I had been using Windows XP, 32 bit on my computer for three or four years. In the fall of 2009, I realized that my computer was (alledgedly) set up originally for 64 bit processing. I happened to look at my purchase papers, and see this.
So I got the bright idea that I could buy Vista 64 and upgrade. And be able to load more RAM. So I did this right around January 1, 2010. I got Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 built in.
Everything was fine for about a month. The first issue that came up is that I realized Service Pack 2 wasn't loading. Windows Updates would tell me it was there, and I'd try and do the update, but it would fail every time. I tried all of the usuall recommendations to get it to update, but no luck. There was at least one other update that wouldn't load but I can't remember exactly which one was was. Seems like it was a .NET update or something.
On Friday of last week (2/26) all of a sudden the screen goes black and the computer starts to try and reboot. It goes into this cycle of attempted reboots, gets to a certain point then reboots. It never gets to the colorful 'windows' blue screen during booting.
Finally it gets to the screen where it tells you windows did not start correctly, and gives you all the options. I tried all of them. Safe Mode, etc., etc. None work. Whenever I do that, it starts the process and the list of files during boot starts running down the screen and it gets to the file named "crcdisk.sys" and stops there. Then after a minute or so, the reboot process starts over.
I've tried booting from the Windows installation CD. And gone through that process numerous times. And all of the options. It tells me that Windows can't be recovered. And it won't restore, although there are restore points. Restore won't work because of a "catastrophic" failure or something like that.
Yesterday, I reloaded my Vista program. And then immediately installed all Windows updates. Everything was fine. I rebooted a few times just to be sure that everything was running smoothly. On several of those reboots, the Windows "Checkdisk" program would kick in on front end of the reboot. And it would do its thing. There would be a few errors that it would correct, then it would boot up the way it was supposed to. I'd reboot again afterwards, and no problems.
I started loading all of software back on the computer next. Rebooting along the way just to be sure everything was okay. It was. I thought that by loading all of Windows Updates in immediately following the new windows installation; that I would establish the perfect/stable Windows platform to start from.
Last night I had my programs reinstalled and it was booting fine. So I started restoring my backup set through Norton. Everything went back to its original location, and it seemed to be fine. As soon as I got the back up set restored (and did nothing else) I rebooted and Vista crashed again...same as before.
I don't know what to do. It takes hours and hours to reload windows and programs etc. What a massive pain in the behind. Fortunately, with my backups I don't think I've lost anything.
Here are some questions, and concerns that I need help on. These have come up as I've researched my problems on the internet:
1. I am loading Vista Ultimate from the 64 bit labeled disc. However, the program is loading into a directory in Windows that is labeled with x86 in the name. From what I can tell, x86 is the 32 bit version. Why is Windows labeling the directory with x86? Is this correct?
2. How can I be sure that my system (motherboard etc) really is a 64 bit system? Here is what I know about my processor and motherboard:
- 3800+ Athlon 64 AM2 processor
- ASUS M2N4-SLI (nForce SLI, SATA Raid, Sound, LAN PCIEx, 2xPCIEx)
- Tons of RAM, hard drive space, and Video RAM
3. I have a few programs that aren't specifically 64 bit. Because of this, should I really just install the 32 bit version of Vista Ultimate? Or shouldn't they run fine and successfully update their own drives as needed. The system ran fine for over a month before the disaster struck!
4. Should I reinstall Vista 64 and run a registry check after I install all the windows updates? And after I re-install each software program?
5. Should I just reinstall my Vista Ultimate 64 with Service Pack 1 built in, and then not install any of the updates? Or, just not install the Service Pack 2 update? Could there be some major conflict in Service Pack 2 that clashes with my software and causes the crash?
6. I only use basic programs like Microsoft Office and a few other mainstream business programs. No games, movies, or other weird or otherwise computer draining programs.
7. My experience level with computers is probably best described as 'intermediate'. I know enough to be dangerous, and do basic recovery type stuff. There is alot that I am clueless about.
Any help that anyone can offer would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
So I got the bright idea that I could buy Vista 64 and upgrade. And be able to load more RAM. So I did this right around January 1, 2010. I got Vista Ultimate with Service Pack 1 built in.
Everything was fine for about a month. The first issue that came up is that I realized Service Pack 2 wasn't loading. Windows Updates would tell me it was there, and I'd try and do the update, but it would fail every time. I tried all of the usuall recommendations to get it to update, but no luck. There was at least one other update that wouldn't load but I can't remember exactly which one was was. Seems like it was a .NET update or something.
On Friday of last week (2/26) all of a sudden the screen goes black and the computer starts to try and reboot. It goes into this cycle of attempted reboots, gets to a certain point then reboots. It never gets to the colorful 'windows' blue screen during booting.
Finally it gets to the screen where it tells you windows did not start correctly, and gives you all the options. I tried all of them. Safe Mode, etc., etc. None work. Whenever I do that, it starts the process and the list of files during boot starts running down the screen and it gets to the file named "crcdisk.sys" and stops there. Then after a minute or so, the reboot process starts over.
I've tried booting from the Windows installation CD. And gone through that process numerous times. And all of the options. It tells me that Windows can't be recovered. And it won't restore, although there are restore points. Restore won't work because of a "catastrophic" failure or something like that.
Yesterday, I reloaded my Vista program. And then immediately installed all Windows updates. Everything was fine. I rebooted a few times just to be sure that everything was running smoothly. On several of those reboots, the Windows "Checkdisk" program would kick in on front end of the reboot. And it would do its thing. There would be a few errors that it would correct, then it would boot up the way it was supposed to. I'd reboot again afterwards, and no problems.
I started loading all of software back on the computer next. Rebooting along the way just to be sure everything was okay. It was. I thought that by loading all of Windows Updates in immediately following the new windows installation; that I would establish the perfect/stable Windows platform to start from.
Last night I had my programs reinstalled and it was booting fine. So I started restoring my backup set through Norton. Everything went back to its original location, and it seemed to be fine. As soon as I got the back up set restored (and did nothing else) I rebooted and Vista crashed again...same as before.
I don't know what to do. It takes hours and hours to reload windows and programs etc. What a massive pain in the behind. Fortunately, with my backups I don't think I've lost anything.
Here are some questions, and concerns that I need help on. These have come up as I've researched my problems on the internet:
1. I am loading Vista Ultimate from the 64 bit labeled disc. However, the program is loading into a directory in Windows that is labeled with x86 in the name. From what I can tell, x86 is the 32 bit version. Why is Windows labeling the directory with x86? Is this correct?
2. How can I be sure that my system (motherboard etc) really is a 64 bit system? Here is what I know about my processor and motherboard:
- 3800+ Athlon 64 AM2 processor
- ASUS M2N4-SLI (nForce SLI, SATA Raid, Sound, LAN PCIEx, 2xPCIEx)
- Tons of RAM, hard drive space, and Video RAM
3. I have a few programs that aren't specifically 64 bit. Because of this, should I really just install the 32 bit version of Vista Ultimate? Or shouldn't they run fine and successfully update their own drives as needed. The system ran fine for over a month before the disaster struck!
4. Should I reinstall Vista 64 and run a registry check after I install all the windows updates? And after I re-install each software program?
5. Should I just reinstall my Vista Ultimate 64 with Service Pack 1 built in, and then not install any of the updates? Or, just not install the Service Pack 2 update? Could there be some major conflict in Service Pack 2 that clashes with my software and causes the crash?
6. I only use basic programs like Microsoft Office and a few other mainstream business programs. No games, movies, or other weird or otherwise computer draining programs.
7. My experience level with computers is probably best described as 'intermediate'. I know enough to be dangerous, and do basic recovery type stuff. There is alot that I am clueless about.
Any help that anyone can offer would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
