Ugly bootup/recovery problem

Hi all,

My first post here! Was hoping I could get a bit of assistance before I had to reinstall the OS. So here's the deal:
Suddenly my CounterSpy pops up with something saying that a program is trying to change my registry, I wasn't trying to do anything with that so I hit block. Few seconds later another CS pop up says "A known program is attempting to run was blocked" Uh oh! All it said was Program: services.exe (Misc (general )). Then about a minute later the system rebooted itself.

So after it rebooted it'll take me to the "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause." screen with the safe mode options.

Here's where the prob starts. After I select any of the safe modes (w/networking, w/command prompt, last know good config.,) or start windows normally I jus get looped back to the BSOD and go through this cycle of rebooting and back to the safe mode select screen.

I've tried popping in the windows install cd and trying to repair from there via recovery. It works. Nice! The thing is it recovers right to where the whole mess started with the CounterSpy pop up and I have about 60 seconds to where the system will reboot itself and I'm back to the BSOD and safe mode screens. So basically I'm runnin in cicrles here.

It's Vista Premium 32bit btw

Y'all have any other suggestions as so what recourse I have here? Sorry if this was super vague or anything but I thought I got pretty much everything. Also, sorry if this was posted in the wrong section, I didn't see a troubleshooting part.

Thanks,
gmoney

Did you try System restore from Safe Mode?

Choose a point before the problem started.

Or try uninstalling Counterspy from Safe Mode.

Hope it helps

Hey SIW, thats my problem I can't even boot from any of those safe modes...after I select one I get a BSOD followed by a reboot

I can only boot from the windows install dvd and like I said it restores to right where my whole thing started with the CounterSpy pop up

Did you try System Restore from the boot dvd and it still goes into a loop?

Not sure what you mean by system recovery - is that some kind of oem disc you are using?

If you are getting that with the proper MS dvd and system restore - looks like a clean reinstall is on the cards.

err my bad yeah I meant system restore. The only DVD i have is from dell and it's the reinstall cd and I go to the repair option.

Your best bet is to reinstall.

If you click directly on the partition you wish to install to ( do not format it), you should get the option to save the contents into a Windows.old folder.

You can fish what you need out of there after the reinstall is completed.

It means getting all the windows updates and reinstalling your programs, though.

Would that install two OS's on my HD then? If so, then could I delete the old one after I get some needed files off?

You won't have two installations - just one:

It would reinstall Vista - at the same time , everything currently on the partition will be shoved into a folder called Windows.old

Everything will be in there - including the previously installed Vista files - but they will be just a bunch of files - no longer installed.

You will only have one Installation - the new one.

When you have got all your personal data out of the Windows.old folder, run Disk cleanup to get rid of the folder.

You will have to get all the updates, reinstall programs etc . on the newly installed Vista - but at least you will have retrieved your data from the Windows.old folder.

Oh thats not bad at all then, other than time consuming. I always thought u had to reformat the drive when reinstalling.

I'll do that then, thanks for the help bud.

If you only have a few needed files to save - you can do it another way.

1. Get this free app. and it burns itself to cd.

FREE Rescue Kit 9.0 Express - Don't wait for disaster, get instant data recovery software!

2. Boot the Paragon cd - select File transfer Wizard and copy what you want onto another partition or external HD.

3. Reinstall Vista from the Dell dvd. If you already transfered off your data as above, you can do a completelly clean reinstall - select Drive Options (advanced) - format the existing Vista partition ( it's a quick format - a few seconds), recreate it and install onto it.

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

You can do it either way .

NOTE: Even if you are going to install without formatting - to get the Windows.old folder - it is still worth using the Paragon app. to transfer off anything really vital beforehand.

It shouldn't be necessary - just for extra safety.

Nothing is significantly vital or anything, but i've already started the install. Appreciate the tips though.