This is probably going to be an Epic so hold on.

It started when I couldn't load "Sessions" music software
on my Vista Ultimate 64 computer. Fine I says, I will just
put XP back in a Dual Boot config ... Wrong!!!

Now why would MS think that anyone would need to use
an older OS and provide an EASY way to get that done on
a valid system running a current version of their OS?

So, after having to RESTORE from my HP IMAGE of the
system, I thought ... I should try to restore some of my files.

WRONGO, ME BUCKO ... Vista says there are NO VALID BACKUP SETS
found, although I am looking right at them on my USB drive.

And canm I say that the ONE THING every software company should
consider Sacrosant is BACKUP AND RECOVERY ... If those don't work and
trash your users data, you should be drawn and quartered.

So, Back to the VISTA / xp DEBACLE ... There is a MS article on the
KnowledgeNet that details how to slipstream and then install XP to
a Vista machine. The last steps (Unfortunately, this "bug" won't
rear it's head until you have destroyed your machine ...

It directs you to install the Vista CD and then run BCDEDIT or some
other programs from the \boot directory. Well guess what?

A. I can't boot into Vista because the XP system blew away the
MBR and all the info that Boot Manager needs.
B. I can't find a \boot Directory on my HP generated System
Restore DVD. (Surprise Surprise!!!)
C. So now since I also cannot restore the files from the BACKUP
USB Drive I am reducexd to re-loading all that crap by hand.

I am NOT a happy camper, because I have spent a WEEK of my
TIME trying to fix what NEVER should have been a problem to
begin with.

How can you LOSE the ability to RE-BUILD a backup catalog
from a tertiary device?

Thanks for any suggestions that any of you might offer.

(Aside from BUY A MAC!!! or "RUN LINUX")

--
Living the Dream