Quote Originally Posted by ckamin
Why so many people have to try extraordinary measures to recover windows using Linux based tools is beyond me. Why not simply try the Startup Repair options on the Windows Install Disk. No Disk? No problem. Do a search and you might just find a downloadable iso file to create a repair disk. Look for Vista Recovery Environment, or some variable on the term. Use Windows to write to an NTFS partition and you'd be a lot better off than using some Non-M$ OS with all the risks of corruption. A simple "Automatic Startup Repair" might fix your system. Do a little homework and search the Micro$oft forums for known solutions.

Be sure to check the drive, since I have seen a LOT of disk failures that start with similar symptoms to yours.

I make a living fixing systems that other people have "tried" to fix. They usually do more harm than good. Most often, a simple fix would have done the trick in the first place. Also, be sure to make a complete backup BEFORE trying to "fix" anything. Create a disk image and copy your files over, just in case. If that means buying an external drive, it's a LOT cheaper than the going rates for data recovery.

Be sure to keep your data separated from any other system, just in case you were invaded by some malware/virus type issue.

My usual advice is that "when you find yourself in a hole, Stop Digging!"
Thank you, ckamin !

Why not simply try the Startup Repair options on the Windows Install Disk?
OEM machine does not come with installation disks.
And recovery disks do not contain anything to do with booting files.

I shall have to download the bit torrent DVDs if I do not find any other easy operations.
My next try, if the Knoppix one does not work, is to borrow a Vista installation DVD or even to download a cracked one
if I have to.

"when you find yourself in a hole, Stop Digging!" What a good and wise advice ! I will keep this.

Thank you !