching for windows installations, I
see 2 tabs ("Load Drivers" and "Next") but there is no vista
installation listed. When I click on "load drivers", I get into
X:\windows\system32 sub-directory but I have no idea which drivers to
select from my hard drive. Apparently, I need to load drivers for my
hard drives (Hitachi & Western Digital).
I have a feeling that my MBR is corrupted. I attempted to "repair" xp
before, and I am not able to boot to the drive containing xp. Once I can
see the xp desktop, I can then install vistaboot pro and attempt to
repair mbr so that I can get vista up & running.
I am sure there is an easier way. Do I have to change the primary
partition to "bootable" or ??? I also have the ultimate boot loader disc
which I have using to get somethings to work but have not been
successful.

To answer the question, what do I see when I boot up? I get the option
of booting from my cd, which I don't. Then I get the option to select my
language and keyboard. After that I see the System Recovery Options (I
presume, from my vista). Somehow, it cannot find my vista installation.

I am trying to avoid re-installation of xp pro since I want to retain
my documents folder and my outlook express settings (on my xp pro)
drive. I cannot reinstall vista since I don't have any installation
dvds.

Thanks for your suggestion and I am sure we will find a way.
Kash


--
q5485
.

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