Vista install gone bad...gotta be the hardware... 2

[wahnula]

Hello,

I originally started this thread in the Vista forum, but it has become clear to me that this is a hardware issue. History:

Unable to resist the peer pressure I had to spring for the Vista Ultimate 32 bit OEM for new computers (not upgrade ver.) I have (had) 2 HDDs in RAID 0 that I decided to split for testing purposes.

Steps:
1.Cloned existing XP RAID 0 array to single disk, Raptor (I use Ghost 2003);
2.Separated original RAID 0 array;
3.Cloned back original image to a single former RAID member drive 1;
XP is fully functional as imaged on drive 1;
4.Deleted/formatted other former RAID 0 member drive 2 in Windows;
5. Attempted to load Vista to formatted RAID drive 2
"Windows loads files" then a faint "Microsoft Corporation" appears on a black screen. Forever. No green progress bar. No DVD or HDD activity.
6. Ran CKHDSK of Drive 2, fine;
7.Cloned Raptor image to Drive 2;
Drive 2 boots XP just like its momma.
8. Attempted to install Vista to that XP drive, same black screen. When I insert the Vista disk in Windows I get the splash screen, and it prompts to do an upgrade instrall, it also says to create new partitions I should boot to Vista DVD. Same thing. DVD drive is Plextor 740a, has been reading/writing fine, system is Core2duo E6600, P5WDH-dl, 2GB RAM. Vista Advisor said all was well (except of course Norton A/V, their competitor).
9. Used Seatools to zero fill one of the 7200.10 drives, still failed;
10. Swapped DVD drive, HDD, and all cables W/ known working component;
11. Tried clean Vista install to another PC, DVD works fine;
12. Reset AMI BIOS to Optimal Defaults
12. Tried a clean instalL of XPSP2 AHA!!! Received the lovely dark blue screen:

SESSION3_INITIALIZATION_FAILED STOP 6F 0X00000020


Please note that these steps were done individually to note progress or failure.

So here I am back in hardware-land scratching my head and looking for a solution. The web solutions for this error don't help much, as I have tried many, including the DMA registry reset to no avail. What's up here? Guesses completely welcome. Cheers!

Tony

 

[ASG0856]

Not used/seen vista yet so probabley talking a load of baloney, but having read somethings about installation and upgrades, and how MS have tightened things up, is the fact that you are trying to install an OEM version for new computers onto a computer with a pre-existing operating system (which perhaps it does not expect to find) causing your problems?

 

[wahnula]

ASG0856,

Far from baloney, at this point I am fielding all opinions! I did try to install to a zero-filled drive.

I think the key piece of knowledge is that XP also gets an install error when installing to different clean drives, notifying me of the above STOP issue.

At least XP tells you why it is not installing, Vista just sits there with a blank stare looking confused.

I do remember a problem with SBS2003 not installing onto an Asus K8NDL board from the primary IDE master, it needed to be installed from secondary IDE (or primary slave). Maybe I will try that tonight. Keep 'em coming!

Tony

 

[ASG0856]

Found this on the MS site

Error Message:
STOP: 0x0000006F (parameter, parameter, parameter, parameter) SESSION3_INITIALIZATION_FAILED

Explanation:
This is a Windows 2000 Executive character-mode STOP message. Session manager process creation failed. This can only happen during the relatively short period of time that the Windows 2000 Executive is being initialized, during phase 4 of Windows 2000 startup. There might be a problem with a device driver.

User Action:
If this is the first time you have booted after installing new hardware, remove the hardware and boot again. Check the Microsoft Hardware Compatibility List to verify that the hardware and its drivers are compatible with Windows 2000. For information about the hardware, contact the supplier. If you are installing Windows 2000 for the first time, check the Windows 2000 system requirements, including the amount of RAM and disk space required to load the operating system. Also, check the Hardware Compatibility List to verify that the system can run Windows 2000. If Windows 2000 is loaded and no new hardware has been installed, reboot with recovery options set to create a dump file. If the message continues to appear, select the Last Known Good option when you reboot. If there is no Last Known Good configuration, try using the Emergency Repair Disk. If you do not have an Emergency Repair Disk, contact your technical support group.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

Why would Windows 2000 have anything to do with Vista?

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!

 

[linney]

Windows XP Bluescreen - session_3_initialization_failed
thread779-1072596

 

[wahnula]

OK guys thanks...I've decided to do the strip routine...(cue stripper music please)...PCI cards & USB card reader out, 1 stick RAM, 1 HDD, PS/2 keyboard & mouse, one DVD drive & floppy. Betcha that works. Will report back.

This is not a knock on Vista, as XP reports the problem is my hardware config.

Tony

 

[wolluf]

linney?!?!

 

[linney]

I got lost.

 

[wahnula]

All,

Here's one to file away for that one time when you have a similar head-scratching problem. After dissecting and meticulous troubleshooting that included a PCI GFX card (16MB woohoo!) as well as several expletives I found the remedy was the same as the K8N-DL I built last year...the P5WDH won't install an OS from an Optical drive on primary IDE master, it has to be a slave. I changed assignments (and the cable config) for the two Plextor drives and la-de-da Vista is a-bootin' (XP too). Anybody run into this before?

I am upset that I did not try this earlier as I had encountered the exact same thing before. All's well that ends well. I reviewed my notes and sure enough I had to load XP from the slave for the XP install, what's the good in keeping a log if you don't read it?

Luckily I had a new build for the office I had to work on anyway (Sempron 300+, Biostar NF4-A7, 1GB RAM, smokin' number cruncher) to keep me busy, inbetween Windows updates on that machine and parts-swappin' on the other one it was a fun night of PC troubleshooting & construction. I will wait until I am fully awake to install Vista.

BTW the other machine build went flawlessly...thanks everyone, se ya' 'round! And linney, feel free to drop by now & then!

Tony

 

[ASG0856]

Johnthephoneguy

Why would Windows 2000 have anything to do with Vista?

Not withstanding that Vista is based on similar design concepts of 2000 and XP, invariabley, a lot of the errors that appear (especially on installation), whether in 2000, XP or Vista, all have the same causes. At Installation, the setup program, not vista is running, and the setup programs are probabley (or very nearly) all the same.
So that is why this could apply!!

 

[ChillLead]

Optical drive as slave.... Hmmmmm Not on primary IDE slot, mmmmmm Hmmmmm.