You may receive any of the following stop error messages when you install Windows Vista, error messages like: “Stop: 0×0000007B“, “Stop: 0×000000A5“, “Stop: 0×0000000A” or “Stop: 0×000000D1” and so on. This article describes the possible causes of each stop error message and steps to solve each error.

When you receive a stop error messages during the installation of Windows Vista, it is important to collect as much as possible information about the error. The specific error code and the parameter information can help determine the appropriate troubleshooting steps and resources.

Fix “Stop: 0×0000007B” error messages

Stop: 0×0000007B this error message indicates that:

• Windows Vista or Windows Vista Setup cannot access the hard disk that contains the Windows Vista startup files;
• 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;

Typically, this stop error occurs when Windows Vista cannot locate a compatible driver for the disk controller device. For example, this stop error “Stop: 0×0000007B” can occur if Windows Vista cannot locate a compatible driver for a RAID controller.
If you installation of Windows Vista is a clean installation and you receive this error message, the error occurs because Windows Vista doesn’t include a compatible driver for the disk controller device. To resolve this issue, you must provide a compatible driver during the installation of Windows Vista.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. On another computer or in a dual-boot configuration, download a compatible driver for the disk controller device.
2. Save the driver that you downloaded to an optical disk or to a removable USB drive, and if you are running a dual-boot configuration, you can also save the driver to a local hard disk.
3. Start the Windows Vista Setup from the Windows Vista DVD.
4. When you are prompted to select the disk on which to install Window Vista, select the Load Driver option.
5. Follow the prompts on the screen to complete the installation.

It’s possible to receive this error message during the upgradation of Windows Vista, and if the error messages appear this means that Windows Vista does not include a compatible driver for the disk controller device. However, it also means that the driver that was used in the previous operating system is incompatible with Windows Vista. Therefore, the driver cannot be reassembled and migrated for use in Windows Vista.

If you receive this stop error message “Stop: 0×0000007B” when Windows Vista tries to restart during Windows Vista Setup, follow these steps:

1. Restart the computer.
2. Roll back the installation to the previous operating system.
3. Check with the disk controller manufacturer for information about the issue. If no additional information is available, download and install the most recent driver that is available.
4. Try to upgrade to Windows Vista again.

Note: If the issue persists, perform a clean installation of Windows Vista, and use the Load Driver option that is described earlier in this section.

Fix “Stop: 0×000000A5″ error message

When appear this error message Stop: 0×000000A5, the causes of this error is the computer BIOS, the computer BIOS is not compatible with the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) standard that is supported in Windows Vista. However, this error can also occur because the computer hardware, the peripherals, or the drivers for those devices are incompatible with Windows Vista.
If this error appears during the installation of Windows Vista, follow these steps:

1. Restart the computer.
2. Roll back the installation to the previous operating system.
3. Contact the computer manufacturer for information about how to obtain and to install a BIOS update.
4. Disconnect any external hardware devices that are connected to the computer. Additionally, remove or disconnect any hardware that the computer manufacturer does not support.

5. Try to upgrade to Windows Vista again. If you receive a “Stop: 0×0000007B” error message during the upgrade process, contact the computer manufacturer. If you can upgrade to Windows Vista, the problem was likely related to hardware or to software that was installed in the previous operating system.

Stop: 0×0000000A or Stop: 0×000000D1

This error may occur during the installation of Windows Vista:

STOP 0×0000000A IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

STOP 0×000000D1 DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

Warning: This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion. Use this workaround at your own risk.
If you receive these errors (Stop: 0×0000000A or Stop: 0×000000D1) during upgradation of your Windows Vista, you should follow these steps:

1. Restart the computer.
2. Roll back the installation to the previous operating system.
3. Use the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor to check for known issues.
4. Disconnect any external hardware devices that are connected to the computer. Additionally, remove or disconnect any hardware that the computer manufacturer does not support. Also, remove any hardware that you recently installed.
5. If you receive either of these error messages during the first phase of the upgrade installation, follow these additional steps:
a. In the previous operating system, update any installed antivirus and antispyware programs, and then scan the computer for problems.

Note If you find any problems, we recommend that you perform a clean installation of Windows Vista.
b. After you scan the computer for viruses and for spyware in the previous operating system, uninstall any antivirus and antispyware software.
c. Contact the computer manufacturer for information about any known Windows Vista compatibility issues and about how to obtain and to install a BIOS update.
6. Try to upgrade to Windows Vista again.
You may receive these error messages during Windows Vista Setup, after the computer has restarted, drivers in the previous operating system that were migrated to Windows Vista may be causing the problem. To troubleshoot this issue, use one of the following methods, as appropriate for your situation.

Method 1: Upgrading from Microsoft Windows XP to Windows Vista

1. Go to Start ->Run type cmd, and then click OK;
2. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
cd \windows\inf
3. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
Ren oem*.inf oem*.old
4. At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
exit
5. Disconnect any external hardware devices that are connected to the computer. Additionally, remove or disconnect any hardware that the computer manufacturer does not support. Also, remove any hardware that you recently installed;
6. Try to upgrade to Windows Vista again;

Method 2: Upgrading to a different version of Windows Vista

1. Right-click the taskbar, and then click Task Manager;
2. Go to File -> New Task (Run) and type Msinfo32, and then click OK;
3. Double-click Software Environment, and then double-click Signed Drivers;
4. Click INF Name;
5. Note each device that has an INF Name that begins with “oem.” These devices use drivers that are not included with Windows Vista;

6. Right-click the taskbar, and then click Task Manager. Go to File -> New Task (Run) and type Devmgmt.msc, and then click OK;
7. Click View, and then click Show Hidden Devices;
8. Right-click each device that you noted in step 5, click Uninstall, click to select the Delete the driver software for this device checkbox, and then click OK;

Note Do not disable a device. When you disable a device, the driver for that device is migrated during the installation of Windows Vista.

9. Try to upgrade to Windows Vista again;