OSS doesn't boot Vista & XP

Can you post a screenshot of what DD shows (in Manual Mode) for your drives? If it's not clear in the screenshot which OS is on which partition, please provide that information.

Can you also attached a copy of the BOOTWIZ.OSS file (instructions can be found here)?

Mudcrab, attached is the screen shot you requested. Also, I have attached a screen shot of OSS in preparation to be activated. Unfortunately, I do not find a BOOTWIZ folder on either the C: or T: drive. I will appreciate your help.

Sorry, I didn't answer fully. Vista Home Premium is on C: and XP Home is on T:

Did you enable viewing of hidden and system files? There has to be a main BOOTWIZ folder somewhere. Check every partition if you don't find it on C: or T:.

Also, you should consider giving your partitions meaningful labels.

MudCrab, thanks. Do you work 24/7?
I'm dismayed, but still don't find BOOTWIZ folder. The "partition" information not attached are external devices. I have provided an updated DD screen showing the re-named partitions. Then, I have provided my settings for folder options and each of the root directory listings for each internal partition. Hope this helps. Will appreciate your continued support.

MudCrab, I don't know why I hadn't thought of this earlier, but here is the C: root from my latest TI backup file.

And, the BOOTWIZ folder content. I have also attached what I hope is what you want of the bootwiz.oss file

The BOOTWIZ.OSS file you attached seems to be an older version as there is no XP entry.

The problem with finding the hidden BOOTWIZ folder is that you haven't unchecked the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) option. This is shown at the bottom of your "Folder_Options" screenshot. If you uncheck that option, you should have direct access to the folder on the C: partition. (This was linked from the instructions linked in Post #2. See this for more information.)

Also, if it's easier for you, you can directly attach the graphic files instead of using Word files.

Sorry I overlooked that critical instruction. Hope this info is better. Thanks.

The BOOTWIZ folder on T: does not have bootwiz.oss.

Henry Ince wrote:

I have restored a True Image full disk backup of my Toshiba XP laptop to a separate drive on my Vista Home desktop.

That may be what's causing the problem. I'm not seeing anything wrong with the BOOTWIZ.OSS file.

When you select to boot into XP and then select to start Windows normally, does a BSOD flash by right before the reboot back to OSS?

What version of TI did you use? Was it TI 2010 with the Plus Pack and the Universal Restore option?

Restoring one computer's image to another computer can often result in a non-booting system because Windows doesn't have the correct drivers and configuration for the new computer.

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If you disconnect the Vista drive and set the XP drive to be the booting drive in the BIOS, does XP boot properly or does it have the same reboot problem?

I used TI 2010, including Plus Pack to do the backup. But, I believe I did NOT use the Universal Restore option on the restore. I simply don't recall for sure.

I don't know what BSOD means. When I select start Windows normally, there are several "flashes" across the black screen during reboot. Then, Acronis loader appears; when it goes off, there a couple of more "flashes" and OSS starts up with Vista and XP displayed again. When I select Vista, the system boots normally.

Further, do you mean to physically disconnect the Vista drive? Or, is there a DD or Windows OS function to accomplish this? I would be very shakey in doing this -- without a LOT of guidance. Then, currently my BIOS boot order is CD/DVD, hard drive, USB, etc. Would I need to make a change there?

Would I be better off to just format T:, re-restore XP insuring to use Universal Restore and see if that corrects the problems?

BSOD = Blue Screen Of Death

One of the normal settings when this type of error happens on booting is for the computer to automatically reboot. This can result in the user seeing a "flash" or nothing, depending on the speed of the computer.

At this point, if it's not a problem for you, I think I would try doing another restore and using the UR feature.

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Regarding disconnecting the Vista drive... Yes, I meant to physically disconnect it (disconnect the cable and the power). By directly booting to the XP drive, you're getting OSS out of the booting process. The idea is to see if XP can start properly without OSS being involved. (I suspect it can't.)

OK, I have done a re-restore w/UR, but still can't boot to XP. Here's what I've done after the restore.

The attached files: DD_Screen, C_Vista_Root, T_Toshiba_Root and C_bootwiz.oss_.txt show the status immediately after the restore. I noted that Toshiba root did not have a BOOTWIZ folder. Then, I activated OSS resulting in the OSS 1 screen shot.

I selected Win XP (2), which caused "Windows Normally", but the Win XP logo did appear for a short time (speedometer bar scrolling) before that aborted, Acronis Loader and an Error: Failed to read from the sector 976,819,932 of the hard disk 4. Chose "Retry" but it aborted to OSS; chose Vista and booted OK. Rebooted to OSS and selected Win XP (first option). This time, Error: Failed . . . sector 548,360,311 . . . Chose "Cancel"; aborted to OSS; set Vista as Default; booted to Vista OK. Disconnected Disk 4.

Booted to OSS, chose Win XP (first option). This time it showed "NTLDR is missing. CTrl+Alt+Del to restart." Restarted. OSS booted to Vista OK. Booted to OSS; chose Win XP (2); "Windows Normally"; abort/reboot to OSS, boot to Vista OK.

At this point, I looked at T: Toshiba root again: T_Toshiba_Root_2 screen shot noting that T: now has a BOOTWIZ folder. Therefore, T_Root_2_BOOTWIZ_root, which does not show any bootwiz.oss file.

Finally, I disconnected C: Vista. When I powered on, I got the "Windows Normally" screen; chose that and system rebooted to the same screen. Chose "Last Known" and the XP logo did appear, but rebooted shortly back to the same screen again. Chose "Safe Mode." This time it did show the XP logo, went to the "Administrator/User" panel. But, here neither the mouse nor the keyboard would work; system locked up. Powered down, reconnected C: and rebooted to Vista OK.

I know XP is not working, but it seems as though it is just barely out of reach. I would appreciate any suggestions.

Do have the XP storage controller drivers for the new computer?

Did you point Universal Restore to the drivers and let it install them?

Do you know which chipset/controller was used in the laptop AND which chipset/controller is used in the desktop computer?

Are XP controller drivers even available for the desktop computer?

To answer your first question, I think so. I have a two-CD set, which I believe has all the Vista & XP drivers for the desktop. I did have both systems running in multi-boot on this desktop at one time. Since then, the XP laptop has cratered and the Toshiba is one that my niece has recently offered to me. Of course, even though I will use that laptop when traveling, I want to get its system running in multi-boot, if possible.

In the restore, I did check "Search removable media" in the UR. However, I was never prompted to mount any media during the restore.

I'm not sure about the chipset/controllers for either computer. Of course, I'm sure I can find out about the desktop, but I don't know about the Toshiba.

I presume the XP drivers I had in the earlier multi-boot environment would be applicable now.