Vista - control panel issue

Hi
I have home premium 32bit, 8800gts(latest stable driver 100.65, i think).
I've formatted the hdd and it installed perfectly, however, if i disable user
account control OR install any third-party software(even vista supported
apps) after reboot I am unable to play built-in windows games, "welcome
center" won't open and "Control Panel" window opens but is blank(no icons,
just plain white). The only way to fix this is to restore to an earlier
point, but it's a closed circle because i can't install anything without
"losing" control panel.

I have contacted ms support a few times, they've tried remote assistance,
but nothing seems to help, they can't find the issue.

Do any of you know how I can fix this, or maybe has someone else experienced
this?
Thanx

Hey, Andriy -

Sorry that I can't offer any solution, but I thought you might like to know
that you're not the only one in this sinking boat. I've got nearly identical
issues. I'm experiencing the same thing even after having restored back to
"the beginning". I'm hoping there's a simple solution, but thus far I
haven't found one.

"Andriy" wrote:

> Hi
> I have home premium 32bit, 8800gts(latest stable driver 100.65, i think).
> I've formatted the hdd and it installed perfectly, however, if i disable user
> account control OR install any third-party software(even vista supported
> apps) after reboot I am unable to play built-in windows games, "welcome
> center" won't open and "Control Panel" window opens but is blank(no icons,
> just plain white). The only way to fix this is to restore to an earlier
> point, but it's a closed circle because i can't install anything without
> "losing" control panel.
>
> I have contacted ms support a few times, they've tried remote assistance,
> but nothing seems to help, they can't find the issue.
>
> Do any of you know how I can fix this, or maybe has someone else experienced
> this?
> Thanx

Well at least I'm not the only one. Are you using nvidia card as well because
i suspect video card driver?

That is certainly one are of commonality. Same version of ForceWare
(100.65). I'm running at 1280x800x32, you?

"Andriy" wrote:

> Well at least I'm not the only one. Are you using nvidia card as well because
> i suspect video card driver?

same, 1280x1024x32

Have you tried beta driver, it was released in march?

> same, 1280x1024x32
>
> Have you tried beta driver, it was released in march?

Running it now, still have the problem. Tried switching out of Vista Aero
and tried lower and max (2560x1600x32) resolutions. As they said at the
craps table after the thief left, "no dice".

> As they said at the craps table after the thief left, "no dice".

As they said at the craps table after they CAUGHT the thief and recovered
the stolen merchandise: "pair-a-dice"

Solution found: download the latest Vista updates. There were 2 criticals
and a few optionals that I did (I skipped the one that fixes something when
you're not using a Gregorian calendar...when am I going to do that?) and all
is better. Plus, I'm using the beta driver, but I bet it was the Vista
updates that did it.

(And as I hit "Post", I know something's gonna break...that's how my luck
works)

My windows is up to date (all updates req. and optional), i've never tried
beta driver, and i have the problem.

So, you're saying that beta nvidia driver did it? Also could you make it
clear what issues you had similar to mine?

Thanks for your replies

> So, you're saying that beta nvidia driver did it? Also could you make it
> clear what issues you had similar to mine?

From your original post...

* unable to play built-in windows games,
* "welcome center" won't open and
* "Control Panel" window opens but is blank(no icons, just plain white)

Most of the time when I opened Control Panel I would either get a flash of a
window, as if it were displayed and then immediately closed, or I'd get no
response at all. Clicking "Welcome Center" or trying to start any of the
built-in games (either by double-clicking the icon or selecting the icon and
clicking "Play" in the menu) would result in no response at all.

I don't know if it was the Vista updates (one of those "slap yourself on the
forehead" moments) or if it was Nvidia's beta driver that did it, but it's
working now so I'm not going to mess with it <jinx>. Hope that helps, and
good luck!

Which updates did you use and where did you find them. I have the same
problem with the control panel, welcome center and games not working. I have
the latest drivers from nvidia, but still doesn't help

"MikeD" wrote:

> > As they said at the craps table after the thief left, "no dice".
>
> As they said at the craps table after they CAUGHT the thief and recovered
> the stolen merchandise: "pair-a-dice"
>
> Solution found: download the latest Vista updates. There were 2 criticals
> and a few optionals that I did (I skipped the one that fixes something when
> you're not using a Gregorian calendar...when am I going to do that?) and all
> is better. Plus, I'm using the beta driver, but I bet it was the Vista
> updates that did it.
>
> (And as I hit "Post", I know something's gonna break...that's how my luck
> works)