There are only 2 ways that I can think of for why there seems to be a Linux
boot error.

1) I put the Vista Nvidia drivers on a flash drive that also has BART-Pe on,
which I think is a Linux, or Unix, based pre-boot utility.

2) A virus somehow squeeked past Norton Internet Security after I
uninstalled it to run the Vista Upgrade.

Now the really strange part. I used the BART disk prior to a full wipe and
clean install. After the attempted 'Upgrade', I got the weird graphics, so I
ran the XP Pro disk to delete the partition, repartition and format the
drive. After doing that, I've not used the flash drive. I was saving that
for the off chance that Vista actually got to a point that I could load
drivers...which it never did.

Now...as far as running the '/fixmbr'. I'd love to try that, but even
booting to the DVD does not show me that possibility.

I also fond it strange that the system would run through it's 'Performance
check', pass, restart, then go to the anomoly.

Anyways...I've since reloaded XP and have given up on upgrading to Vista on
that machine. I'll just have an extra disk lying around

As soon as I have a definitive answer to the problem, it will stay XP.
Unfortunately, it took us several months of saving to be able to afford the
Vista disks, so buying a new computer is out of the question. Just wasted
money on the second disk.

I can understand you'd be cautious abound trying to upgrade to Vista, after
the bad expereince. But actually, it sounds like most of the Visa upgrade
went okay. The only weird bit was that somehow a spurious Linux bootloader
found its way onto your system. Wherever it came from, I can guarantee it
did not come from the Vista DVD!

I'd recommend that, when you're ready, you go ahead with the Vista upgrade
again. As long as GRLDR is expunged from the system, it should all go
smoothly. I'd stick with the FX 5500 card - it's a good card, and you can
get Vista drivers for this card, direct from the nVidia website:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/quadro_fx_5500_4500.html

Vista may install with basic-level drivers if it doesn't have an FX driver
built-in (probably not); but you can install the nVidia drivers, once Vista
is up and running.

Now...as far as running the '/fixmbr'. I'd love to try that, but even
booting to the DVD does not show me that possibility.

Well hopefully you won't need to again, in future, but the steps to do this
were in the KB article 927392, which I linked. If those steps didn't work,
I'd be interested to hear why?

Anyways, good luck with the machine, from here on ...
--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

You don't need to have had Linux installed. Grub 4 Dos is included on pirated
version of Vista Ultimate from Dell. Try not shopping for software on
BitTorrent or other P2P networks

"Wonderbugg" wrote:

OK. First of all, I've NEVER had Linux on this machine. This is exactly
what happened.

1) Compaq Presario SR1103WM, pre-loaded with Win XP.
2) I've since upgraded to Win XP Pro SP2
3) Downloaded Windows Upgrade Advisor
4) Was advised that the Video drivers needed to be updated....updated Video
drivers to latest XP release. Ran Advisor again.
5) Advisor said there may be a problem with the Nvidia FX5500 Video Card.
6) Took out FX5500, went back to factory graphics.
7) Advisor said everything was good to go.
8) Started upgrade fom XP
9) Allowed updated to be downloaded prior to install, then followed defaults
all through Vista install.
10) Vista completed its install...the screen that has the 'Start' button
after you input the time zone.
11) Vista install went to the standard background with no icons, or anything
else.
12) Computer self restarted and ran a 'Performance' check. Performance
check finished. system restarted again.
13) Booting GRLDR error on restart. Last command I see before the screwy
graphics is 'Loading GRLDR. Resetting the boot drive'...then a black screen
with small colored boxes flashing at random spots on the monitor with what
looks to be ASCII characters in them.

Second time I tried was a complete fresh install...since Vista screwed up
the initial XP OS beyond fixing. Same problem at the same time. Only when
it seems to be restarting for the last time does it do this.

"Andrew McLaren" wrote:

"Wonderbugg" wrote ...
different colors. I have to shut the computer down. When I start it back
up, I get
GRLDR
Resetting the boot drive...
Then the screen goes too fast to see what it does, but it appears to go
thru

GRLDR is the Grub 4 DOS Loader, as used by some distribution sof Linux. You
must have had Linux installed on the machine at some stage. That's not a
problem, itself. But the old Linux installation has left behind a boot
loader which appears to be hijacking the system, when you try to boot
Windows.

Either check the support channel for the Linux distribution you were using,
for details about how to remove GRLDR. Or follow the steps in this KB
article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392
to run bootrec with /fixmbr and /fixboot ... that should hopelfully restore
the Windows boot loader so it starts Windows Vista normally. Be aware, if
you are dual-booting Linux and Windows, this will probably remove access to
your Linux installation.

Hope it helps,
--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au

just delete grldr in drive C:\ and you'll be ok. but you have to enable
viewing protected operating system files in folder options.


--
momay

Idiot!
--
Mick Murphy - Qld - Australia

youre the idiot. this is how i solved the "booting grldr" screen in my
vista laptop.


--
momay

thanks alot momay. I had the exact same problem with grldr or something. I did have linux before, but didn't know how to remove the loader, even though it still booted vista but was just annoying to see it all the time. Your instructions worked perfectly.

Enable viewing protected os file in folder options
delete grldr in drive C:\

restart pc and grldr gone, vista loader started up with no problems.

thank you again bro