Vista - Vista Updates do not let me get to the login screen

Hai,

I am having a nightmare with my laptop which has windows vista ultimate on it.

I chose to shut down the laptop by choosing the option "Shut down after installing updates", and so it started to shut down. However, after a couple of hours I checked and saw the laptop was still on, and it was stuck on Update 3 / 3.

The status screen displays the following:

Installing Update 3 / 3 - 0%

A couple of moments later, the laptop displays "Shutting down" and just like that it does. Not matter which mode I run the laptop in or how much times I let it "loop-around", it returns to the same screen. The problem is I cannot even get to the login screen, let alone try something to fix the damn system!



I am really against a wall here, as I have no idea what to do. I would appreciate if someone could help me out with my dilemma, or either help me find out the below information:

- Is there a way I can backup information from my hard drive while the laptop is on, but not logged on?
- Is there a way I can restore the latop to an earlier state using the restore option without logging on to the system?

Thank you.

Restore to an earlier date with your install dvd.
Boot from your Vista DVD, then repair your computer, choose your OS and the console should appear, choose to restore at an earlier date.

Thanks for your reply.

Unfortunately, I do not have the vista dvd. Are there any other solutions|?

Yes if you create a recovery CD
Have a look there (option 1) Create a Recovery Disc

Thanks, I am trying that now.

ANother question I had was as follows:

I was trying another approach with the command prompt to rename certain files to solve this issue, but when i switched to the c: drive, the dir only showed one file,

WINDOW~1 ISO ...

I don't think this is normal, aren't I suppose to get the normal list like WINDOWS etc? Why am I geting only one file in the directory?

The recovery disc isn't much help. It takes me to the command prompt where as mentioned above I only have 1 file in the c: dir, so I can't do anything. Any advice? I can't understand why I only have one file in my c: directory...

Very weird
I suppose you tried the safe mode.

No, not the safe mode. And I can't seem to locate a recovery disk for x32 system, only for x64 and x82 or something.

So, try to get in safe mode.
X86 is 32 bit

O wow, and just when I thought MS couldn't make it any more confusing lol. Umm ok, I'm never installing vista again in my life given a choice.

Thanks for your help, will try to use the recovery disk and see how it goes.

uh I dont want to break your party here but Microsoft didnt choose x86 or 32bit...thats all thanks and all down to Intel and processor delvelopment over the last 80 years...A little before Microsofts time.