Screwed up XP dual-boot install, now can't boot Vista

I was asked for a SP3 disc when I went to install the XP onto it's own partition. I didn't have it so I cancelled, now my Vista machine won't boot into Vista. It keeps auto-booting to the XP side and getting stuck at the same point with the SP3 disc.

I tried hitting F11 for recovery at system boot, but it just ignores me and goes back to the XP install screen, asking for the disc.

What can I do? I don't care about wiping the Vista or the XP and starting with a clean Vista install. The copy of XP can go into the disc collection, because I only did this for kicks....now I just want my Vista install running.

I just don't know how to get the Vista to load....if possible, and if not, I don't know what to do to clean install Vista without the recovery option. I don't have the Vista disc, like most computers these days. This is also my roommate's old PC, and he never made any recovery boot discs.....he is not PC adept at all.

Any advice is greatly appreciated. If I can just get Vista back up and avoid re-installing everything, I would really like that, but a clean install or re-install is not out of the question. Thanks ahead of time.

Download and burn to CD the Vista Recovery Disk for your bit-version: Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download — The NeoSmart Files

Boot the CD, accept any offered repair, if it fails to start Vista then boot back in to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots.

If this fails you'll need to mark Vista partition Active to make the Repairs work: Partition - Mark as Active

To get a graphic picture of what is happening to mark Vista partition Active easier, use free Partition Wizard bootable CD. I would rightclick>wipe the XP partition first.

Thank you. That's funny you mentioned this. I am just in the process of burning the iso to disc....I was just going to post back to see if it might work for what I need.

Cool. I will try it thank you

UPDATE!!

Everything is all good. I ran the disc, hit startup repair. Took all of 5 seconds, rebooted and VOILA. Vista booted up. I then went and formatted the XP partition. Everything is all good.

I would have reported back sooner, but for some reason my keyboard failed after all this. I just uninstalled it's driver and rebooted and everything is back to normal.

Thanks GregRocker. This disc is now a part of my "tools" collection.

Take care.

Good to hear. You still plan to dual boot XP? What kind of XP CD prompts for SP3?

Have you considered running XP virtually in Virtual Box or Virtual Player, or dual booting using a separate HD with Win7 kept unplugged during install so you can boot either via the BIOS?

gregrocker said:

Good to hear. You still plan to dual boot XP? What kind of XP CD prompts for SP3?

Have you considered running XP virtually in Virtual Box or Virtual Player, or dual booting using a separate HD with Win7 kept unplugged during install so you can boot either via the BIOS?

It was XP Professional Corporate. I don't know how valid or authentic the disc was, or is. I got it from a friend. After that, I think I might just stick with my Vista install. It has been running brilliantly, and now still is thanks to you confirming that disc for me.

I might give her a go later on, but I have my setup working great since I had a few hiccups the other day, and this got me paranoid about trying again. I have too much time invested in my command center set up to go messing about.

If I need help though when I do decide to try again, I hope I can call on you.

Thanks for your help GregRocker.

Glad to help.