Vista: INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE (STOP 0x0000007B)

[chicagotech]

After we had upgraded one of Gateway XP computer to Vista, we received:
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE (STOP 0x0000007B).

This error can be caused during the Setup process if the SATA mode of the boot drive is not set properly and the SATA driver is disabled. To resolve this issue, enable the AHCI driver in the registry before you change the SATA mode of the boot drive. To do this, follow these steps: 1. Exit all Windows-based programs.
2. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
3. If you receive the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
4. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Msahci
5. In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
7. On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.

[chicagotech]

You may also receive this error message if one or more of the following conditions are true:
• The hard disk is faulty.
• The hard disk cabling is faulty, or the hard disk cabling is not connected correctly.
• The computer is infected with a boot sector virus.
• The computer BIOS or the disk controller firmware are incompatible with Windows Vista.
• Another program is using the master boot record.

In most cases, this is incompatible driver issue. Check this link for more resolution.

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www.chicagotech.net/vista/vistacompatible.htm