Error Loading Operating System

[luv2kruz]

I had some previous serious problems with my original windows MCE2005 installation. I eventually reinstalled enough to get it to boot, however, some of the windows functions are not working right. I tried to install the OS on the second hard drive in the machine by it kept crashing. I orginially thought that it was due to the SATA drivers, however, I now realize the recovery CD that I got from my system builder installs them during the windows set up.

I reformatted the second drive and repartioned and reinstalled the OS. However, now I am getting the "error loading operating system' error.

I must be missing something simple. I've used another recovery CD and tired fixmbr and fixboot and no luck.

Any ideas?

[crazy14muzic]

you can try booting from the recovery cd that is, if its bootable leave the cd in the drive when you boot up, if it doesnt boot up you may have to change your boot sequence in bios to make it boot from the cd

i also have read, that to properly set up the os on a sata drive you have to disconnect any ide harddrives forcing the sata drive as primary bootable drive i dont have any sata drives here so i cant say for sure but reading that you tried setting it up on your second drive sounds like this issue

good luck

[luv2kruz]

Actually, both my drives are SATA drives. I've tried to load the operating system on the second drive before (which never worked) and I thought reformatting would erase all references to any old installation. I've just recently read I might have to use something like DISKKILL to reset the drive as some remnants of the install might still be there.

When I reinstalled this time, I disconnected the first SATA drive with the semifunctional OS, and partitioned, formatted and installed to the second drive straight from the recovery CD. With no other drive present, I thought this would give me the boot.ini and other files on that drive which would allow me to boot from it.

Any other ideas?

[crazy14muzic]

im not familiar with that diskkill program you mentioned but by you repartitioning the disk should have wiped any mbrs out forcing you to format

just another idea as again my experience with sata drives it zilch. did you try putting the second drive on the master channel? im not sure if that would make much difference

[bevills1]

Your problem sounds similar to but not exactly the same as a post I saw on http://forums.g4tv.com/categories.cfm?catid=64. In the post there the guy also had SATA HDD and mobo and was unable to even setup Windows due to numerous errors and crashing. He finally determined the problem was bad memory which could perhaps be your problem. Suggest you try different memory if you have or can borrow some, or you could remove memory pieces one at a time to test memory if you have more than one in the system. The CallForHelp TV show, which unfortunately was dropped by G4TV, has also indicated similar problems can be caused by bad memory in earlier broadcasts.