Can't reboot after restoring machine from backup image

The motherboard on my Vista machine failed and I had to replace it with a
different one and in the process the hard disks seem to have got wiped out.
All other hardware is exactly the same. I have a backup image of the hard
disk which I restored to the machine but now it won't boot. The initial
screen with the moving bar appears but after that the machine reboots and
then I get a screen saying "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or
software change might be the cause. To fix the problem insert the
installation disk and run repair your computer".

I did that but it failed to do an automatic repair. Is there anything else
I can do to make the machine boot up from the image? I am desperate to get
the machine working again without having to go through the lengthly process
of reinstalling Vista and all the programs.

Would greatly appreciate your help.

Pete

Start up in safe mode. Sounds like a hardware driver is causing issues.
If you installed a different make/model of a motherboard this is
exactly your problem. You need to install the motherboard drivers. If
safe mode doesn't work, get a different hard drive (a less expensive one
if cost is an issue) do a fresh install to that, and then move over
your data from your backup.

Honestly, though, new motherboards--especially with Vista--almost
always require a clean install. You could get away with it in 98 or
2000, but since XP the OS is much less forgiving of funky driver issues.
Finally, clean installs aren't that big of a deal and this way you'll
have your data and another hd to boot (so to speak).


--
dpic

"Pete" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> The motherboard on my Vista machine failed and I had to replace it with a
> different one and in the process the hard disks seem to have got wiped
> out.
> All other hardware is exactly the same. I have a backup image of the hard
> disk which I restored to the machine but now it won't boot. The initial
> screen with the moving bar appears but after that the machine reboots and
> then I get a screen saying "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or
> software change might be the cause. To fix the problem insert the
> installation disk and run repair your computer".
>
> I did that but it failed to do an automatic repair. Is there anything
> else
> I can do to make the machine boot up from the image? I am desperate to
> get
> the machine working again without having to go through the lengthly
> process
> of reinstalling Vista and all the programs.


Are you sure they're plugged in too the correct sockets?

--
Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM
Do not reply with email

"Pete" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> The motherboard on my Vista machine failed and I had to replace it with a
> different one and in the process the hard disks seem to have got wiped
> out.
> All other hardware is exactly the same. I have a backup image of the hard
> disk which I restored to the machine but now it won't boot. The initial
> screen with the moving bar appears but after that the machine reboots and
> then I get a screen saying "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or
> software change might be the cause. To fix the problem insert the
> installation disk and run repair your computer".
>
> I did that but it failed to do an automatic repair. Is there anything
> else
> I can do to make the machine boot up from the image? I am desperate to
> get
> the machine working again without having to go through the lengthly
> process
> of reinstalling Vista and all the programs.
>
> Would greatly appreciate your help.
>
> Pete

First disconnect everything from the motherboard except the main disk and
one optical drive.

If you now have a different video card and the new motherboard has an
onboard graphics adaptor, remove the video card and use the onboard graphics
for your monitor until you are up and running again. Windows can get
confused about sudden changes to add-in graphics cards, but seems better at
coping with on-board graphics.

One other issue with XP occurs when replacing a motherboard with an Intel
processor with a motherboard with an AMD processor. I do not know if the
same applies to Vista - I suspect that it might. The problem is with the
Intelppm service which will cause a lockup when Windows sees an AMD
processor. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888372.

90% of the time, the above will permit you to get the system up and
running,. Then you can connect the other devices and cards to the MB.

Nigel