Cannot do anything on Vista Ultimate now. Please help

KevinWictor · Sep 26, 2010

Hi All,

Two days ago I noticed the following
1. Network icon says deactive (small red cross) whilst connected to the internet
2. Cannot install any new program...Windows just hangs
3. Cannot uninstall any program....Windows just hangs
(tried to reinstall Windows Installer from the web but that just hangs as well)
4. Cannot access any administrative tool...Windows just hangs
5. Some programs do not start

What have I tried:
1. Numerous system restores...nothing works
2. After system restore...Windows doesn't start up properly. I have to type 'Explorer' from the Task Manager to get it working.
3. I've noticed that MSISERVER is stopped as a service. Cannot right-click and start. Cannot access the Services program either.
4. Safe Mode still works but can't install/uninstall apps.
5. banged my head and fist on keyboard.

Any help is much appreciated.

Many thanks

Kevin

KevinWictor · Sep 26, 2010

Also, I tried to activate "services.msc" from Start/Run. Nothing happens, except I can't now click on anything on the Start menu - keep getting a beep.

BTW the services list can be accesssed from Safe Mode.

Planning to reinstall everything.

Lorien · Sep 26, 2010

If you've already decided to do a clean install, why have you posted? Do you need assistance with that process or are you looking for confirmation that it's the right thing to do at this point or what? I mean, you've described the problem and what you plan to do (which isn't what I'd do first, but it is a valid decision to make and is likely to resolve the problem if it is software and not hardware) - so what are you asking from us? How can we assist you here?

KevinWictor · Sep 26, 2010

Hi Lorien - many thanks for your email. Would like not to have to reinstall the OS, if you or other members can guide me down an alternate route.

The plan for a reinstall meant backuping up docs, finding the applications and serial numbers, etc. Not a bad thing to do anyway.

So, where should I start, to set right my errant OS?

Kind regards

Kevin

Lorien · Sep 26, 2010

I realize this seems like a lot, but most are relatively easy to do and many can be done in the background while you do other things. Yes, it will take a while, but it's the only way to identify the cause and potentially resolve the problem. It may be one of the earlier options or it may require going all the way to the end, but if it's a software problem with Vista (as seems to be the case from your description - though it could also be hardware - it's a bit early to be certain), then something here is going to eventually work. While it may seem like a lot of effort, I'm trying to save you from needing to do a complete clean re-installation which is, at the moment, the only other alternative (do you have a genuine Vista Installation disk or do you have disks from the manufacturer or a recovery partition to restore the computer to factory-original condition?). Some of this may not be possible if you can't install new programs (such as some of the malware tests though at least one there doesn't require installation and may work). If you can't do it (in normal mode or in safe mode with networking), then skip it an move one (but let me know in your reply what you skipped and what you did).

Are you doing all this logged in as an Administrator? If not, do so. Some won't work otherwise and others have a better chance if you have those rights in place.

The problem with installations may be an issue with Windows Installer. I read you were unable to re-install the Installer. See if you can download, install (yes, I know, but try anyway), and run the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility http://www.softpedia.com/get/Security/Secure-cleaning/Windows-Installer-CleanUp-Utility.shtml and see if that helps. It may not install either, but it's worth a shot as its job is to fix Windows Installer problems - so it might install where other programs won't. Save the download to your desktop and then right click on it and click Run as Administrator to have the best chance it will work.

If the System Restore doesn't work (I would try an earlier point if you have any left as this is the best option in situations like this - but you say you've tried many times so it's up to you if you want to try a few more from even earlier times), do a Startup Repair by booting to the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (or one you can borrow from ANYONE) or from a Recovery Disk with recovery options included on it. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html. To boot to the CD you may need to change the BIOS to make the CD-drive first in the boot sequence. To do that, wait for the screen that tells you the F key to push to access the boot menu or boot setup. Push it quickly. Make the changes, save your work, and exit. Put the CD in the drive and reboot. When prompted, push any key to boot from the CD.

If you don't have either disk, you can make a bootable Recovery Disk using http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ along with burning software like: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html and, of course, a blank CD (perhaps made on a different computer or perhaps in safe mode with networking if that is working).

If that doesn't work, try to boot into safe mode (repeatedly click the F8 key while booting and go to safe mode with networking – or do so from the command prompt on the disk). Then let's check some of your system files:

Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command prompt and right click on command prompt and click run as Administrator (you can skip this step if using the disk).

If using the disk, cd to C:\Windows\System32. Type sfc /scannow and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix some of your system files. Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228. Try to attach the report (you may need to copy it to your desktop before it will permit you to attach it) here so we can see if they can be repaired with good copies from the installation disk if you have or can borrow one (unless there are too many).

While in Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and enter and let it run. It will want to schedule itself to run at the next restart. Answer yes and then reboot to run the program. It will scan and try to fix any corruption or bad sectors on your hard drive and mostly remove that as a potential cause.

If that doesn't work, then please post any error messages from the Event Viewer concerning startup or shutdown or application start failure (Start / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer). Here's how to use Event Viewer: http://www.petri.co.il/vista-event-viewer.htm. Look in the System section and the Application section. There WILL be some. Click on each for more details, copy the details, and paste them in your next reply. This could very well tell us what is causing the problems.

You may be infected with malware. Try to run anti-malware programs (in safe mode with networking if necessary). To fix this problem (if it is a problem) download, install, and run the following two programs: http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php and http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html. You may also want to try a free trial of Pandasoft (http://www.pandasecurity.com/usa/homeusers/solutions/global-protection/). Before downloading pandasoft, uninstall whatever anti-virus program you are currently using (because installing and running two at the same time can cause conflicts, freezes, and all sorts of problems). Use removal tools when appropriate http://www.raymond.cc/blog/archives/2009/05/05/comprehensive-list-of-uninstallers-or-removal-tools-for-antivirus-software/. Once you've uninstalled your current AV program, download, install, update, and scan using Pandasoft. I think you might be amazed at how much it finds that the other software missed. Once complete, uninstall pandasoft and re-install your current AV program (unless you decide to switch which I did when I first tried it about 4 years ago). You may also want to try the new, free Microsoft Security Essentials http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Microsoft-Security-Essentials-Download-131683.html (with the same caveat that only ONE AV program can be installed and running on your system at any one time). You may also want to try the free Avira at: http://www.free-av.com/ and Avast at: http://www.avast.com/index. Reboot after completing all the scans. You may also want to try the free OneCare at http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/whatsnew.htm and let it run all the options (except the registry cleaner) because that’s good maintenance (it will take some time to complete but can be done in the background). The last is the only one that doesn't require a download so you may be able to do it even if installing hasn't been restored. Otherwise, at least update whatever you are using and run full scans which is the best we can otherwise do under the circumstances.

If that doesn't work, try a clean boot http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135. If the problem goes away then it's just a matter of tracking down the culprit causing the problem. Follow the procedures in the article. Once found, delete, remove, deactivate, or uninstall it. Once done be sure to reset Vista back to normal status as explained in the procedures. If the problem occurs in clean mode then just restore the system to normal status and reboot - this solution is not going to work.
Boot into Safe mode with networking and see if the problem occurs there. Either result helps us narrow down the search for the cause.

Do you have any other users on your computer? If so, login to one and see if you have the same problem. Next, create a new user (an Administrator) and see if that account has any problems. If so, skip ahead to the next paragraph. If not, there may be a problem with your user profile being corrupted. To fix this use http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows-vista/Fix-a-corrupted-user-profile.

You may be having troubles with your device drivers, firmware, and/or software. Go to Device Manager by going to start / search box and type device manager and enter and then double-click on the program icon that appears. Check each device for a red x, yellow ! or white ?. These identify devices with problems (probably drivers, but also conflicts or something else). Click on each for further details and troubleshooting tips. If you need to get drivers (and you should do any you have time to do - they may help in ways beyond just resolving this problem), do so from the computer vendor or device manufacturer (NOT from Microsoft Updates). In fact, you should turn off automatic driver updates from Windows Update as follows: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/how-to-disable-automatic-driver-installation-in-windows-vista/. Proceed as follows to get the drivers: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm. Once you have the drivers, you can install them through Device Manager as follows: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/193584-device-manager-install-driver.html.

Let's test your hard drive and RAM for hardware problems:

To test your hard drive, check the manufacturer and then get the diagnostic utility from: http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/hard-drive-support/302602-hard-drive-diagnostic-utilities.html (and/or get one from your hard drive or computer manufacturer if they have one available – it wouldn’t hurt to try both). If it fails the test, replace it. If it passes the test, then there's probably nothing wrong with it.

You can also test your RAM at http://www.memtest.org/. If it fails, test each chip individually to find those that are bad and replace them. If it passes, RAM is probably OK. Also, you can test it using the following procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/65361-memory-diagnostics-tool.html?ltr=M. Do both to be as certain as possible.

If that doesn't work, we'll need to do a system repair/upgrade using the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (one you own or one you can borrow from ANYONE - this is pretty much the last chance before a clean install, so do try hard to find a disk if you don't have one as this is a MUCH better solution than what follows). To do this you have to also be able to boot normally. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html. Although this will not affect your data, settings, or programs, you should still backup your data before starting just to be on the safe side. You may have a lot of updates to re-install (including any service packs you had to remove). If the version on the system came with SP1 or SP2 pre-installed and the disk is an earlier version, then you'll need to make a slipstream disk as follows: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/151606-vista-sp1-slipstream-installation-dvd.html. Please reply before doing the next step as it is a radical option and I’d like to make sure we’ve ruled out all other options before taking that step (which is essentially what you were planning to do before we started here and I hope it doesn't come to that but if nothing else worked or identified anything we can specifically target to repair and you can't get your hands on a genuine Vista Installation Disk so we can try the system repair/upgrade instead, then there is no other choice remaining).

If that doesn't work (or you don’t have the disk), then I'm afraid the only option is a clean install. You can use Knoppix http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html with a good ISO copier like: http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm along with a blank CD. This should give you enough access to the system (if you can't get in any other way but you're probably OK there at the moment so this shouldn't be necessary) to backup your important data. If that doesn’t work, try slaving the drive to another computer and recovering the data using that other computer to access the disk. Once done, you can do a clean install either using the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk or the Recovery Disk or the Recovery Partition (whatever process is dictated by your computer manufacturer – you may need to contact them for the procedure and perhaps to get recovery disks). To do a clean install proceed as follows: http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/winvista_install_03.asp (adapted as necessary by the procedures of your computer manufacturer). Then you will need to re-install all your programs, reset all your preferences, reconfigure your network and email settings, restore your backed up data, run Windows Update with possibly nearly 150 updates pending,...

Hopefully one of these procedures will resolve or at least identify the cause of your problem.

Good luck!

Cannot do anything on Vista Ultimate now. Please help

KevinWictor

New Member

My Computer

System One

KevinWictor

New Member

My Computer

System One

Lorien

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My Computer

System One

KevinWictor

New Member

My Computer

System One

Lorien

Account Suspended

My Computer

System One