Vista Can't Login!

Hello Everyone,
I've just joined. You all seem like a knowledgeable group and I was wondering if you could help me with my problem.

First, my computer specifications:
It's a laptop Dell Inspirion 1525
Intel Core 2 Duo Dual Processors @ 2.0 GHZ
3 GB RAM
220 GB Hard drive (Came partitioned with a 10 GB backup and 210 GB 'main drive')
Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit.
I have Mcafee Antivirus Enterprise 8.5i
Ad Aware 2008 Free
Spybot Search and Destroy
Am using Windows Firewall

About a month ago, I bought this laptop. I never used Vista before but the laptop was performing excellently, no problems and I was starting to think Vista wasn't too bad. Until about last Saturday night, I noticed that the fans were blowing constantly and the computer was showing that I was using 100% of the processor. I figured I might have some virus or spyware since the only thing I had open was firefox and windows sidebar. So I ran a scan after updating my antivirus (which I noticed wasn't updating as often as it should be). It found several viruses and reported that it deleted all of them. Same with the spyware, it found a few and deleted them as well. I thought that was the end of my problems. The next day, I use my computer no problem, until that night, I turn it on and get the Blue Screen. I turned off the computer and thought nothing of it. I then go to logon and nothing happens. I type in my password, it accepts it, and displays the Welcome Screen for a minute before the screen goes black and shows nothing but the mouse cursor. It stays that way after that, nothing happens, even after a couple hours. Nothing works, Ctrl + Alt + Delete, Alt +F4, Escape, etc. no response. I then restarted the computer and tried another account-same problem. Then I try in safe-mode, same problem. I THEN go to repair my computer (the option you get after pressing F8). Startup scan finds nothing, memory test nothing, System Restore fails (Cannot replace file if it already exists, it tells me. I've tried several restore points all with the same problem). I then try to restore to a backup, it tells me it cannot find the specified file. I try the repairng with the Vista CD that came with my computer, again, nothing.

I'm totally at a loss as what to do since I can't even log on to try to fix my problem. I've been searching online for a couple days now with no luck. I don't want to have to reinstall Vista-I don't want to lose my files or documents, I'll be okay if I do, but it'll be VERY inconvenient. So any help you could give as to how to fix my problem, I would appreciate greatly.


Sorry for the long post, but I'm really desperate for help.

Understandable. Ok, do you have the error code from the BSOD? That will help us narrow the problem down.

A fresh install of Vista sounds like the best option at this point, but as a last resort.

~Lordbob

lordbob75 said:

Understandable. Ok, do you have the error code from the BSOD? That will help us narrow the problem down.

A fresh install of Vista sounds like the best option at this point, but as a last resort.

~Lordbob

Click to expand...

Yeah, thanks, here's the BSOD message I had gotten:

STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error}
The initial session process or system process terminated unexpectedly with a status
of 0x00000000(0xc0000001 0x001004a8).
The system has been shut down

Click to expand...

I figured when I saw it that writing it down might be safe JUST in case. I had searched online for the code (c0000...) and found nothing like my problem, the BSOD seems to have nothing to do with my inability to log in (everything loads finely every other time except when I try to log in). But that's just me, maybe you'd know.

I figured a fresh install would be a good idea, but I want to try to salvage my files (recent pictures, mp3's as well as school work) and again, as I said, it's a last resort.

Ok that error code is IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.

What are your system specs? This can be cause by a few different things, and I need to narrow it down. Did you install any new updates or do anything different to your computer?

~Lordbob

Thanks for the reply , I posted my system specs earlier in my first post, but here they are again:

It's a laptop Dell Inspirion 1525
Intel Core 2 Duo Dual Processors @ 2.0 GHZ
3 GB RAM
220 GB Hard drive (Came partitioned with a 10 GB backup and 210 GB 'main drive')
Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit.
I have Mcafee Antivirus Enterprise 8.5i
Ad Aware 2008 Free
Spybot Search and Destroy
Am using Windows Firewall

Click to expand...

Unless you want more specific than that.

The only thing I did to my computer before it messed up was on the 17th (or around that date, don't remember exactly)I installed a Windows Update. I scanned my computer with the above mentioned software as well as Registry Mechanic and since I'm not a fan of the Microsoft Defragmenter, I used Abexo Defragmentor Pro Plus 5.0 (latest version I own) but in XP compatibility mode since it wouldn't work properly in Vista.
Also, something I just remembered that I failed to mention before is before I got the BSOD, I tried to put my computer in sleep mode, but instead it just turned restarted and then gave me the BSOD. Could the sleep function have triggered something or the defragmenter done something to the computer?

Hi Hythem,

I think that you have answered your own question as to why you are having problems:

hbishtawi said:

I'm not a fan of the Microsoft Defragmenter, I used Abexo Defragmentor Pro Plus 5.0 (latest version I own) but in XP compatibility mode since it wouldn't work properly in Vista.

Click to expand...

Using maintenance tools such as disk defragmenters which are not designed for use in Vista can lead to problems such as file corruption.
If you want to use a 3rd party defragmenter, this is a good choice: Disk Defrag - Reclaim the Speed Of Your Disks

Yeah using something that messes with the system files, it needs to be the one for that OS.

~Lordbob

Thanks Dwarf & LordBob.
I didn't really think that could've been it is why I didn't mention it earlier, I just remembered the defragmenter when I replied a couple hours ago. I had figured using it in compatibility mode would make it work fine in Vista and NOT mess it up. Oops. So, if its the defragmenter that messed up the computer, and Restore won't work, does that mean my files are lost and I have no choice but to to do a clean install of Vista or is there still something I can do?

*Bump*
Sorry but my problem isn't fixed yet. The only thing that I solved was what the caused the problem. However, I don't know how to fix my problem.Restore and such won't work, so what can I do to fix it?
Thanks

Pop in your Vista disk, and hit repair. That should fix up the registry.

~Lordbob

Ok, Thanks.

Just to clarify, put in the Vista CD, boot from it, and when it loads, choose "Repair Computer", right? Think I tried that but with System Restore from disk, not actual repair. Will try it and tell you if it works!

I think you have to load it from within Windows, but you should figure it out when you put it in.

~Lordbob

I tried that but it didn't repair it. Sooo, I went to command prompt, got an idea, and used regedit to access my files (having it show all files, not just .reg files) and cut and pasted them on my flash drive. So, now that I have all the files I want copied on another computer, and since there seems to be nothing else I can do, I guess I'll just format my computer.

Thanks for helping me with this, LordBob!! :D

Hey no problem. Glad you got it worked out Good job.

~Lordbob