La Mar you didn't make clear:
1) Did you install older OS's prior to Vista? (Hopefully). The rule is to
install the older Windows OS first and I'm sure you followed that.
2) Hopefully you used separate partitions or at least folders to install
these multiple OS's.
3) You should be able to re-establish your boot manager by using one of
these apps without having to resort to the cmd line BCDETIT:
http://www.vistabootpro.org/
http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/post-580795.html&sid=9f93849fb3dad5edd85df3d19778e44f
4) If you have a situation that you installed XP after Vista this might help
you out:
Windows Vista no longer starts after you install an earlier version of the
Windows operating system in a dual-boot configuration
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919529/en-us
5) You may be able to fix both Vista and your boot manager using these:
First of all make sure you exhaust all the options at F8. I never use VGA
safe mode for thisbut I do use all 3 safe modes and I use Last Known Good
( a long shot and a registry snapshot but if it works then you're home
free). If those don't work then use Win RE's Startup Repair.
Try F8 Win Adv Options & Win RE:
Do this:
I always try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I
don't use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives
you a choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with
Command Prompt.
You will need this reference:
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/en-us
The command to use for system restore at the safe mode cmd prompt is:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
The reason for doing this is one of these choices may work, when the other
doesn't. My experience is that people do not fully try F8 when they think
or have said they have. It is that they can almost always reach Windows
Advanced Options though.
I would note an important problem seems to be emerging in Vista as more and
more people try Win RE. It does not seem to have the success rate that a
Repair Install from genuine MSFT Media does in XP, and as builds of Vista
march onto RTM, Desmond Lee (Product Manager for Win RE's) team seems to be
unable to fix this. I am not sure Mr. Sinofsky knows what this is or is
that curious to learn. I am sure Mr. Allchin does.
What It Can Do:
If you run Win RE's Startup Repair in Vista, it will try to check and repair
the following and we're taking about under three minutes usually when it
works which is often: (this is not a complete list but a list of major tasks
it can perform):
Registry Corruptions
Missing/corrupt driver files (you don't have to guess here--it looks at all
of them
Missing/corrupt system files (disabled in Beta 2 as is System File Checker
but present newer builds)
Incompatible Driver Installation
Incompatible OS update installations
Startup Repair may offer a dialogue box to use System restore.
How to Use Startup Repair:
***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***
1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)
2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***
Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui/images/2014/500x375.aspx
Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img_vista02ctp-installSysRecOpt2.bmp
3) Select your OS for repair.
4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:
You'll have a choice there of using:
1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore
See also for ref:
Boot Configuration Data Editor Frequently Asked QuestionsBoot Configuration
Data Editor Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/library/85cd5efe-c349-427c-b035-c2719d4af778.mspx
Edit the Windows Vista Boot Menu Options
http://www.vistamania.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=167&Itemid=34
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver/tips/Debug_Vista.mspx
Good luck,
CH
