Two problems: One with Vista, one with Boot Magic

Simon · 27th January 2007, 18:10

Before I delve into what's wrong, this is what I have: A8N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard which has stuck to it 2x250Gig HD running as a 500Gig RAID0 SATA configuration. Don't have a floppy drive but do have 1xDVD/CD drive. (Other hardware not important for the purposes of the about-to-be-described problems). Running WinXP Pro (SP2).

Problem #1:
I want to create a dual boot PC. Got Boot Magic (and Partition Magic) and have done all the described steps to create two bootable drives for two different OS's. Boot Magic refuses to install (or work) correctly and upon boot-up it displays the following message rather than giving me a menu to select which partion (OS) to boot from:

-.||||||||
Error finding BTMAGIC.IMG
Run Bootmagic install
Press a key

Which is very, very annoying

Problem #2
Having gone the long-way around to boot into my empty partion I intend to install Vista RC1. Problem is RC1 doesn't ship with SATA/RAID drivers and I'm stuck up the creek without a paddle (or even boat, for that matter) because the Vista Setup program states I have no harddrives installed. As of yet I have found no Vista drivers for SATA/RAID configured harddrives. Another

. This means I have to put a disaster recovery CD in to boot from (that contains a special program shipped with the PC) to re-boot into my XP partition because it allows me to re-write the master boot record.

So then everyone. I'm awaiting with eagerness to hear any solutions. (By the way, upgrading XP to Vista RC1 is not an option

)

JohnDotCom · 27th January 2007, 19:04

On release versions of Vista I know there is support for what you want on Vista Ultimate & Vista Business but can find no mention of it on Home version (should be though) Drivers are listed on the disc but do not appear on Microsoft Partners site's!

Simon · 27th January 2007, 19:23

Like you, John I would have thought that the drivers would have been included. It seems very odd that they are not.

Keith · 27th January 2007, 20:33

Doesn't Boot magic need to be installed on a small FAT32 partition?

Simon · 27th January 2007, 20:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith

Doesn't Boot magic need to be installed on a small FAT32 partition?

Yeah.
Using Partion Magic I had the following on my RAID:

Physical Drive #0
Logical Drive #1a: Drive Letter C, NTFS, WinXP bootable partition
Logical Drive #1b: Driver Letter C, NTFS, bootable but empty currently
Logical Drive #2: Drive Letter E, NTFS, non-bootable and full of my documents and stuff
Logical Drive #3: Drive Letter F, NTFS, non-bootable, used for back-up
Logical Drive #4: Drive Letter G, FAT32, Boot Magic
Logical Drive #5: Drive Letter X, FAT32, System Recovery using Norton Ghost (PC manufacturer installed drive and hidden to all OS's)

Complicated? Yes. Does it work? No.

Simon · 27th January 2007, 20:43

Just a quick thought... Does the FAT32 (Boot Magic) have to be BEFORE the second cylinder boundary to make it bootable or would this then limit how much of the cylinder boundary can be used for the other bootable partition?

27th January 2007, 18:10	#1
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Two problems: One with Vista, one with Boot Magic Before I delve into what's wrong, this is what I have: A8N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard which has stuck to it 2x250Gig HD running as a 500Gig RAID0 SATA configuration. Don't have a floppy drive but do have 1xDVD/CD drive. (Other hardware not important for the purposes of the about-to-be-described problems). Running WinXP Pro (SP2). Problem #1: I want to create a dual boot PC. Got Boot Magic (and Partition Magic) and have done all the described steps to create two bootable drives for two different OS's. Boot Magic refuses to install (or work) correctly and upon boot-up it displays the following message rather than giving me a menu to select which partion (OS) to boot from: -.\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\| Error finding BTMAGIC.IMG Run Bootmagic install Press a key Which is very, very annoying Problem #2 Having gone the long-way around to boot into my empty partion I intend to install Vista RC1. Problem is RC1 doesn't ship with SATA/RAID drivers and I'm stuck up the creek without a paddle (or even boat, for that matter) because the Vista Setup program states I have no harddrives installed. As of yet I have found no Vista drivers for SATA/RAID configured harddrives. Another . This means I have to put a disaster recovery CD in to boot from (that contains a special program shipped with the PC) to re-boot into my XP partition because it allows me to re-write the master boot record. So then everyone. I'm awaiting with eagerness to hear any solutions. (By the way, upgrading XP to Vista RC1 is not an option )

27th January 2007, 19:04	#2
JohnDotCom * Rover 75 FaceLift Tourer CDTi 170BHP Auto ConnSE 2005 Model Starlight Silver Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Abergele Posts: 28,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	On release versions of Vista I know there is support for what you want on Vista Ultimate & Vista Business but can find no mention of it on Home version (should be though) Drivers are listed on the disc but do not appear on Microsoft Partners site's!

27th January 2007, 19:23	#3
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Like you, John I would have thought that the drivers would have been included. It seems very odd that they are not.

27th January 2007, 20:33	#4
Keith This is my second home ZT400 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ellesmere Posts: 5,948 Thanks: 0 Thanked 43 Times in 29 Posts	Doesn't Boot magic need to be installed on a small FAT32 partition?

27th January 2007, 20:43	#6
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Just a quick thought... Does the FAT32 (Boot Magic) have to be BEFORE the second cylinder boundary to make it bootable or would this then limit how much of the cylinder boundary can be used for the other bootable partition?