Deleted Main C Vista Partition, can't reinstall any OS - error 0xE0000100

Question

I decided to delete the main partition (C) of Vista after booting from the Vista Ultimate DVD (provided by Dell) and create 2 new partitions to clear off the junk from the original Dell image - something I've done countless times on other systems using 98, 2000, and XP. After I deleted the C partition and chose a new size in MB for the 1st new partition (lower than max as I was creating 2 partitions), I immediately received an error message. It stated "Windows installation encountered an unexpected error. Verify that the installation sources are accessible, and restart the installation. Error code: 0xE0000100." http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939727 - This describes my Dell XPS M1710 setup perfectly. By the way, XPS tech support was clueless and stated this was the first time they had ever had someone call in where the HDD wasn't recognized by the Vista DVD but passed all the hardware tests.

From then, I've had no luck in trying to reinstall Vista, or XP, or 98. The KB from Microsoft states a hotfix corrects this error (I have a Vista DVD pre-hotfix). How do I slipstream this .msu file onto my Vista DVD so I can reinstall? I've already received the hotfix file ( http://thehotfixshare.net/board/index.php?automodule=downloads&showfile=2898).

*** No extra hardware, software, etc would cause this behavior prior to me restarting and deleting the main partition. I even set SATA to disabled in the BIOS to see if that would help but it did not (neither did BIOS defaults). The XP CD just makes the screen go blank and won't load a thing after booting from it. All Dell diagnostic tests passed successfully.

Message Edited by bhsizemo on 10-11-2007 03:32 AM

mombodog · Answer

The KB article clearly states what to do.

"To apply this hotfix, you must use the files that are included in this update to update the Windows installation source files. For information about how to do this, see the OEM preinstall kit (OPK) documentation. "

But it looks like you have to be a registered Microsoft Partner to get it. :smileysad:

http://login.live.com/login.srf?wa=wsignin1.0&rpsnv=10&ct=1192131965&rver=4.0.1532.0&wp=LBI&wreply=http:%2F%2Foem.microsoft.com%2Fscript%2FcontentPage.aspx%3Fpageid%3D557631&lc=1033&id=25126

"This problem occurs because Windows Vista setup does not recognize a partition if the last DWORD value of the partition size is 0."

A work around would be to nuke those pesky partition(s) using a 3rd party program like this one

http://dban.sourceforge.net/ boot from the CD you make, and choose carefully the partition and nuke it, you do not have to nuke the entire partition, just let it run for a minute or two, then do a hard shutdown by holding the power button in, repeat the process if you have more than 1 you need to nuke. Try the Vista DVD again to partition the drive.

Or use a third party partitioning software to get the job done.

You might also boot of of a XP CD and see if it can deal with the partitions.

I mean how do you break a basic function like partitioning? Thanks Microsoft.

Message Edited by mombodog on 10-11-2007 03:01 PM

bhsizemo · Answer

Thanks for the reply, but I don't think you read the question I had about the update.  I already have the update file (Microsoft sent download link) as you can submit a request on the KB page.  My question is how to slipstream these files onto the Vista DVD.  I would hope that someone here has experience with the OPK and can lead me in the right direction in creating the new DVD.   I also stated the XP CD just makes the screen go blank (30+ minutes and still blank) and won't load a thing after booting from it.  While using a 3rd party program will fix the partition tables, that's just a workaround and not a fix.  I need the Vista DVD to run without problems with the hotfix files slipstreamed.

mombodog · Answer

I understood you question perfectly, so you are saying you have the OPK program for Vista?   It is not called slipstreaming in Vista. Vista is Image based, not file based install like XP was.   You cannot do what you want unless you have the OPK software for Vista, and it is not available to non Microsoft partners, that means you. Period, end of story.   If you want to know how to use OPK for Vista, start reading http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:Xtq0A03aSvIJ:https://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/worldwide/vista/OPK/Getting_ Started_OEM_v2.rtf+using+opk+vista&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=22&gl=us     Here is the rtf file (word doc) direct download link https://oem.microsoft.com/downloads/worldwide/vista/OPK/Getting_Started_OEM_v2.rtf   A work around is a Fix if it gets you past the problem,   good luck to you.

jonkers · Answer

Just wondering if yu have had any luck with fixing this? I just got my new xps today and did the same thing and now i ant install any form of windows.

bhsizemo · Answer

My only resolution was obtaining a replacement HDD from Dell.  This is obviously a bug with Vista as I've had far more partitions with an XP system and had no problem deleting and reinstalling.  In the future, I'll just have to use third party partition management for Vista partitions.

jonkers · Answer

I fixed mine in the we hours of this morning. After trying just about all forms of partitioning software. None of them could actully see the hdd like vista. I went through all my disk. There was one there called media connect. I ran that first and it actually re partitioned my hdd. Then i just ran the vista disk. This time when i got to the screen where the error popped up, there was a unused space, and a media connect partition. i just started a smaller partition with the unused space. And it installed no problems. then i just made the other partitions from within vista.

gdwrnch3 · Answer

Vista bug, LOL, everything anyone doesn't understand, is a Vista bug.....

bhsizemo · Answer

Call it what you want (bug, hotfix, error, etc) but it's a known issue from Microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939727 and not easy to implement the 'fix' as it can't be slipstreamed for the normal end user.  In deleting of partitions similarly setup by Dell and other OEMs with 2000 and XP, Vista is the first to have such results where no drive is recognized to reinstall the OS.

gdwrnch3 · Answer

I've formatted, partitioned, reinstalled hundreds of times in many different machines, raid, no raid, desktops, laptops since Vista went beta, and have never had any issues at all. Maybe mine had it's flu shot.....:smileyvery-happy: no bugs for me,,,lol Maybe,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just maybe,,,,,,, I know how to do it,,,,,, Too many people that haven't a clue are reformatting and trying to reinstall rather than just remove the software they don't want. Vista, and the generation after Vista is not like the 'old' windows, no files, it uses an image.     You really should read up on the new technology, and learn to understand it, before you mess with it. I guess it's too late for that now though, isn't it.....

bhsizemo · Answer

I've formatted, partitioned, and deleted partitions to create custom sized ones countless times for custom business deployments with images as much as anyone here in the past 15 years and only Vista has this problem.  Whether it's a new OS/technology or not, deleting a partition shouldn't cause the reinstall process to fail.  When HDDs went from FAT to FAT32 to NTFS, I encountered no such problems with pre-Vista.   I guess Microsoft failed to test the deleting of partitions to create custom sized ones by using the Vista DVD without booting into Vista first and using their software (such a time waster).  Sorry I didn't 'read up' on something that had worked so long and I hadn't seen it as a published problem with Vista.  It would be nice to offer a solution versus telling us to read - or even better for Microsoft to release new Vista DVDs that don't create this problem.

jonkers · Answer

i have done this task many times with other operating systems. And this is the first time i have had trouble.   Mine is fixed now so i am happy again. Message Edited by jonkers on 12-13-2007 11:08 AM

mombodog · Answer

' An image that the manufacturer created was used to install Windows Vista. The manufacturer used the System Preparation (Sysprep) tool to create this image. The computer's hard disk drive is partitioned into two or more partitions. The partition on which Windows Vista is installed is larger than 40 gigabytes (GB). Additionally, the size of the partition is a multiple of 4 GB. '   Yes it is a Vista bug, but it is a very tight criteria to make this happen, no less than four things have to be in play, but it does happen. :smileysad:

bhsizemo · Answer

Dell (and probably many other OEMs) has put out thousands of systems that satisfy all conditions from the Microsoft KB.  Every system that had a 100GB HDD with Media Direct installed can run into this problem.  So if you had an XPS M1710 with Media Direct and a 100GB HDD, you're eligible for this bug.  I've experienced it first hand.

Windows General

Deleted Main C Vista Partition, can't reinstall any OS - error 0xE0000100

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