Vista Hosed?

Hello all,

I am in need of dire support here as I think I have completely hosed my system.

As of late I have been exploring the idea of adding a Linux distro to my system and after receiving several disks that are included with the various Linux magazines, I chose open SUSE 11.0.

I played around with live cd version so I could get a feel for it and see how it worked without installing the software on to the HD.

Well last night I decided to go ahead and install openSUSE 11.0 from the installation screen I saw on Vista.

After installing it, openSUSE booted up fine (from what I can tell at least). After checking to see if it worked, I thought ok - goodie. Now it's time to play some COD 4 Multiplayer.

I did a shutdown restart and this time I wanted to boot into Vista. I receive a boot selection with the opensuse logo and I was given 3 choices - opensuse 11.0, opensuse 11.0 (failsafe), and Windows Vista....I chose Windows Vista.......and nothing happend.....the computer just sat there.....doing nothing.

So now I want to unistall opensuse, get windows back to the way it was, and just run opensuse on a different unit.

The only way I can get into windows is by using my full version install disk. I tried using the "start up repair" but that kicks me out saying to disconnect any new hardware like usb drives or cameras, which nothing is attached.

I tried system restore, but that didn't do anything....

I loaded windows onto a different drive that I had in a different rig, so I at least can see that the data is still on my primary drive, but I just want to go back to the way I had it.....

Can anyone help me or am I going to have to reformat and reinstall windows....thus losing my data?

 

Check this thread, worked great for me as you have the Vista disk. The bootrec part by Adrynaline was what did it.

 

Well I tried everything I could as far as undoing the damage I did, but without success....I live booted Ubuntu so I could copy all of my data and then I wiped the affected hardrive clean......

I am now in the process of rebuilding the harddrive.....

Here is a little advice to anyone out there......KEEP YOUR DISKS ALL TOGETHER WITH THEIR SERIAL KEYS (if they come with any). Do you know how much of a pain in a butt it is to try and track stuff down.....it's a pain in the butt.