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    A8jp will not boot even after reformatting

    Discussion in 'Asus' started by pufftissue, Mar 25, 2007.

  1. pufftissue

    pufftissue Notebook Evangelist

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    Hi,

    I installed windows vista without problems. Now I tried to repartition and install windows xp.

    It usually hangs after "setup is inspecting hardware configurations"
    I can sometimes install the files, but once it reboots, it hangs...

    I have reformatted, and I have also tried to fixmbr, fixboot.

    Nothing. Is something irreparable?

    Please help as I'm about to send this back to Asus as a lemon. But Vista may have done this.
     
    pufftissue, Mar 25, 2007
    #1
  2. loopty

    loopty Notebook Evangelist

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    Is your copy of XP the version that came with with the A8Jp? If not which service pack does it include? If Vista ran fine then the hardware is fine.
     
    loopty, Mar 25, 2007
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  3. Payback

    Payback Notebook Consultant

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    I have read that if you have Vista installed first and try to install XP on a partition after it, then it will cause problems like not booting. If you want to dual boot, have XP installed first and install Vista after it.
     
    Payback, Mar 25, 2007
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  4. pufftissue

    pufftissue Notebook Evangelist

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    Yes, apparently that's what happened: installed vista and then xp after it. The problem is, vista and xp are both not booting. Formatting and starting with a fresh disc no longer work.

    This is very disappointing. I mean, if you reformat, you should be able to fix anything, right?
     
    pufftissue, Mar 25, 2007
    #4
  5. Jollins

    Jollins Notebook Consultant

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    Wow its disappointing that it looks as if the a8jp (or similar) cant be downgraded from Vista without issues, though I doubt I'll ever have a need to go back to XP.

    Have you tried:

    Upgrading/reflashing the BIOS?
    Plugging the hard drive into another computer and reformatting?
     
    Jollins, Mar 25, 2007
    #5
  6. loopty

    loopty Notebook Evangelist

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    Formatting doesn't change the MBR or partition structure. I'm guessing part of Vista's boot manager is still stuck in the MBR. But that's just a guess.
     
    loopty, Mar 25, 2007
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  7. E.B.E.

    E.B.E. NBR Procrastinator

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    Yes that's what it sounds like... I would also try downloading a FreeDOS ISO, booting into DOS and issuing a FDISK /MBR. That should clean it up.
     
    E.B.E., Mar 26, 2007
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  8. pufftissue

    pufftissue Notebook Evangelist

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    Would plugging in the hard drive into another computer and formatting it be different than just reformatting it with the vista cd (which I seem to be able to do but apparently doesn't fix any of my problems).
     
    pufftissue, Mar 26, 2007
    #8
  9. MelchiorZ

    MelchiorZ Notebook Consultant

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    This is definately an issue with the Asus BIOS then. I was able to install Vista and then XP and Vista and XP and repeat (ALOT to get it right) when I had a Dell E1505. No problems. Reinstalled in different partitions and reformatted each time.
     
    MelchiorZ, Mar 26, 2007
    #9