safe mode freezs on crc drive

hi

im running a dell inspiron 1501 with os vista basic 32bit,

i got the laptop at christmas this year and as its 3 or 4 years old it was riddalled with junk from the last user and had some malware on it.
i cleaned all the infections of and then at the end of february i done a clean install,

i then got myself a big dose of malware in april and again i got rid of this, while doing this i noticed that when i try to boot in safe mode of any kind (safe,network,prompt) i freeze on the crc drive.

im not sure if this is a result of the install i done or the malware i had, but did find some info that it may have been the result of a bad install of SP1 done through the updates feature.

ive run a extended cmd chkdsk and its not the harddrive, i then made a slipsreamed vista/SP1 boot disk to do a repair, but that feature wasn't avalible so i done a clean install using the disc and this still didn't solve the problem so i then done a clean reinstall using just the vista disc and still no joy.

each time ive reinstalled ive downloaded all the driver in the right order but nothing seems to be working.

before the first reinstall in feb i wrote down everything that was listed in device manager and from going back to the begining to try and solve this issue ive noticed that under network adapters im missing "microsoft ias tap adaptor 2".

iv googled this and tried downloading it and every time i try my windows update screen appeirs with a install of NET.framework 3.5 sp1.

ive tried installing this 4 times and every time it fails.

if anyone has any surgestions on how i can get my safe mode working again and how to get this isa tap if its the problem this would be fantastic as im at my wits end over this,

thanks alot

kevin27

If you've had virus etc then download and install NOD 32 and run a full virus scan and delete any viruses then back up all your data you want to keep to dvd's or another hard drive.

Do a full format on all of the hard drive, including partions. Then install vista and only install your security software. Next click the link in my sig and do everything listed there. Once youv done that (it will take several hours) then you can install all your data and programmes.

That will give you a fully updated and better performing pc.

stew2
thanks ill get on to that right now, but what is the best way to format the hard drive as thats something ive never done im afraid,

when i do my reinstalls i just run the disk and then do a disk clean up afterwards.

and also when you say only install security and then your link should i leave the drivers or is that part of a normal install.

sorry for coming across a bit dim but i just want to double check and not make things worse.

but thanks for your advice all the same
nice one
kevin27

To format your hard drive, insert the installation DVD(Vista) and go through the options until you get to choose which partition to install Vista on and just click the button at the bottom that says "Format". Then install vista.

When youv'e installed vista, the next step is to install your antivirus software. Once thats done do everything it says in my link: Performance Updates

The first step is to update your drivers. You can get the latest drivers for your laptop from here: Drivers & Downloads

Once youv installed the drivers, then the updates, then cleaned and defragged, then tested your hard drive and ram for errors its then safe to install your programmes and data.

I make installing the drivers a part of a normal install, if you install vista then follow whats in the link i gave you it ensures your drivers, vista and the programmes you are using will all be up to date. It takes a while to do it this way but it means you'll have better performance and reduces the chance of compatability errors.

stew2

thanks for your advice mate, i didn't need to do a clean install as after updating my system before we spoke and then formating my recovery drive, when i booted with my vista disk the update feature was finally highlighted and i went down that road.

after it had finished i was prompted to download a new modem driver, which i done,i then installed the 72 updates windowa was telling me to, i then done a disc cleanup, and after that my safe mode boots fine, but thanks for your advice,it made a big differance to me finally solving this problem.

SOLVED.........

below im going to list what i done to rid myself of my safe mode freezing on the "crcdrive".

but before i do, can i just say that i strongly advise anyone to seek some expert advice before atempting to fix, wipe or poke and prod around your PC as deleating some files may hinder or even render your machine useless.

if you've read through this thread you'll see that when i first tried to update my system using the vista boot disc my update feature wasn't highlighted and was telling me i needed to upgrade to a more recent windows for it to work.

also by doing a bit of research i found out that some times its better to format the harddrive before doing a reinstall as your installing on to a clean HDD. (note above,DO NOT wipe anything without advice).

so basically i instlled all my updates through "windows updates" and one of these were IE8 so my system was as up to date as it could be and i then formated my D: drive (recovery,NOT OS).

and then when i went to format my C: drive to do a clean install i noticed that the update feature of my vista disc was highlighted.

i choose this and let it run through the motions and once finished and booted i was prompted to follow a link from windows to download a modem driver, which again i done, i then updated my system via windows updates and installed all 72 updates.

once finished i then tried to boot into safe mode and low and behold, it worked.

As i said before DO NOT attempt to wipe or change anything unless advised to and from my google research i found alot of people with this same problem but not a lot of answers, this may or may not work as there seems to be quite a few different variations on this bug.

but i hope this thread was at least some sort of help.

No problem, glad you got it sorted.