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Fix or Repair the corrupted Vista Bootloader in a dual-boot configuration

Windows Vista no longer starts after you install an earlier version of the Windows operating system in a dual-boot configuration.“If you install an earlier version of the Windows operating system on a Windows Vista-based computer, Windows Vista no longer starts. In this case, only the earlier version of the Windows operating system starts.“

Why This Occur ?

These issues occur because earlier versions of the Windows operating system are incompatible with the new Windows Vista startup method. Windows Vista uses a new Boot Configuration Database (BCD) store. This store contains a boot menu and all the information about operating systems that are installed on the computer. Therefore, a Boot.ini file that is from an earlier version of the Windows operating system cannot be used to start Windows Vista.

How to Resolve the Issue ?

Use Bootsect.exe to restore the Windows Vista MBR and the boot code that transfers control to the Windows Boot Manager program.

To do this, type the following command at a command prompt:

Drive:\boot\Bootsect.exe /NT60 All

In this command, Drive is the drive where the Windows Vista installation media is located.

Note The boot folder for this step is on the DVD drive.

Please Leave Your Comments If You Experience Any Problem in Following the steps listed above.

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13 replies on “Fix or Repair the corrupted Vista Bootloader in a dual-boot configuration”

i had my vista working perfectly ..i tried to install windows server 2003 on it and now i cannot even boot into my system i.e. VISTA..i tried the above step and that also does not work..
plz help me i want to get my vista back without formatting it..i also somehow mmanaged to enter DOS and opened up boot.ini file in that windows server 2003 was mentioned and not vista..plzzzzzz someone help me out!!

am using xp & vista ……..currently i want to remove vista and its boot loader, tried everything lik fixboot & so on…..
how to remove vista boot loader by passing t control directly to xp???

Thank you! This sorted out the problem I just couldn’t fix. My problem occurred after upgrading my hard ware non of my previous OS Installations would boot. So I decided to do a fresh install on Vista on a partition. All seemed fine, it would install, do it’s initial boot-up procedure then ask me to sign in. After I signed in it would immediatly log me off again, restart and I was presented with my old boot menu, full of OS that no longer would boot, my new install missing.

I reinstalled several times, every time the same thing would happen. But this fix has allowed me to boot up into my new install and actually get to use my computer. For anyone that has experienced similar problems as me then I suggest using this method.

The problem of mine is that when I type it at cmd it says system cannot find the path specified. I already installed vista but when At the OS menu only XP appears. Please help me, noob here.

hi i have this issue i tried what you said but it says that it cannot find the path. what is up with that?

Thank you so much for this!
I had a dual boot on two partitions same drive. Both primary drives. C: (XP) as active. Formatted C:, lost the whole mbr. Reinstalled XP, still lost Vista. Used this, and now Vista is BACK! Thank you so much!

I installed windows xp pro and then vista ultimate + sp1 after.
Because of Major problems with XP I reinstalled it and then vista bootloader would not appear during bootup.
I tried your instructions for fixing the boot loader but it failed twice.

Regards
cyberspeedjunkie

The file Bootsect.exe is on the Windows DVD so the drive letter must point to that DVD and the DVD must be in your drive.

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