ulyanov77 Posted March 4, 2007 Share Posted March 4, 2007 We ordered the Vista disc with the HP notebook, but now I am thinking that this is not an actual install disc that can recover from the missing winload.exe error... When I boot off of the disc, there is a black screen that says something about loading windows. After that loads a gui comes up and a command prompt is briefly seen. Then there is a process with a series of hitting "next" which will eventually lead up to wiping the (whole) drive and restoring factory settings... That's peachy and all (I don't have data on the drive I need to recover) but also defeats the purpose as it will wipe Mac OSX off as well... If that is all that HP has given us (for 20 bucks I might add) I will be highly disappointed.... in any case, does anyone know of any other methods for me to fix the winload.exe missing error (without wiping the whole drive)? Thanks a ton. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Universe_JDJ Posted March 5, 2007 Share Posted March 5, 2007 When you get the GUI screen, there should be a little link called "Repair my Computer" or similar in the bottom left. Click on that. That should allow you to fix startup problems. If the wizard doesn't detect anything wrong, go to the command prompt option and type "BootRec /fixboot" or "BootRec /fixmbr" (depending on the circumstances.) Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-316843 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulyanov77 Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 That's what I'm saying is that the disc that HP sold me is not an actual install disc with features like a command line, the only option I have from the disc is to restore to factory settings (which is what I've done, due to my need to run Windows). Anywho, until I get my hands on an install disc or find some other method, no dual booting for me... Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-318025 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metrogirl Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I can't speak authoritatively on HP's Vista, but the XP disc that came with my HP laptop was a sort of Ghost-type image which simply dumped a ready-to-run system copy onto the HD with no regard for existing partitions. I suspect the Vista disc is exactly the same - not an installation disc, but an image of a Vista-loaded HP hard disk. The fact that you see a command prompt briefly suggests that this is the case as it loads an image-dumping utility. The winload.exe problem is common with multiple-boot and multiple disc systems. Basically some combination of the boot manager, partition table and BIOS are confusing Vista into looking in the wrong place for its files. It's curable, but it usually takes a lot of trial and error. Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-318074 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Universe_JDJ Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 That's what I'm saying is that the disc that HP sold me is not an actual install disc with features like a command line, the only option I have from the disc is to restore to factory settings (which is what I've done, due to my need to run Windows). Anywho, until I get my hands on an install disc or find some other method, no dual booting for me... Acronis then? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-319148 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheND Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 Acronis then? Doesn't work either. Even if you add the files for acronis to recognize Vista, it still gives a winload.exe error. I ended up getting a retail copy of Vista, and slipstreaming my HP drivers into the iso. Now, I don't have to worry about AOL and all that other OEM {censored} that gets installed. Nd Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-321422 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulyanov77 Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 that's what I was curious about... I reaallly need a vista install disc, and seeing as how i purchased a copy of vista (albeit, oem) through hp, can't they at least give me the option of getting one? I remember hearing something about if you have a dell pc that they will ship a disc to you for $5 or something; anything similar with hp? anywho, I refuse to pay for vista a second time when it was included in the price of my computer... any ideas? Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-323057 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulyanov77 Posted March 15, 2007 Author Share Posted March 15, 2007 well, i tried contacting hp and they simply won't send me a disc... so matter's in my own hands. could i use a pirate copy of vista just for the purpose of recovering from the winload.exe missing error? I wouldn't be installing or anything. Can vista tell the original disc used for installation? I have home premium, could I just get home basic solely for using the disc's repair tools? THanks Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-324591 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dice7 Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 yes you could, its still Vista but the CD's are just the factory image and a couple of utilities to test with. Sony does the same thing. I think they think its cheaper and it gives them a way to get peoples computers back to the way they were before something happened to the install. I think it sucks. I use Dell, I know some people do not like dell but I like to be able to get my OS CD's with my System. So yeah you can download a version of Vista just make sure it the same type, meaning home, business or ultimate. Dice Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-324641 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ulyanov77 Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 Alright. So I have a Vista install disc that I can successfully boot into, the only thing is, when I go to Repair a window pops up asking which OS it wants to repair. Nothing is available for me to repair, but it does mention loading drivers for a harddrive. Do I need to obtain drivers for my SATA hard disk so that the Vista Install disc can repair it? Thanks! Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-324838 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheND Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 well, i tried contacting hp and they simply won't send me a disc I was worried about that too. But my Recovery Manager wouldn't recognize my DVD-RW drive. I called HP and because of a BIOS error, I received the restore DVD free. If you are interested in doing a slipstream, use driver magician to save all the non-M$ drivers and let Windows find them, then use Windows Update to get the newest versions. Hope this helps, Nd Link to comment https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/topic/44246-hp-and-vista-install-disc/#findComment-325653 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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