Fix: "boot from hard drive ..." error for Vista and Parallels

The Problem
I did something to my Boot Camp installation of Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, and I don't know what that something is.

When I launch My Boot Camp in Parallels Desktop, it hangs on the black screen with a persistent "Boot from hard drive ..." message. While Vista hangs during boot in Parallels, it works just fine booting by itself. Ugh.

The Fix
I browsed many forums in search of a solution; none worked for me. Bound and determined, I decided something had to be done.

This fix is inspired by the information found at Microsoft's website that describes how to use bootrec.exe in the Windows Recovery Environment.

The steps below outline how I configured Parallels to boot to the Windows Vista installation DVD to access the Windows Recovery Environment and how I used bootrec.exe to fix the master boot record on my Boot Camp partition. The figures at right are screen shots of the steps.

1. Start by modifying the boot devices in your Parallels Boot Camp configuration. Under the advanced tab of Hard Disk 1, change the device connection from IDE 0:0 to IDE 0:1.
   
   
2. Select Yes to the warning message, and Parallels will automatically set the CD/DVD device connection to IDE 0:0. This will configure Parallels to boot to the Windows Vista installation DVD.
   
   
3. Stick the Windows Vista installation DVD into the optical drive, and run the Boot Camp virtual machine inside Parallels. Hard drive booting will fail, and Parallels will continue to boot from the DVD.
   
   
4. Select Next at the Windows Vista installation welcome screen, and then choose to repair your Windows installation.
   
   
5. Windows will search for installations and prompt you with a list; choose your installation and select Next.
   
   
6. At this point, Windows will attempt to repair your installation. If you've done this before, the repair may fail, and you must select to view the advanced options for system recovery and support. Otherwise, the list of options will present itself.
   
   
7. Choose the option to open a command prompt window.
   
   
8. This is the step that involves the information at Microsoft's website. Execute the the following command:
   
   bootrec /fixboot
   
   
9. Wait for the operation to complete successfully, and then execute this command:
   
   bootrec /fixmbr
   
   
10. Wait for the operation to complete successfully, and then close the command prompt window and select to restart the computer.
    
    
11. Stop the virtual machine while it attempts to reboot.
    
    
12. Return the boot devices back to their original configurations (see steps 1 and 2 above). Under the advanced tab of Hard Disk 1, change the device connection from IDE 0:1 to IDE 0:0.
    
    
13. Select Yes to the warning message, and Parallels will automatically set the CD/DVD device connection back to IDE 0:1. This will configure Parallels to boot to the hard drive as normal.
    
    
14. If all went well, your Boot Camp installation of Windows Vista will no longer hang at "Boot from hard drive ..." as a Parallels virtual machine.
    

Garmin GPS + Parallels + Windows Vista/XP

Today, for the first time, I successfully connected a Garmin Oregon 300 hand held GPS device to Windows Vista via Mac OS X 10.5 and Parallels Desktop.

While the Garmin 300 jives very nicely when booting natively into a bootcamp installation of Windows Vista, communication fails with Parallels' default guest USB configuration.

Out of the box, Parallels prompts the user for action concerning connected USB devices. Choosing the "Garmin International - Composite" device from the list of connected devices produces an error message:

USB device you are trying to connect to the virtual machine is being used by another application. Close that application or unplug the device and plug it again. Then try to connect the device again.

To avoid this error message, change the default USB configuration from requesting user input to automatically connecting USB devices to the guest operating system.

1. Disconnect the GPS device from the Mac if it is already connected. Shutdown the virtual machine if it is already running.
   
   
2. Open Parallels Desktop without starting the virtual machine.
   Launch Spotlight with Apple + Spacebar, type Parallels Desktop.app, and press Return.
   
   
3. Edit the USB configuration for the appropriate virtual machine.
   Click USB Controller from the list of configuration options.
   
   
4. Configure Parallels to automatically connect USB devices to the guest operating system.
   Choose Connect to guest OS from the USB Connection Options drop down menu.
   
   
5. Close the virtual machine preferences window by clicking OK; start the virtual machine.
   
   
6. Once the virtual machine loads, the Parallels Tools initialize, and all booting and login activity complete, connect the Garmin GPS device to the Mac via a USB cable.
   
   
7. Wait as the Garmin GPS device saves all waypoints, routes, and trip log information to GPX format.
   
   
8. Windows Vista prompts you with an Autoplay dialogue if the configuration is proper. Otherwise, you will see the same error message as before.

At this point, you're free to run Garmin MapSource to transfer waypoints, tracks, trip logs, and maps between Windows and the Garmin GPS device through Parallels on your Mac. The Garmin MicroSD card is also accessible via this method.

Hiking Marmot Mountain

Mike and I like to drop everything and go hiking when the weather permits. Fresh snow and blue skies seem to draw us into the mountains. Today is Friday, October 17th; the sky shines brilliantly blue over the snow capped mountains to the north of the Valley, and as the sun begins its decent to the west, we head into the mountains of Hatcher Pass.

Check out the photos of our short afternoon hike in my Picasa Web Albums gallery.

Hiking in Hatcher Pass: Summit Lake

For September 6th, Michael and I hiked the Summit Lake trail in Hatcher Pass. With no indicated destination or duration, we simply packed our gear for a day hike and took off for the mountains. Leaving my tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad at home was at the very least indication of a short hike.

Our day started late; we left the trail head around 3:30pm. September/October are the months we experience very near equal parts of daylight and darkness. By 9:00pm, the night sky makes outside tasks very difficult this time of year. I knew this when we started our hike, and I made a mental note that we should turn back around 7pm.

The hike up the ridge line was quite spectacular. The blue skies left us earlier in the day around 1:00pm, but the high cloud ceiling made the hike worthwhile despite the lack of my favorite color in the sky. The specialists forecast rain, we prepared ourselves with rain gear, gloves, and warm undergarments just in case.

Michael secretly set a goal: we were to walk the ridge line until view of the Valley was unhindered by additional mountains. The goal was not unreasonable. In fact, we reached that point around 7:00pm--very well on schedule. Unfortunately, my right knee began burning excruciatingly at that very point, we were facing 30-mph sustained winds and very horizontal rain, and we still had the 1400ft decent from our peak 4850ft elevation with which to contend.

Easy, huh?

The decent was painful. I took 800mg of Ibuprofen and wrapped a brace around my knee. Despite the pain bleeding through, I knew that without a tent, overnight survival would be rough--even though it would have made for a hell of a better blog entry. Maybe next time.

We hit the parking lot around 9:30pm; the sky was definitely too dark for our activity. Next time, I'll take my tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. I plan to offset the extra ten pounds (33% additional pack weight) with a new ultra-compact point and shoot camera (more on that later).

I've posted the photos from both my and Michael's cameras to my Picasa Web Albums.

Backpacking in Hatcher Pass: Reed Lakes

On Friday, Mike and I ponied up for the weekend of August 15th, 2008, packed our gear, and headed north into the Talkeetna Mountains for three days and two nights of backpacking around Upper and Lower Reed lakes.

This trip was the first remote, wilderness experience for much of the new backpacking gear I've acquired this summer, including the quintessential expedition shelter you see pictured, a 3-person, Hilleberg Nallo 3 GT tent (with groundcloth).

Also on my list of new and existing gear:

• Garmin Oregon 300 GPS
• Osprey Exposure 50 pack
• Therm-a-Rest ProLite 4 pad
• REI Kilo Plus 0 sleeping bag (discontinued)
  
• SnowPeak Trek 700 Titanium cup
• SnowPeak Titanium Spork
  
• SnowPeak Giga Stove
• MSR 4L Dromlite bag
• MSR Dromlite Hydration Kit
  
• MSR Miniworks EX water filter
  
• Various dehydrated meals by Mountain House
• Mountain Hardwear Typhoon Pant
• Mountain Hardwear Beryllium Jacket
• Nikon ProStaff 10x25 binoculars
• Sea To Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack - 8 x 18

Some items not listed above include fast drying pants, long/short underwear, a wool sweater, a beanie cap, gloves, wool socks, sunglasses, boots, a first aid kit, a compass, flint/steel/magnesium fire starter, and a handgun.

Four days of dehydrated food, all of my gear, clothes, and accessories packed with a half-gallon of water weigh 45lbs--roughly 32% of my naked weight. That was a damn heavy pack. Nevertheless, the trip was absolutely amazing.

We started our hike several miles up Archangel Road near Hatcher Pass. A small parking lot greeted us at the Reed Lakes Trail Head. We parked, geared up, and began a three hour walk to Lower Reed Lake.

The trail in August is free of snow, but this year the trail was very wet. Continuous rain kept the mud muddy and the green greeny. Boulders were slick, and the rivers were swift. We encountered very few people on the up hike. The only wild animals were ground rodents, water rodents, sky rodents, and the like. No bear, moose, or wolves sprung us on the narrowly passable trails that make the first half-mile along the river valley.

Finding a flat place to camp was an interesting first experience for me. I practiced pitching tent at home, but the floor of our house was ironically very accommodating. The trail was less accommodating. Mike and I plotted potential camps on the GPS as we continued to gain elevation. Since the hike started well above firewood line, we were poised and ready for a rather boring camp next to the water.

We found such a camp at Lower Reed Lake on the grassy beach next to a rather paltry beaver lodge. The grass was squishy but dry; we did not have to worry about waking in a puddle. Friday night closed with an excellent assortment of Mountain House dehydrated cuisine.

Saturday morning, it rained. And rained. And rained. It didn't start raining until after breakfast and until after Mike and I hiked to the waterfalls between Upper and Lower Reed lakes. Mike filtered water while I snapped photos. The rain started once we returned to camp, and we opted for a mid morning nap.

Several hours later--haha--we woke to find a boyscout troop pitching tents down trail from us. They chose the pseudo-flat area, riddled with moguls, that Mike and I quickly discounted the night before. Poor kids.

The rain stopped by 3pm. Mike and I geared down for a day hike and hit the trail for Upper Reed Lake. Everyone and his brother turned out for the beautiful day Saturday was becoming. Fortunately, most people turned around at the lower lake.

The walk to Upper Reed was rather uneventful--small boulders, mud, and slippery grass. The lake itself is gorgeous--emerald colored, flat calm, and encircled by towering peaks. Our walk wasn't quite over; rather, we weren't ready for our walk to end. The only place to go was up!

Off trail, Mike and I headed for the summit that overlook Upper and Lower Reed lakes. Archangel Valley was visible, and with binoculars we were able to spot the parking lot some 5 miles in the distance.

Wind hit us hard and the fog rolled in near the top. I pulled out the Snow Peak camp stove, cup, and Mountain House granola for a warming snack. With grand views of thunderstorms pounding the Matanuska Valley, Mike and I ate a very nice lunch.

Downhill treks always present unique challenges, especially when down is a different route from up. We opted for the straight-down-the-steep-and-rocky-avalanche-chute route. As we battled shale, large and small boulders, wind, and rain, the 1400ft decent made for excellent photos! Be sure to check them out in my album. At one point, we even faux skied a large standing basin of last year's snow.

On the way back to camp around the south edge of Lower Reed Lake, we passed the troop of boy scouts and told them of our hike. In retrospect, the hike certainly seemed more fun than sitting around camp watching a dozen youths run about.

Saturday night rolled in with the rain we saw at the top of our hike. We dined on Mountain House, played with Mike's powerful green laser, and called it a night.

We both awoke in the middle of the night to a very eerie feeling. When I exited the tent, I was surprised when I couldn't see more than 5 meters before me. The fog was nearly too dense to see the water's edge. Out came the laser!

Sunday morning came and passed--as we slept. The boy scout troop was packed and gone by the time we wrestled ourselves from bed. The rain stopped, but the fog remained. I really wasn't looking forward to packing a wet tent, but the sun never came.

With Monday and the start of my work week only a comfortable night's sleep in my water bed away, we packed camp and hiked back to the truck. The return hike from Lower Reed Lake lasted 2 hours--a 1.5 hour improvement from the up hike.

Over all, my gear performed remarkably well, and I was very satisfied with the hike. I hope to explore more of Archangel Valley and to take additional photos next summer. Be sure to look at the photos from this trip in my photo album.

Posted the photos from Karla's visit

Check out the entire album, or click individual keywords below for related photos.

Karla's visit was certainly one of the biggest highlights of this summer. Together--and occasionally with my brother--we drove over a thousand miles, took nearly 600 digital photos, and covered a large percentage of Southeast Alaska. I've edited, tagged, and geotagged the photos from Karla's visit; let's explore.

What's a celebration without stolen recipes? Karla smuggled the Columbia Restaurant's Sangria recipe, and we enjoyed the mixture soaking westerly sun on the back deck.

On one of the most spectacular weather days of Karla's visit, we drove out to and traversed about Matanuska Glacier. Graced with more great weather, Michael, Karla, and I headed south to Eklutna and kayaked Eklutna Lake. We even found bear prints in the rocky sand along the lake's edge.

We stopped in at the Butte on the way home from Eklutna. The Butte is the home of Alaska's Reindeer Farm. Karla, Michael, and I fed reindeer and got very close to the caribou. Kim was even nice enough to let Karla feed the baby moose! All the excitement forced us to drink excellent margaritas in the hot tub.

For Independence Day, the three of us went camping on the Kenai Peninsula. Each year, Seward hosts the Mount Marathon Race over 4th of July weekend. About 3 hours south of home, Seward maintains a steady population of about 3000 people--right up until the 4th of July. More than 10,000 people visit Seward to watch the crazies hike up and down the 3000ft peak of Mount Marathon--some do it in less than 50 minutes.

In the latter part of Karla's visit, we also took time to explore the Alaska Zoo, shoot a high powered rifle off the back deck, and hike snowy Hatcher Pass.

Some of our misadventures even took us north to Talkeetna, Alaska, where we rode the last flagstop train in the United States to Hurricane Gulch. In Hurricane, the train stopped in the middle of the trussle where we proceeded to lean over the rail and stare down more than 200 feet at the rocky river below.

Despite the frequent rain, clouds, sleet, snow, and fog, we made 11 days quite successful. I'm very glad Karla was able to visit me, and I can't wait for subsequent visits!