Vista boot problem.

[Jlnwlf]

My Vista Home Premium will not boot up. There is a clicking sound coming from my PC just before the boot is complete. After a few mins if trying to complete the process, I get a message to use the boot disk. I do not have this. How can I fix this issue and boot up my OS? Where can I get a boot disk? I can not get into Safe Mode.
Thanks.

 

[wither 3]

Where does the boot actually fail? For instance, does it say it's loading Windows?

Before getting into how to create a boot disc, did it ever boot previously? If so, can you get into Safe Mode?

 

[SIW2]

Just use the vista installation disc. It has the standard MS repair options in it.

The clicking might be a concern, though not necessarily - some hard disks are quite noisy even when working normally.

My Vista Home Premium will not boot up. There is a clicking sound coming from my PC just before the boot is complete. After a few mins if trying to complete the process, I get a message to use the boot disk. I do not have this. How can I fix this issue and boot up my OS? Where can I get a boot disk? I can not get into Safe Mode.
Thanks.

 

[Jlnwlf]

Where does the boot actually fail? For instance, does it say it's loading Windows?

Before getting into how to create a boot disc, did it ever boot previously? If so, can you get into Safe Mode?

The boot fails just before completing. I get the Microsoft icon and the loading bar scrolls left to right. It stays on this screen for a while then the clicking starts and it goes to a blank screen with a large mouse icon. I can move the mouse on the screen. It will automatically attempt another reboot, same issue but I get the error message to use a boot disk. I can not pull up safe mode.

 

[Jlnwlf]

Just use the vista installation disc. It has the standard MS repair options in it.

The clicking might be a concern, though not necessarily - some hard disks are quite noisy even when working normally.

I don’t have the installation disk. Can I get one from Microsoft or HP?

 

[SIW2]

ask here : Vista ISO download

 

[wither 3]

I agree but, he didn't answer all my questions. If he can get into Safe Mode and run a sytem restore, it might not be necessary. On the other hand, having the ISO is good for the future.

 

[Vistaar]

...it goes to a blank screen with a large mouse icon...I can not pull up safe mode.

What antivirus programs are installed? “Black screen with cursor” was sometimes caused by AV conflicts: typically by having Microsoft Security Essentials and Avast installed at the same time. There is no good reason to have a legacy version of MSE installed on Vista or XP now because definition updates can no longer be installed. (MSE versions merely 6 years old or newer wouldn’t work anyway.) However I doubt that would prevent you from using Safe Mode, as you have twice stated.

 

[SIW2]

MSE works fine on my vista installation. As Vistaar pointed out, probably not wise to use a 3rd party av and mse at the same time.

I would suggest use either mse OR a 3rd party av.

You can use mse version 4.4.304

In case it is needed
64 bit
mse4.4.304x64.zip

32 bit
mse4.4.304x86.zip

Then manually download and install the update for sha2 signing. (KB4474419) That is because the mse definitions are now sha2 signed.

64 bit:

http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/secu/2019/09/windows6.0-kb4474419-v4-x64_09cb148f6ef10779d7352b7269d66a7f23019207.msu

32 bit:

http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/secu/2019/09/windows6.0-kb4474419-v4-x86_fd568cb47870cd8ed5ba10e1dd3c49061894030e.msu

When you have done that, mse is able to download and install the definitions. The same definitions are used on win7, and apparently MS will continue to provide them till 2023.

 

[SIW2]

Works fine:

 

[Vistaar]

You can use mse version 4.4.304....Then manually download and install the update for sha2 signing.

I regret opening the door for such extensive discussion of MSE when we don’t even know what antivirus OP has installed, but I consider using MSE 4.4.304.0 (released in 2013) to be a rather bad suggestion. Even before MSE definition updates became sha2 only, it was found that 2019 definition updates intended for version 4.10.209.0 didn’t work properly with that old XP-era version. (You might want to test at AMTSO to see if it can consistently detect and quarantine the EICAR test file.) In any case, most Vista users who post here (including the gurus) are never going to install any Server 2008 updates, and will therefore never have the sha2 support needed to test your suggestion. If someone running Vista wanted a free antivirus, I could only suggest Avast 18.8 (or AVG 18.8, which is essentially the same thing).

 

[Jlnwlf]

I agree but, he didn't answer all my questions. If he can get into Safe Mode and run a sytem restore, it might not be necessary. On the other hand, having the ISO is good for the future.

I did answer your question. My last sentence was “ I can not pull up safe mode”. I tried to boot again today and got the same error message. Boot failed. Insert system disk and press enter. How much memory will I need for the Vista download. Can I boot from a USB drive or will I have to make a disk? The only internet connection I have is thru my iPad. Might be difficult to get a CD burned.

 

[wither 3]

Apologies for the oversight on my part.