Vista - MS Update Caused Total Crash

Running Vista 32 Home Premium, 3 GB RAM. For months now, I've been trying
unsuccessfully to install the MS updates that show up on my computer. The
first near disaster was SP 2, which began an endless loop of Stage 1, 2, 3
with percentage meters followed by a restart of the whole process.

To bypass that problem, I performed a system restore and have been trying,
with only occasional success, to install subsequent MS updates. I.e., I
choose one update on the list of any given day, install it, and wait to see
what happens. If restart is successful, great. More often than not, it's
unsuccessful and I have to use system restore to get the computer
functioning properly again.

So last night I tried to install the first of four updates dated November 11
(I had been away for two weeks). When the endless loop action described
above began, I did what I usually do: tapped the F11 key in hopes of
getting, as I've always been able to before, to the system restore screen.
Either I made a mistake and clicked system recovery when I meant to click
system restore or else system restore wasn't even offered as an option. In
any case, I suddenly found myself looking at a screen that was starting a
system recovery operation. I.e., all my data would be lost.

I immediately turned off the computer and tried to go to safe mode. No dice.
Got a black screen saying something about the boot and that Windows hadn't
started normally, I should insert a Windows installation disk. I tried
inserting one of the three DVDs I had been told by the computer to create in
case of emergency, but that did no good, either.

Now, when I turn on the computer and click F8, I get the message "BOOTMGR is
missing, Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to restart. When I do, I get the same
message. I've called Hewlett Packard, which manufactured the computer, and
they say my only choice now is to perform a system recovery. So two
questions:

1. Is there any way to get my data off the hard drive before I perform the
system recovery?
2. Can I buy Windows XP and put it on this machine?

Many thanks for any wise advice that may be forthcoming.

Joan

A Baffled User wrote:
You must mean SP1. SP2 is still in beta. I'm going to assume you really
meant SP1. If you installed a beta Service Pack, then having problems with
it is no surprise. Thou Shalt Not Install Beta Software on anything but a
testbed machine or on one you are prepared to wipe and clean install.
1. Pull the hard drive and put it in an external USB enclosure. Attach it to
a working computer and copy your data onto the working machine's hard
drive. You can also use a drive-to-USB adapter.

2. Restore your computer to factory condition using HP's method. Do the
updates before you install anything else but *after* you remove the HP
preinstalled garbage, including whatever antivirus trial version they
include. If you still can't update an optimized factory-restored machine,
then contact HP tech support because something is wrong with your computer.
I've updated numerous HP machines to Vista SP1 and subsequent updates with
no problems.

I'm not convinced that replacing Vista with XP will help, but here is some
general information about doing that:

On an OEM (HP, Sony, etc.) computer:

1. Go to the OEM's website and look for XP drivers for your specific model
computer. If there are no XP drivers, then you can't install XP. End of
story. If there are drivers, download them and store on a CD-R or USB
thumbdrive; you'll need them after you install XP.

2. Check with the OEM - either from their tech support website or by calling
them - to see if you will void your warranty if you do this. If you will
void the warranty, you make the decision.

3. If the OEM does support XP on the machine, call them and see if you can
have downgrade rights and have them send you an XP restore disk. This will
be far the easiest and best way of getting XP on the machine. With HP
machines, this is really preferable to doing a standard clean install with
a retail XP install disk.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...alling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

4. If XP is supported on the machine but the OEM doesn't have an XP restore
disk for you, understand that you'll need to purchase a retail copy of XP
from your favorite online or brick/mortar store.

5. Also understand that you will need to do a clean install of XP so if you
have any data you want, back it up first.

6. If none of the above is applicable to you because you can't run XP on
that machine (see Item #1 above), return the computer and purchase one
running XP instead.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Right you are, I meant SP 1--I was thinking of the SP on my XP machine.

Thank you *very* much for all this excellent information. I understand
everything you've told me about putting XP on my machine, and I'll look up
"external USB enclosure" and "drive-to-USB adapter"; that sounds like the
easier method.

Very much appreciate your help,
Joan

"Malke" <malke@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:OLyueaZTJHA.1184@xxxxxx

Hi--

All is not lost. Unfortunately when you get tech support from HP you're
getting far less than someone making 6 figures at HP Research if they even
work for HP.

From what you wrote, you must not have the Vista DVD, but I'll include what
you should do. If you can borrow one, you can rebuild the boot manager
easily but you should be able to reach the command prompt to type the 4
simple commands I'm going to give you by simply restarting the pc and
tapping F8 once per second until you reach the F8 menu or what MST callse
the Windows Advanced Options Menu. From there you can arrow down and hit
enter on the menu entry "Safe Mode with Command Prompt."

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/


or if you can borrow a Vista DVD, you can access a command prompt by
inserting it from which you can type the commands below and rebuild the boot
manager.

Put in the Vista DVD and select cmd prompt from the menu that shows up.
Then type one after the other these switches. You'll get a successful after
each one runs.

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to
troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

bootrec /Rebuild BCD
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /Fixboot

Another option, but I'd try the above one first--it should work, is to
borrow a Vista DVD from someone and use Startup Repair (directiona are
below):

How to Use Startup Repair: (Any of the links provide screen shots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content...r-computer.png

Good luck,

CH

________________
"A Baffled User" <vze265vd@xxxxxx> wrote in message
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