Vista Tutorial - System Restore Stuck at "Finalizing file restore"

Yesterday I tried to install Visual Basic Express 2008. After the
installation completed a reboot was required. During that reboot the
computer got stuck in the configuring updates/restart loop mentioned in many
other posts.

After hours of seeing if it would resolve itself I tried a system restore.
That process allows me to pick a restore point (I have tried several) and it
proceeds until the point where the "Finalizing file restore" message and
progress bar appears. Now it is stuck there, continuing the finalizing
process but never finishing.

I have tried to reinstall Vista using my serial number but it will not let
me install as an upgrade as it requires me to run it inside of Windows which
I can not access. If I try to run it without the serial number, it only
allows a custom install which will overwrite my files.

Any ideas how to solve this problem? Thanks.

Right at power on startup tap F8, until a list comes up; use UP and DOWN
arrows to go to Safe Mode, hit ENTER.
Once there, uninstall that program, or do a System Restore AFTER disabling
your Anti-virus.

"Howard" wrote: