Is this a Philips computer? Or what is the make and model of the computer?

It is a SATA I motherboard meaning if you have a SATA II drive it needs to be jumpered to SATA I. But if it was working previously then this is probably not an issue. The jumper is on the rear of the drive.

You over wrote XP on that IDE drive with Vista just to let you know but let's leave this IDE drive out of the equation for now.

You said: "In the morning the computer had restarted and was back to the original problem of Phillips screen and constant orange light" the one time that Vista SATA loaded. Just to keep in mind you had the same thing happen under the old and new PSU. Point being perhaps your problems lay in other hardware.

What is happening now is neither your BIOS nor your DVD are reading Vista on the SATA.

We need to verify that the computer can see the SATA drive or if it does see the SATA drive just cannot read Vista.

"The partition table does not have a valid System Partition" means "The system partition listed in the partition table does not contain the required system files."

How Windows RE Works

This would indicate the DVD sees the SATA but does not read Vista.


Now I will list some possible fixes if the Boot Sector is damaged and then some BIOS settings from your manual.

Please try the BIOS settings first. If you have very important data on the Vista SATA I would also recommend trying to "slave" this drive in a known working computer and try to extract your data. You may need to reinstall Vista which would wipe all your data on this drive.

Here are pages describing possible Boot Sector Repairs:

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista

FIXMBR - FIXBOOT


But first the BIOS:

Your SATA Channels are listed as IDE Channel 2 Master & 3 Master. We need to verify that the BIOS sees your SATA drive as either Channel 2 Master or Channel 3 Master.

Other things to check:

IDE HDD Auto-Detection is set to Manual and not Automatic.

Then choose your Master drive as either Channel 2 or 3 depending on which slot you are plugged into. You may need trial & error to determine which port is which.


Also check: Integrated Peripherals: OnChip PCI Device = serial ATA controller = enabled : serial ATA mode (IDE)

Then please describe the list under: Hard Disk Boot Priority.


Finally, for now, I will show how to reset or clear your CMOS which we might want to try at some point but not now:

You do this by temporarily moving a jumper on the motherboard as seen here:



With the computer unplugged move this jumper from 2-3 to 1-2. Wait ten minutes then put it back on 2-3. This has cleared all memory in your BIOS essentially setting everything to default factory condition.

Thanks so much for your help. I will have a go at all this tomorrow and will let you know how I get on.

Just to clarify a few points before I begin.

Yes the computer is Phillips.

Yes the computer does recognise the SATA drive but doesn't see the Vista.

SATA is listed in BIOS under IDE Channel 2 Master.

I guess we are on opposite time schedules as I am falling on my pillow again although it is 4:30 AM

Do you know the exact Philips model?

Then verify by my prior post that IDE Channel 2 Master is set as the HDD boot drive.

The computer is a Phillips Freeline - MT1400

Hard disk boot priority is:

1. Ch2 M. WDC WD2500KS-00MJB0 - SATA
2. Ch0 S. Maxtor 6L160P0
3. Bootable Add-in Cards

Integrated peripherals checked and correct.

Hope you slept well.

Made some progress.

I disconnected the SATA and started up with IDE drive and was able to activate this time.

Closed down reconnected SATA and started up again. Went straight to Vista on IDE and all files seem to be in tact.

SATA now appearing as (F) and again all files seem to be in tact.

So far haven't been able to connect wireless but things are progressing I'm pleased to say.

Not sure how IDE is loading as SATA still listed as master.

I am going to back up all important files!

Thank you so much for your help, I'm not home and dry yet but I think we're getting there.

This afternoon I installed the Vista updates on the IDE drive and when the computer restarted I was presented with two Vista installations to choose from. I chose the lower one and up came the Vista from the SATA drive!

All seems very strange to me!

Hope everything will be ok now.

Thanks for all your suggestions. Not sure which one it was that did the trick but we appear to have got there!

Cool. Let us know if we can help further.

Just by the way SATA drives are always listed as Master since they are on a single channel the Master/slave distinction is moot.

Aarrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!

Turned computer on this morning - all good.

Turned it off, put the side panel back on and placed it very carefully in it's normal position on the desk. Restarted but now back to original problem. Philips screen and constant orange light.

Have tried starting up with one drive connected at a time but no luck. Can't even get to BIOS.

Any other suggestions please?

I've tried looking for Philips support but there is little to be found. The only computers they list are laptops but of course they make monitors. Are you sure the computer itself was made by Philips?

Contact & Support

Anyway sounds like you still have a power problem or a connection somewhere.

Does the computer beep when you try to start it?

I would reseat your RAM and check all your power connections.

If the computer does not beep try to start it once with the RAM removed. Does it beep now?

Also try clearing the CMOS as mentioned above. Note that this will set the BIOS to default so you may need to adjust the Boot Priority again.