Friends Windows Vista Home Premium won't boot to desktop

Well, your only other option is to connect just one drive and re-install Windows fresh. If you could determine what drive was the C drive you could connect that drive. I have the ability to connect SATA drives and PATA drives externally using USB attachments. With your 1,377 post I thought you would be more experienced in the modern aspects of Google searches and computer repair techniques by now :D
 
Sorry if I have disappointed you but that is why I chose the name "learninmypc" because I'm learning.
I've read other posts about doing this type of pc work,but never got into it.
I guess I'll just tell the owner its more than I can handle.
I do know how to do Google Searches, I probably just mis understood/read your post.
I thank you for your help & patience.
Is there an answer to post#21? Just curious
BOOT ORDER.jpg
That is the boot order.
 
Okay no problem. The "removable" third boot device would be for your USB flash drive. Once it is made bootable and contained the USBCD files you would set the removable as the first boot device, and turn on the computer with the USB flash drive inserted. The USBCD menu would appear on the monitor
 
Ok, since I admit I have NO knowledge on how to do this, I'm honest in telling you I'd need easy to understand instructions. Probably step by step.
Pardon me for saying this, but what is easy for one, may not be easy for others.
I too am guilty of using the power on button to turn a pc off, but I eventually learned the Start button is a stop button too.
Ok, so if you wish to continue, I'll do my best to follow your directions.
I'm guessing post # 21 is not an option??
 
Well you could try the F8 repair option, but you would have to make sure the original drive C was in the proper SATA connection on the motherboard, as it was before you removed the drives... I am almost 99% sure the F8 option won't work either. You can't use this "bad" computer to create a UBCD flash drive anyway. You have to access a Command Prompt, and this computer won't boot into Windows. Do you have a friend that would understand what needs to be done here? It is really not that complicated for a computer tech to do. You have done a great job on posting the pictures... Thanks :)
 
Hi, Just one or two other bits of info..... I think it is possible to put the Ultimate boot CD programs onto a Flash drive, but it's really designed to be burned to CD. I am in the UK and here we can buy 5 CD+R's for £1.
If you are not too sure about how to go about 'burning' CD's, there is a good, straightforward page at;
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

You can download 'Imgburn' for free. If I can understand it, anyone can.
From your BIOS screen photo, your First boot device is CDROM, so it's correct as it stands, to boot from the Ultimate boot CD.
Say you wanted to change it, you would move the cursor down the list, press Enter, and you will have a list of the other drives, then you choose what you want, and then you have to 'Save settings and Exit' or it will 'forget' your changes.
So at Boot, a PC goes down the list to the first boot device, and if nothing in there, it goes to the second device, and looks for a 'bootable' disc in there, and so on.
So if you wanted to 'Boot' from a flash drive, you would go down the list to 'First boot device', press Enter, and choose 'Removable '. Press F11 to 'Save & exit'.
Then you would re-boot the pc with the flash drive plugged in, and it would start the Ultimate boot CD program. (hopefully.)
Of course there is a chance that the hard drive on SATA1 connection has a fault, and no amount of tinkering with software will sort it, and if that's true then it means buying a new one, and installing Windows from a real DVD as a fresh install.
A genuine product key will be needed too.
But I would try the easy and cheap way first of course.
And all depends on what O/S the PC needs to have on it, XP/Vista/7/8? or other.
Another way out of this is to not install Windows, but a free Linux distro. I use Linux Mint on my spare home made pc, (photo) and I use it on the 'net at least half of the week, and it's very easy to install these now, easier than Windows.......and free, and FAST.
spare_pc.jpg
 
mike1959 said:
Hi, Just one or two other bits of info..... I think it is possible to put the Ultimate boot CD programs onto a Flash drive, but it's really designed to be burned to CD. I am in the UK and here we can buy 5 CD+R's for £1.
If you are not too sure about how to go about 'burning' CD's, there is a good, straightforward page at;
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

You can download 'Imgburn' for free. If I can understand it, anyone can.
From your BIOS screen photo, your First boot device is CDROM, so it's correct as it stands, to boot from the Ultimate boot CD.
Say you wanted to change it, you would move the cursor down the list, press Enter, and you will have a list of the other drives, then you choose what you want, and then you have to 'Save settings and Exit' or it will 'forget' your changes.
So at Boot, a PC goes down the list to the first boot device, and if nothing in there, it goes to the second device, and looks for a 'bootable' disc in there, and so on.
So if you wanted to 'Boot' from a flash drive, you would go down the list to 'First boot device', press Enter, and choose 'Removable '. Press F11 to 'Save & exit'.
Then you would re-boot the pc with the flash drive plugged in, and it would start the Ultimate boot CD program. (hopefully.)
Of course there is a chance that the hard drive on SATA1 connection has a fault, and no amount of tinkering with software will sort it, and if that's true then it means buying a new one, and installing Windows from a real DVD as a fresh install.
A genuine product key will be needed too.
But I would try the easy and cheap way first of course.
And all depends on what O/S the PC needs to have on it, XP/Vista/7/8? or other.
Another way out of this is to not install Windows, but a free Linux distro. I use Linux Mint on my spare home made pc, (photo) and I use it on the 'net at least half of the week, and it's very easy to install these now, easier than Windows.......and free, and FAST.
View attachment 73803
Click to expand...
Ok, here is my Google search for CD+R
Ok, the USB flashdrive I have is not empty,does that matter? It does have a few hundred gb's of space left.
I'm just hoping for the easiest way to "hopefully" get the pc going.
YES, this is new territory for me please be patient. I'll try my best to follow your help.
Is there a way to definetely find out which is the harddrive? Both labels look identical.
 
Hi, I tried to find out how much space you need to install UBCD, seems to be 290MB but some downloads are more.
Can you make 500MB free?
I did find this page which gives points 1, 2,3 to follow. (Scroll down to below the black screen image.)
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/install-and-boot-ultimate-boot-cd-ubcd-from-a-usb-device/
So you need to download the iso file, download the USB installer file, then follow the instructions.
The links are in light blue, so you can't go wrong.

I just don't know if the flash drive has to be empty to start with, but I would play safe, just copy everything off your flash drive onto your C drive, so at least you have it all backed up, should it not work for you.
If it was me I would use the 'Burn to CD' version, but it's your choice of course.
The CD version is more useful because many pc's won't allow booting from a USB device. But you can always set any pc to boot from a CD/DVD. Appears from your photo's you can, so in this case it's a good option.
(I find blank CD's in our 'Poundshops', no doubt you have similar shops, 5 for £1.)
 
Hi, I checked that site.... the download is a torrent type, so I wouldn't use that one... instead I just went to this one, and it's ok.
Scroll down the page to 'Free system tools' heading and the first file is the one. Click on the orange Download link..it's .iso.
That should get that file on your pc. I would save it in case you need it again.
This is the page;
http://100-downloads.com/
 
Well, I followed the instructions, put the flashdrive in , shut it down & restarted it but it still went thru the same screen as before so I guess its a goner?
 
The flash drive needs to be made bootable. That what this command does "cd \ubcd-extracted\ubcd\tools\win32\ubcd2usb
ubcd2usb c:\ubcd-extracted x:"
You enter this command at a command prompt. You can Goolge "command prompt" if you want (with out the quotes)
 
Ok, to clarify, I'm very much able to do a Google search, but which one is why I don't do such in here. I'd have no idea which one of those About 13,900,000 results, is the correct one.
So how do I get a command prompt on this pc?:)
 
Ok, I've read some of the info from your link & willing to continue if you think I can do it since I've never done this before.:)
 
If you don't have access to a working Windows computer you won't be able to use the command prompt. Are you repairing this computer for a friend? Does he or she have any blank CD's or DVD's that you can use to burn The UBCD program to? And just for reference, how old are you? I really don't think that a flash drive will work here anyway. What was the second hard drive used for?
 
I'm currently on my own XP Pro mce . Yes,I'm trying to get it fixed for a lady friends daughter & NO, no CD' or DVD's available.
I didn't know age mattered,but I'll be 60 next month.
I have no idea what the 2nd harddrive is/was used for. I thought it might be for recovery, but I don't know.
This is my first time on this Vista. I originally told her I couldn't guarantee anything but I would at least try.
If you don't think a flashdrive will work, I understand.
I did go out yesterday looking for CD's/DVD's but found none.
Its your choice,if you want to stop now, I won't argue.
 
Wow! I'm 62 and I have been working with computers since 1976, and you can imagine what computers were like back then... That XP MCE computer is over 6 years old now? I salute you for attempting all this! You have no Wal-Mart, Best Buy or Staples where you are? All you would need is a pack of 5 or even 3 blank CD's. Is there a CD/DVD burner on your XP computer?
 
Yes,I remember the first pc I used. My brother built it for a very good friend of mine, a Win 95.Unfortunately he passed away in 1996:(.
This XP MCE if from my best friend because he knew I'd take good care of it.
None of those stores are close enough for me & I don't drive.
On my pc I have a HP dvd writer/ cd-writer combo & a cd-rom
I admit I've never used them to burn anything,just play movies.
 
Do you have a disability? I was born with cerebral palsy in June 1950. Do you have a friend or neighbor that can get the disks for you? Your DVD writer should do fine for burning
 
Sorry Tmagic, I don't discuss my personal life/situation in a public forum.
Believe me, if I had a way to get such,I would. But since I'm not able to, I'm guessing its time to call it quits & I thank you for all your help.
I wish you well.
No, I'm not even on any social media either.
Have yourself an awesome day & thanks. (y):)
 
Okay, good luck to you... and keep posting :) I was born with this and I have lived my whole life open and honest. I have nothing to hide
 
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