Vista - Powering up - Starting - major problem

I need to explain my problems. I hope this all makes sense to you.

1. On Thursday I approved a 4 minute HP software/hardware change (not sure).
It asked me if I wished to "Restart" and I said NO and continued for an hour
at least before shutting down.

2. On previous power down I may have accidentally clicked on the "Shut Down"
twice.

3. Next day I accidentally clicked "Power up/On" button "twice". My computer
made strange noises as if having a power failure. An unusual way of powering
up was then observed and the following comments appeared on the screen.

A. We apologise for the inconvenience, but windows did not start
successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.

If your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly or was
automatically shutdown to protect your files and folders, choose last known
good configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked.

If a previous startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or
because the power or reset button was pressed, or if you aren't sure what
caused the problem, choose start windows normally.

SAFE MODE

SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING

SAFE MODE WITH COMMAND PROMPT

ESC
BOOT MENU= 3 choices
PM-ST340810A * did not work - reverted to comments in A above
3M-ST3160812AS worked - initialized as normal
4M-ATAP1-DVD A DH16A1L did not attempt

4. I then tried each of these 3 Modes several times. All initialization
attempts were unsuccessful because the same comments as in A above appeared.

5. I then did most of what it says at:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...=44052&lang=en
except "restore Windows Vista to an earlier time"

6. Still the same comments as in A above appeared so I allowed the timer to
count down to zero. Pressed Esc and at the next Screen the following 3
choices appeared:

PM-ST340810A * did not work - reverted to comments in A above (old board)
3M-ST3160812AS worked - initialized as normal
4M-ATAP1-DVD A DH16A1L did not attempt

7. System works "as per normal" except for the timer (bottom RHS of screen)
which was always wrong and had to be reset each time I used the computer (now
fixed).

8. I contacted the manufacturer of my HP Pavilion 5020a Home PC because the
OS is windows Vista and installed on purchase April 2007. They said...Contact
a support professional at Microsoft technical support by e-mail, the web, or
telephone. If Windows was already installed on your computer when you
purchased it, contact your computer manufacturer. (did that - no joy)

9. My aim is to get the start sequence back to the way it was. Please help me.
Regards .... John

_________________________________________________________________
I have done all these below:

- Turn off the computer and unplug the power cord.
- Disconnect all non-essential peripherals attached (Printer, scanner,
webcam, zip drive, phone cord, network cable and other devices). Leave only
the mouse, keyboard and monitor cable attached.
- Press and hold the power button on the front of the computer. Release
after 5 seconds.
- Plug the power cord back in.
- Turn on the computer.
- The monitor displays the message again. Allow the timer to count down to
zero.
- If the error opens again, skip to the next step.
- If the computer successfully starts to the Windows desktop and does not
restart to the error message, reconnect one device and wait until Windows
recognizes it.
- Continue connecting the devices, one at a time, restarting the PC each
time, until the device that is causing the error is found.
- Do not use the device that is known to cause the error.
____________________________________________________________________

- Use the steps in this section to restore Windows Vista to an earlier time:
- Turn off the computer.
- Remove all attached devices except for the mouse, keyboard and monitor.
- Turn on the computer and press the F8 key repeatedly when the first logo
screen appears.
- A Windows startup screen displays.
- Use the UP or DOWN arrow key to highlight Safe Mode with Command Prompt
and press Enter.
- If the error message appears again, skip to the next step to perform a
system recovery.
- When the logon screen appears, select Administrator and enter the
password (if applicable).
- When the command window appears, enter the following at the command
prompt: cd \windows\system32\restore
- At the new prompt, enter the following: rstrui
- The System Restore screen opens.

Follow the instructions in System Restore to restore the computer to a time
when the errors were known to not occur.
- When finished the computer restarts and attempts to open Windows. If the
error still appears after using System Restore, continue to the next step.
-
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...=44052&lang=en
- If your computer has preinstalled recovery options:
Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart
your computer.
- Click the Start button, click the arrow next to the Lock button , and
then click Restart.

- Do one of the following:
- If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold
the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows
logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you will need to try again.
- If your computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys
to highlight the operating system you want to repair, and then press and hold
F8.
- On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight
Repair your computer, and then press ENTER.
- Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.
- Select a user name and enter the password, and then click OK.
- On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair.
__________________________________________________________________
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935806/en-us
Troubleshooting Stop error messages that may occur when you try to install
Windows Vista
View products that this article applies to.

Article ID : 935806
Last Review : April 25, 2007
Revision : 1.0
Important This article contains information that shows you how to help lower
security settings or how to turn off security features on a computer. You can
make these changes to work around a specific problem. Before you make these
changes, we recommend that you evaluate the risks that are associated with
implementing this workaround in your particular environment. If you implement
this workaround, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the
computer.
SUMMARY
This article discusses the Stop error messages that can occur when you try
to install Windows Vista. This article describes the possible causes of each
Stop error message. It also provides troubleshooting steps for each issue.
Follow these steps to solve the problem with Microsoft Windows Defender
This problem was caused by Microsoft Windows Defender.
A solution is available that will solve this problem.
Solution

To solve this problem, follow these steps.
Print these instructions.

You will need to restart your computer as part of this solution, so please
print these instructions.

- Start your computer in safe mode.
- Close all open programs.
- Click the Start button , type msconfig in the Search box, and then press
ENTER. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation,
type the password or provide confirmation.
- Click the Boot tab.
- Under Boot options, click the Safe boot check box, select the Minimal
option button (if it's not already selected), and then click OK.
- Restart your computer.

Rename the SoftwareDistribution folder.
- Click the Start button , type %windir% in the Search box, and then press
ENTER.
- Right-click the SoftwareDistribution folder, and then click Rename.
- Type SoftwareDistribution.old, and then press ENTER.
- Change your computer to start in normal mode.
- Close all open programs.
- Click the Start button , type msconfig in the Search box, and then press
ENTER. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation,
type the password or provide confirmation.
- Click the Boot tab.
-Under Boot options, clear the Safe boot check box.
- Restart your computer.
____________________________________________________________

It is HP's responsibility. They buy "cheap" Vista licences from Microsoft.

In return for getting cheap software, HP does ALL the tech support for the
operating system.

"Johnho50" wrote:

"Johnho50" <Johnho50@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:6B6CC6E8-5C7B-450F-B50C-9D9C0E0FD16C@xxxxxx
At #5, why did you do everything EXCEPT the system restore?

Have you tried backing up your important data and doing the full HP system
Restore?

OEM installations are the responsibility of HP and they know it. I am
surprised that HP didn't direct you through a destructive restore.

Contact HP again..

--
Mike Hall - MVP
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx