Windows Vista Bootcode issue - Vista

[sn00ky]

Hello Everyone,
I can no longer boot into vista. After installing backup software that came with my new USB HDD, it hasn't worked.
Oh, by the way, I do have an operable WinXP OS still working. Dual boot XP / Vista worked fine for months up til the above installation.
I have been working on this for a while now, and I narrowed it down to being an issue:
"Could not read the existing boot code from this volume" "No bootcode was successfully updated"
That is the messege I get when using "bootsect /nt60 blah blah" command in the prompt.
I have tried using EasyBCD and VistaBootPro, all the same. After using them is when I decided to start doing the steps myself so that I could find why they didn't work.
I do not have a valid Vista Setup or Recovery CD, so running the startup repair isn't an option for me.

Thanks for any input!

 

[kemical]

Will it not even boot into safe mode? If you could you might able to use system restore... Although I guess it would be a long shot..