Shelby--
I agree with everything you said. I think Darrell would probably like to
get your logs--he's been consistently helpful on this group and others and
the Beta groups for a long time. In my experience the setup people want to
get to the logs to analyze them if they can provide material that tells what
is going on.
One thing I want to make clear. Although I don't *think a startup repair
(which is different coding in Vista than a repair install in XP will work
with these symptoms, it could and we're only talking about a couple minutes
of time. Doing this has no risk to what you have whatsoever. Here are the
directions for using Vista Win RE's Startup Repair and Safe Mode from that
environmnet.
I put up the steps for doing this (different from an XP repair install
booting from the XP CD) with the Vista DVD on my last post as well as steps
that could work from the F8 aka Windows Advanced Options menu.
You can try the Recovery link that allows you touse Win RE's Startup Repair
or if no joy, System Restore from there whichsometimes works when F8's Safe
Mode>System Restore options (all 4 should be tried):
You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after the
language screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same
location.
You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us
How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
the Lock button, and then click Restart.
This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
(sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
PC manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order.
See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.
3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.
Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
repair process.
7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.
Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:
How to Use Startup Repair:
***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***
1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)
2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***
Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx
Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp
How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
3) Select your OS for repair.
4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:
You'll have a choice there of using:
1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore
___________________
You could also:
Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.
These methods are outlined in
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/
You will need this reference:
How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/en-us
The command to use for system restore at the safe mode cmd prompt is:
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
The reason for doing this is one of these choices may work, when the other
doesn't. My experience is that people do not fully try F8 when they think
or have said they have. It is that they can almost always reach Windows
Advanced Options though.
Good luck,
CH
"Shelby Cain" <ShelbyCain@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0FA67547-478E-4788-BDC1-2075436FE55B@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "Chad Harris" wrote:
>
>> Shelby--
>>
>> I've complained about bugs that Vista does have as much as anyone. So
>> you're not springing something on me overnight. I've been using it for a
>> year and a half--every build.
>>
>
> For what it is worth, the public preview builds of Vista I tested (on
> different hardware) worked very well.
>
>>
>> You indicate now more clearly that Vista is broken but you are well
>> within
>> the 30 day period. Those symptoms are quintissential reduced
>> functionality,but for whatever reason you have them.
>>
>> You have two choices and a workaround. I've worked with this on somene's
>> box and I can tell you that all the MSKBs on control panel repair won't
>> work.
>>
>> Workaround for control panel not coming up:
>>
>> You can make a control panel easily by putting the most but not every
>> applet
>> in a folder. Just make a folder on your desk; type control panel in the
>> search box>when folder comes up click Classic View and drag or copy
>> everyone
>> of those shortcuts into your new folder.
>>
>
> I believe (although I can't recall for sure) one of my first attempts was
> to
> make shortcuts to the cpl files in system32. None of the applets would
> start
> up. I'll try and verify that though.
>
>> Choice One: Format and start over--and activate within 30 days. That
>> gives
>> you 30 more days to test. If you need to you could renew the 30 days a
>> couple times.
>>
>
> I have no problems reformatting and reinstalling to continue testing. I'd
> like to get this issue identified as I'm sure I'm not the only one
> suffering
> from it.
>>
>> I am sorry I misunderstood that you were within the period to activate it
>> at
>> first. I agree with you it should not have gone into reduced
>> functionality
>> mode which it appears to have. You should let them know. If this is
>> happening it confirms some of my fear that SPP would not function well
>> for
>> everyone; and it would impose reduced functionality on legit Vista either
>> prior to or after the 30 day period.
>>
>
> Had you asked me two weeks ago if it'd be possible for Vista's anti-piracy
> features to malfunction and bite someone that was using a truly legit
> install
> my response would have been "I seriously doubt it as Microsoft would
> probably
> test those features to the nth degree". Now, having experienced this
> issue
> where it _appears_ that Vista is running in some sort of RF mode, I'm not
> so
> sure I'd be confident in saying that. I guess the good thing here is that
> at
> least this issue doesn't appear very widespread.
>
>> One way to directly report this issue is to make a comment on the Vista
>> team
>> blog, or you could let Darrell Gorter who is directly involved with
>> Vista
>> setup know
>>
>> darrellg@microsoft.com
>>
>
> Thanks for the information. I'll post on the blog and contact him
> privately
> and see if he'd be interested in any logs off the machine in question.
>
>>
>> Choice 2: Try to repair it but I doubt very seriously if it will repair:
>>
>
> [snip]
>
> I'll probably give that a try eventually but, like you, I'm pretty
> skeptical
> a repair install will help when a clean install hasn't.
>
> Regards,
>
> Shelby Cain
>
>