Installed new mobo; now pc won't boot windows

Discussion in 'Building a new PC' started by Sqwerly, Jul 1, 2009.

  1. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    Hi there,

    I'm having some trouble with my mobo install and would really appreciate some help.

    I just installed a new motherboard and graphics card in a new case. Power on goes smoothly and I get to the Foxconn screen to either hit tab to POST, or Del to to setup. I'm able to enter setup where my HDD and CD/DVD burner are recognized.

    But when I try to boot, it shows the Microsoft screen (I have Vista btw) working. Then, I get a flash of a BSOD and then a restart. Upon restart, it tells me that Windows has failed to start and suggests I launch the Startup Repair program.

    After awhile, it says that Windows cannot repair the computer and then I must click to shutdown.

    Any suggestions? I would try to put in a Vista boot disk but I unfortunately I don't have one.

    Thanks,

    Neesh
     
  2. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    I forgot to give my specs:

    OS: Vista
    Board: Foxconne ELA
    Card: Geforce 9800 gtx+
    HDD: 500GB Seagate
    CPU: Q6600 quad core
    Ram: Four 1GB sticks of no-name or possibly Kingston ram
     
  3. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    new motherboard with different chipset means having to do a fresh install of windows. how did you get vista on before without disk?
     
  4. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    I don't think it is a different chipset.

    Vista was pre-installed on my Acer bundle when I bought it. I was supposed to make some boot discs but never got around to it. Silly me :(

     
  5. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    what happened with the old board? can you still use it to make up the recovery disks?
     
  6. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    P.S.

    I can get into Advanced System Recovery Options including:

    Startup repair (though it doesn't resolve anything

    System Restore (can't find any restore points)

    Windows Complete PC Restore (from Backup which I dont have)

    Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool

    Command Prompt


    I opened a command prompt and typed regedit and it opened up. Does this help at all?
     
  7. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    ddp,

    I guess I could. I was really hoping there was some other way as I really don't want to tear down everything again. This is the first time this setup has worked (getting into bios) as these parts are RMAs. The whole proccess has been extremely frustrating and a tear-down and rebuild times 2 is the last thing I want.

    Neesh
     
  8. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    if careful then don't have to do a complete tear down & rebuild. can use old board outside of tower as done that a few times.
     
  9. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    The way my rig is, it would have to pretty much be a full teardown.

    How can I be getting into regedit if I can't boot into Windows? There must be something I can with a command prompt...no?
     
  10. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    vista does not have dos so to get command prompt means going thru windows which you can't. start tearing the system apart.
     
  11. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    I'm telling you that I have a command prompt. It's the last option in the advanced sustem recovery options.

    Also, I've typed regedit (the only command I know) into the promt and regedit opens.

    What does this mean?
     
  12. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    Ok, the stuf in regedit definitely doesn't contain the info that it should so I guess that it's not "into" Windows.

    I guess I have to try and make a boot disc.
     
  13. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    Ok, I downloaded burned and ran a Vista recovery disc and it has done nothing.

    A guy at Best Buy tells me that there is some licensing conflict and that the Windows that is installed on the harddrive that came with my Acer (my old computer), won't be able to work with my new board.

    Can anyone shed some light on the truth of this and how might I go about getting this resolved?

    Thanks,

    Neesh
     
  14. varnull

    varnull Guest

    That's completely true.. you bought fista oem installed on your old hardware.. it ain't going to work on anything else...

    When you buy something which is subject to activation and manufacturers style drm you haven't actually bought anything at all.. either pay up for a new fista or look at the free alternatives XD
     
  15. cee43ja1

    cee43ja1 Regular member

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    prebuilts uses OEM installs, which locks the license to the motherboard. when you switched motherboards, you lost the license to use windows. there is no way to get the license.

    you need a new copy of vista now. or you can download windows 7 from microsoft.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2009
  16. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    Thanks for the tips!

    I do have a couple of concerns though:

    Is Windows 7 free?
    Can I download it and then just install it over top of Vista on my Harddrive?

    Will my content on the HDD be safe?

    Thanks for your help. This whole proccess has been very frustrating.
     
  17. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    Also, shouldn't I still be able to get into a reduced-capability Vista?

    I'm getting BSOD's when it tries to load. Is there any way the motherboard drivers are at fault here and would there be any way to load them if they were?

    When I load the Vista recovery disc, there is a screen that asks if I want to load some drivers if I don't see the OS to be repaired.

    Even though it's there, I click on the load drivers and I'm able to navigate through files on my hardrive!

    What does this mean?
     
  18. Sqwerly

    Sqwerly Member

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    I'm going to start going to other forums because nobody here seems to have any usefull information.

    Thanks for mothing.
     

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