Vista - Vista WONT BOOT!!!!

Ok, So I was at my GF's house today and her mom was needing my help with her laptop. apparently there was nothing wrong with her laptop to begin with, she was trying to copy CD's with a copywrite protection on them.
I noticed the little icon beside the clock telling her that she has updates available. I recommended to her that she install them. She wanted me to start it, then I told her to just let it sit, and do whatever it tells her to do, and that she may have to restart the laptop after this. Then, my GF and I went to my house.
I was dropping her off and her mom came out to my car and said that there was a problem and the laptop wouldn't turn on. Well, the woman had seen a progress bar read 100% so she decided to take it upon herself to restart the laptop.
And now the laptop will almost boot Vista Basic all the way, but will stop at the logon screen before you can see the users. It gives a dialogue box that reads: "The computer restarted unexpectedly or encountered an unexpected error. Windows installation cannot proceed. To install Windows, click "OK" to restart the computer, and then restart the installation process." The box has an "OK" button, and a close-window X.

I've tried everything from popping in a Vista disk and trying to run the repair utilities, to pushing F8 at the startup and cycling through the different options (last known good configuration, safe mode, start normally, ect.) I CANNOT get it to start past that point!!!! I get The same error message everytime.
I do NOT want to reformat the laptop and lose all of her mom's data. I some how feel that if I just kept my damn mouth closed that I wouldn't be in this place, but also feel that if she'd followed directions, that this wouldn't have happened. I even created a system restore in the laptop before the updating process, but I can't do it, if I can't access it!!!

Can anyone PLEASE help me out???? I'm desperate, cause I really REALLY like this girl, and don't want to piss off an already angry lady who controls when her daughter leaves the house.

Hi TimmyJ,

Dont you wish she had just left it alone for another few minutes to finish, It does say do not turn PC off in big letters...lol

If you boot the VistaDVD and select System Restore you will be able to access that Restore Point you created
This Tutorial will be able to help System Restore - How to Just follow Method 2 and the Video

Every VistaDVD has these options, You will be able to use it to restore the system

Let us know how you go

Steven

Thanks for the advice Steven.
I did give that a try. I have a Vista Business 32bit disk, but not Basic. It wouldn't display any restore points through that method. I don't know if it is because of the restarting it in to middle of the updating process, or if it is because my disk isn't the same version that she has.

And you have no idea how pissed I was when she told me "Well, I saw that a bar said that it was at 100%, so I restarted it."
OMG, I wanted to punch something. lol. I told her that I should be able to have it to her by the end of tomorrow (Wednesday) before I really knew how bad it was, and I have classes at Shepherd University til 4 pm then I gotta go to work, and try to find time to do home work tonight. lol. I'm hoping that I'm not ****ed right now, and I can pull something out of my ass. lol. I would be SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO releived if I can get to that restore point. lol.
Any and all help ASAP is GREATLY appreciated. lol


Tim

BTW, does anyone know where I could download an ISO image of Vista Basic 32bit???

Timmy J.

You only find those in the Caribbean me heartie!

I did download a recovery disk ISO that is basically all of the repair tools that are on the regular install disk. That wasn't pirated either. Here's the link.


http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/


I'll give it a try when I get home(at work), but still don't think that it will work. I'm still VERY open to suggestions and advice.

Thanks,
Tim


P.S.
To just download the install disk ISO would NOT be pirateing, right? Because your really purchasing the license (serial key) anyway. It's just making a copy of the installation files. I'm pretty sure that you can download the OS from retailers online as part of the purchasing process of both the OS and the key.

So, since time IS VERY crutial. I'm asking if there is any1 who could please assist me in anyway possible.

Thanks,
Tim

Tim,

Its perfectly legal..We use the same download link for our Tutorial here too...Create a Recovery Disc

It should be able to get you going, If you select the "System Restore" option I mentioned in my last reply it will "Only" restore windows back to the Restore Point you created before the update and allow her to continue using her PC

I hope she had ServicePack1 installed too, It makes Vista much better and easier to use

If it doesnt work we have one more option left....

Steven

You said that there was one last option if the system restore doesn't work? What is that? You see. I tried using the spare Vista disk that I have. It is Vista Business, and the laptop has Vista Basic, but it would function properly. It just won't find the restore point that I made. I will go to that option to restore from the restore point that I KNOW I made, and it will say that it cannot find ANY restore points at all.
I would just like to know what your other suggestion would be.

Thanks for your help,
Tim

That would be going into safe-mode and trying SystemRestore from there...I guess it was recreating a new Restore point for all the updates as she turned it off and wiped the entire Restore Store....

If it doesnt let you use SystemRestore from safe-mode then use safe-mode to backup all her e-mails, favorites, documents, music, pictues folder and others like limewire or what ever else is installed...

Just go thru each program thats installed, check for anything that needs backing up, make the backup somewhere like C:\Backup and move the e-mails/settings/pictures/music/video/favorites folders to there and then uninstall that program after you have made sure its been backed up there....If you have a USB drive it would make it easier...

Then you can Reinstall Vista, Just dont select the "format" option and it will not format the drive It will only reinstall over the current installation but that will mean setting it all back up from the backup folder you created

Dont try take shortcuts like trying to move the users folder over the new one as it will start happeneing all again

If you do miss anything just blame her for turning it off and not listening to the big warning saying "DO Not Turn Off'...I also suggest setting the Updates to Automatic and Installing SP1 first so she cant do it again

Steven