Vista suddenly won't boot and states incompatible version upon trying to repair installation.

from Sins Forums

I'm desperate.

Chief complaint: Vista suddenly won't boot (no boot device detected). There is no DVDs in the drive and i unplug any flash memory drives from the ports.

If i try to repiar the vista installation, it states incompatible version.

Past history: 

When i first built this computer, vista will refuse to boot if it did not shut down properly or the power cut off suddenly.

In the past, i choose repair installation via vista installation disk.

Afterwards, I assumed that after vista updates or whatever... the problem never came back.

 

Now 6 months later... I turn on my computer one morning and it will not boot and I can't repair the installation.

 

Either it was a faulty vista 64 bit installation, bad hard disk sector, or bad luck?

I guess my only option is to format and do a fresh install...but i have to go thru some hurdles like getting my files out of the hard drive before formatting (a pain in the butt). Vista is installed on my western digital velociraptor.

 

Specs:

Asus P5Q Pro Intel P45, G.Skill 4GB (2GB x 2)

Core 2 Duo 8400

WD VelociRapter 300GB, Samsung Spinpoint F1 500GB

XFX Geforce 9800 GTX

 

What are some good programs to check for bad hard drive sectors?

32,600 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

Sounds a lot like my issue today; I get home and my HD is dead.  Turns out my Seagate drive has a known issue where turning the computer off can, potentially, kill the drive.

 

Yeah....  that's annoying.  Data is still there, apparently, I just can't get at it.  There's a firmware update to fix the problem, but that only works if the drive isn't dead yet.  I smell trouble!

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top


<snip>

What are some good programs to check for bad hard drive sectors?

End of quote

TestDisk

 

I used it recently.  It works.  But nothing you described indicates that there's a hard disk issue - so be aware that this may not help your situation.  TBH, modern OS and drive controllers tend to be able to identify drive hardware faults before it gets to the point where you can't boot.  It just doesn't sound right.  The 'incompatible version' problem might be that your install disk is Vista, but you're now running Vista SP1 and didn't create an updated recovery disk?  Just guessing there.  I've not yet been in this situation for Vista.

+1 Loading…
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

one of the best is spinrite 6.0 from www.grc.com

I use it on most of the drives that i service in my business

harpo

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

it may be an MBR problem. have you tried fixmbr in the command line?

you could try this if fixmbr doesn't solve the problem.

just a thought.

 

as a side note... I always leave my system running. the fact is with electronics, constant powering up and powering down will eventually (sometimes sooner rather than later) cause damage to electrical components from the heat up/cool down phases and the expansion/contraction that results. eventually the traces on the boards will crack causing shorts.

system hardware will have a longer lifespan at safe tempuratures/voltages that it will with always shutting down when not in use.