Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GENIUS

I switched my husbands laptop to auto update last night and it updated for two hours even though I manually updated two days earlier. I knew something was wrong then. The updates came from the Update Manager on the PC. This morning when I opened the PC it did a "Configuring Updates" / "Restart" Loop for about 3 hours. When it stopped I went right to the auto update and made it manual again. The computer looked fine, had internet and everything. I got online with a Microsoft Chat person on my Desktop (other computer) to be sure it wasnt an update problem. They sent me to the "msconfig" window and had me changing all kinds of startup, services and boot settings. After all of that chaos (3 hours) I couldnt even log on as admin. I would get to the desktop and get a Blue screen with funky type on it, then it would flash and restart. Microsoft ended the session telling me I needed to use the process of elimination to figure it out. It wasnt an update problem to them and ended session with my computer all screwed up. They just wanted to stop chatting, as well as I.

I can only log on in safe mode and there is no restore file listed anymore. Fortunatly he had a recent back up on the external Apricorn HD. I dragged the file over to the "safe mode" desktop but have no way to restore it. Nothing works!!!
Does anyone have any idea what Im talking about?
I guess you'd have to be a real GENIUS to figure this one out.
If I dont get it fixed before my husband finds out I'm DEAD MEAT
Its his buisness computer...

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Are u saying u deselected items from msconfig if so just start in safe mode and go back to msconfig then go across services and startup and tick the box on both saying select all.

Alternativly if that dont work try a system restore press start and type: Backup and restore center and click on that and then go on restore files and do it from a date a few days ago when the problem did not happen!!
U could always try if tune up utilities 2009 would fix it start in safe mode with networking then type in google tuneup utilities 2009 download it get a key from youtube and enter it in, hope this helps

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

If the computer works in safe mode then all the data should be safe.



Click on the normal startup and all should be well.
Click on services and select Enable all.
Same as on the startup tab.

If this fails after a reboot go back into msconfig and select tools.
This is where the system restore is located.

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Thanks for your help but I already tried that after I got off the live chat with Microsoft. I set everything to Normal Mode and selected all services and all startup hit apply and O.K. When it started back up it took me all the way to the desktop menu and then the screen went blue with some unreadable scrypt on it and flashed a few times and then began to restart on its own. I tried to do a system restore every way I knew how. The system restore window says that it is not working, or something like that. I cant get past the first window. There is a big RED X in the Restore box window. I was able to drag the backup file from the External HD over to the desktop screen in Safe mode but I cant do anything with it.
The person from Microsoft said there was a program in my startup that was causing the loop and interfered with the auto update. Thats what we spent 3+ hours trying to find. NOTHING. After normal startup the Windows update box pops up just before the shutdown.

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Do you have a Vista install disk? If so, put it in and select Repair. Let Windows repair itself and see if it fixes it. If not, then select the restore option and select the file from the external HDD.

~Lordbob

Lol 333 post....

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Thanks but as I stated before, the Restore and all drivers and services are disabled (stopped). Even though I have enabled them in msconfig. Half of the services in msconfig are missing to. I finally found the Dell install discs. Is there no other solution but to reinstall? If I do reinstall what happens to all the needed updates for the programs?
Right now I am in "msconfig.exe" properties. Under security the only name with full control is "Trusted Installer". Is that supposed to be like that? Shouldn't Admin have full control?

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Im attempting to Repair with Vista disc....Be right back

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

O.K. I put the Windows Vista Reinstall disc in. I had to run it manually. It wont do anything.

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

No, if you want to do a repair install, it is in fact an upgrade install - has to be done from within Windows.

If you have the actual M$ install dvd you can do a clean install by booting in from the dvd and save everything currently on the partition into a a folder called Windows.old

You should be able to fish data out of there manually afterwards. However, you will need to reinstall all the programs and set everything up again.

There will be a product key stickered on the side of the machine for eventualities like this.

Since it is (presumably ) an oem pre-installation of Vista, you will probably find you need to ring the manufacturer to get it activated.

If you wish to do that , follow this tutorial.

When you get to Step 10, do not select Drive Options (Advanced), do not format the partition - simply click the partition you wish to install to and you should get the option to save everything into that Windows.old folder.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html

By doing that it is likely you won't be able to access the oem "recovery" options - doesn't matter if you have the install dvd.

I also suggest making backup images in the future with a program that also makes a bootable cd -you can boot from that and restore a previously made image if you can't get into Windows.

Here is an excellent free one

http://www.download.com/Macrium-Reflect-Free-Edition/3000-2242_4-10845728.html


Hope it helps

SIW2

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

I could not open the disc from the desktop or thge boot drive without some password. So I gave up and was about to do what you suggested and then I remembered there was a boot tab in "msconfig". I went back to safe mode went to "msconfig" and under the boot tab I checked some box enabling boot something? Anyway, I put the vista disc back in and restarted the computer and there it was. I tried a system repair but it said nothing was wrong. Then I clicked System Restore ( which Ive been trying to do for 48 hours now) and now it is restoring files back from 1/16/09 before I changed to auto update and downloaded updates. Awesome... I hope it was Okay for me to restore in safe mode.
Will it work in Safe Mode?
My fingers are crossed ....Ill let you know ASAP
Shouldnt my External Apricorn Hard Drive have the capabilities to restore from?
Its a " ez bus dts 3.5"

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Okay now its restarting............................................................................Just put in password...................................and ......Its loading in Safe Mode again....I see the internet icon so my networks are back. Now I dont want to mess with "msconfig" again so how do I get it back to normal mode?

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Alright Now...I restored in Safe Mode with the disc and now I cant get out of Safe Mode. What about the startup and service programs that are disabled in "msconfig"? I tried to enable all of them and restart but it just brings me back to the Safe Mode Desktop again...Now What? Am I a DEE DE DEE or is this normal for Vista?

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

It should ask you to boot in safe mode, or normal mode. If not you should go into advanced boot options to load normally.

~Lordbob

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

I was able to boot in normal mode with a new user account. I was checking and I found out my HD came with recovery software. It might not be the greatest but it can at least restore from the file I saved it from. I found the disc, installed it and restarted computer. When the computer restarted the StartUp Repair window opened. It says the computer was unable to start.....Attempting Repairs...

The guy from Microsoft keeps calling....He attempts to help but it just gets worse...

Its too late anyway, Husband found out and he's taking it to a friend to wipe it out and reinstall everything. Thanks for your help. Everything you suggested got me closer to victory.

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Well did your problem resolve?

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Heres what happened...I think...AVG Antivirus software found 6 Trojan horse, virus and worm. It interfered with the auto update. When updates stopped, AVG was finally free to scan computer to rid these things. When Microsoft Chat person had me unabling and disabling the files, AVG-Anti-Virus was turned off and the Trojan and Virus/Worm were free to roam.
Computer Meltdown...
In Safe mode I was eventually able to use Vista Installation Disc to do a temporary restore. After that I couldnt get into Normal Mode. I made a new account to see if I could get back to normal mode and it worked. Then I switched users and crossed my fingers. It worked, I was in my desktop in Normal Mode. Then I installed the Recovery disc that came with my Apricorn Ez bus dts Hard Drive. The Recovery Software is called EZ GIG II. After I installed that, I was prompted to restart computer.
When the computer restarted, It went into System Repair...FINALLY...After that the AVG anti virus scanned the computer for almost 2 hours and found 1 Trojan and 5 Virus/Worms. Then AVG healed them all and restarted again. And THERE IT WAS...The laptop had come back to life. I decided to hunt for any new programs that might of been installed. I found a clone software that gets rid of double files on the PC. The software was named something like Moleskin Clone. It was a free trial version. I uninstalled it and AVG popped up and told me that is where the Trojan horse came from. Im pretty sure the rest of the viruses/worms came from me looking at sex sites a couple of days ago looking for free funny/ dirty cartoon clips. A friend sent me one and I was trying to find some to send back. No such luck...The computer is going to a Pro tonight to get wiped out and everything reinstalled.
I dont know why installing the External Hard Drive recovery software made the System Repair screen come on after startup, but Im very Glad it did.
Thanks for your help, I would of gone crazy if I didnt have you.
My husband is pretty proud of me for fixing it, but my kids are mad at me and think Im crazy for locking myself in a room for 48 hours, talking to myself, and cussing out LOUD every 10-15 minutes.
But it was worth it.....

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Reinstallation is easy- put disk in drive, restart, hit any key to boot from disk (at screen prompt), follow install prompts, at partition screen for install-DELETE ALL existing partitions, then install vista on nonpartitioned space. Then install drivers from disk, install data files from backps.

Re: Configuring Updates, Startup, Restore, & Husband Problems...I need help from a GE

Glad you got it solved, and sometimes a wipe and fresh install is really the best option.

~Lordbob