VISTA installation keeps failing

[emil86]

Hey guys

I got Sony VAIO VGN-NS31S

I had a problem and my Windows stopped loading so I've been trying to reinstall OS with my Vista CD

First time it crashed at Final stage. When it was finalising the instalation.

Then the second time it crashed at Installing Updates stage came up with registry error saying it cant update registry..

Any advice how to install Windows Vista on this laptop?

cheers

[rich912]

Hi emil86,

My guess is that there is a problem with the hard drive. You could try running chkdsk to see whether it is repairable.

http://kb.wisc.edu/page.php?id=6565

If ultimately you need to replace the drive and are using the original recovery disks you created then make sure the repacement drive has 520-byte sectors as opposed to the newer Advanced Format drives that have 4096-byte sectors as the recovery media will not work with the AF drives.

If using a retail copy of Vista either format of drive will work.

Rich

[emil86]

Hey man thanks for your reply..

I ran a chkdisk it came up with some errors and then it was stuck at 65PERCENTAGESIGN finished the stage 2

So i had to restart as it froze wasnt doing anything for almost an hour.

I dont not have recovery disks I am using retail copy of Vista.

How about installing SATA drivers? I heard that Vista has problem recognizing sata drives.

Do you think installing sata drivers might help?

Message was edited by: emil86

[rich912]

Hi emil86,

It's Windows Xp install that needs Sata drivers not Vista.

I suggest you try fitting a new hard drive.

Rich

[emil86]

hey Rich

what type of hard drives would you recomend for a VIAO laptop?

any examples/suggestions you can drop in (some links) would be very helpfull

thanks

[rich912]

Hi emil86,

This Video should help with gaining access to the drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJwHFxPYB5M

You will need a 2.5" wide x 9.5mm tall Sata hard drive - a Google will provide plenty of hits.

Rich