Vista Boot up Fails

[Neter]

Hi all. Last night I was optimizing my computer and I changed a few system files using optimization software. I then rebooted and now Vista will not boot. At first I would get only a black screen with the mouse. After restarting several times I got an error recovery screen. I tried both options (use recovery tool and start normally) several times to no effect. I tried booting in the safe modes and I receive the same screen. Eventually I started getting a blue screen saying that windows was shut down to prevent damage to the computer. I tried using the vista disc that was sent with the computer and it does the same thing only in color now. I have had this Gateway computer for 3 years now with no problems until last night. Please help!

[Easy Rider]

Read this from Microsoft.

 

Startup Repair: frequently asked questions - Windows Vista Help

[Neter]

Read this from Microsoft.

 

Startup Repair: frequently asked questions - Windows Vista Help

Thanks. I did see that. However, I can't get Vista to load that far. It freezes on black screen (w/o OS disc) and on a "windows" load screen (with the disc). I looks as though the screen is zoomed into one part of that screen. I can't access any options. I have to reboot to get to another screen.

[Neter]

I can get to the windows recovery environment but using the first option causes the computer to repeatedly reboot. The other option brings up a blue screen saying that Windows has been shut down to prevent any damage to the system.

[Easy Rider]

Did you change the bios to boot from the Vista disk, ie via the cdrom drive?

[Neter]

I have done that. I made a little progress. With the start up disc I can get to the install windows screen. I clicked the repair your computer button. It goes to another screen, system recovery options. It finds the Vista already loaded. I hit next, it goes through finding and repairing startup problems. After finishing, no problems found. Now here is the problem. I tried the third option under "system recovery options" screen which use restore point. I know that I have created at least two restore points just this month but it will not find them.

[Jelly Bean]

Did you try to restart the computer and repeatedly tap F8 and choose last known good config that worked?

 

Are you able to run in safe mode?

 

What did it say on the Blue screen?

 

Did you load defaults in BIOS then set first boot device?

 

 

To start System Restore using the Command prompt, follow these steps:

1. Start your computer in safe mode with command prompt. .

2. At the command prompt, type rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

[Easy Rider]

So when it found no problems after the repair did you boot up normally to check what the system looked like then?

 

More on Recovery options in a sec when tell me what happened.

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Try this: REVISED: How to fix the Vista KSOD (blacK Screen Of Death) | LogBlog

[Neter]

Did you try to restart the computer and repeatedly tap F8 and choose last known good config that worked?

 

Are you able to run in safe mode?

 

What did it say on the Blue screen?

 

Did you load defaults in BIOS then set first boot device?

 

 

To start System Restore using the Command prompt, follow these steps:

1. Start your computer in safe mode with command prompt. .

2. At the command prompt, type rstrui.exe, and then press ENTER. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

I did change boot order and it will only boot up with the black screen. I ran the recovery a few times and the diagnostics revealed there was no problem with boot up. So now I think that some thing is preventing the logon screen from being shown. I left the computer alone for a while and the screen saver activated.

[Jelly Bean]

Ok I have an idea for you that you may or may not like.

 

You can reinstall windows.

 

However DO NOT delete the partition just go ahead and install on the partition already created.

 

Once installed and you have logged onto windows open C: and you will see a file "Windows.old" this contains all your old files such as pictures,files,music etc.

 

So no data is lost.

[Neter]

Hi

 

Try this: REVISED: How to fix the Vista KSOD (blacK Screen Of Death) | LogBlog

 

OK I tried this and there was nothing for me to change. The settings were already there.

[Neter]

Ok I have an idea for you that you may or may not like.

 

You can reinstall windows.

 

However DO NOT delete the partition just go ahead and install on the partition already created.

 

Once installed and you have logged onto windows open C: and you will see a file "Windows.old" this contains all your old files such as pictures,files,music etc.

 

So no data is lost.

Is this safe? I don't want to crash the computer. I think Im on the right track. How sure are you that my info will be safe? Also once I see the file do I just load it up or what? What is the next step for this old file?

Edited September 2, 2009 by Neter

[Jelly Bean]

Open "windows.old" and move your files to new windows instillation.

 

Then use disk cleanup to get rid of windows.old and free up disk space.

 

It is safe but as I said DO NOT delete the origonal partition just install windows.If you delete it all files will be lost.

 

Or remove the hard drive and fit as a slave to another computer,removes files.Replace and then format.

[Neter]

Open "windows.old" and move your files to new windows instillation.

 

Then use disk cleanup to get rid of windows.old and free up disk space.

 

It is safe but as I said DO NOT delete the origonal partition just install windows.If you delete it all files will be lost.

 

Or remove the hard drive and fit as a slave to another computer,removes files.Replace and then format.

Ok, I will try that. When you say move the files to another installation i'm not sure what you mean.

[Jelly Bean]

Ok use two seprate windows.

 

Open windows.old then say music folder.

 

Also open Music folder in your new windows instillation and copy and paste or drag the files from windows.old to the music folder.

[Neter]

Ok use two seprate windows.

 

Open windows.old then say music folder.

 

Also open Music folder in your new windows instillation and copy and paste or drag the files from windows.old to the music folder.

Got it. I will get back to you all. Thanks for helping so much. I was starting to pull out my chin hair

[Jelly Bean]

Your welcome babe just take your time.

 

The problem is we do not know what changes you made to the OS and this hinders a repair process.

 

Hence lets see if you can reinstall.

 

Are you using a full install disk or a recovery disk?

 

You need a full install disk not recovery.

[Neter]

So I have not re-installed yet. I played around a bit and I was able to get into the command prompt. From there I was able to browse through the folders and all of my info is still there. I can't open the files but at least I can see them. From there I was able to open task manager. Now I am in task manager. Under services tab many services are stopped. I am not familiar with services. I have also been trying to start new tasks. Most are not recognized. Also in CMD prompt many prompts are not recognized. Is there a way to boot from here or something else?

[snow]

If you have task manager open, try clicking File > Run(new task) and typing explorer then pressing enter.

 

This should give you the desktop, but if allot of vital services have been disabled then it might not load.

 

In this event, you could copy the files using the robocopy command from command prompt, but the syntax can be confusing, so post back before attemping this with a full description of your drives and their letters, and whether or not you have an external hard drive you can connect.

[Neter]

If you have task manager open, try clicking File > Run(new task) and typing explorer then pressing enter.

 

This should give you the desktop, but if allot of vital services have been disabled then it might not load.

 

In this event, you could copy the files using the robocopy command from command prompt, but the syntax can be confusing, so post back before attemping this with a full description of your drives and their letters, and whether or not you have an external hard drive you can connect.

OK. Thanks to all who have assisted me so far. You don't know how relieved I am that there are people like you all who care to lend a helping hand. To the issue at hand... I have task manager open but it fails to open most commands. I'm getting an error message saying the I did not type the command right. I'm thinking of just reinstalling. The problem is I have all of my graphic design files still there. I don't have any external hard drives, only jump drives. If anyone could help me just to reach those files and save them would be huge. Thanks in advance.

[Neter]

OK. Thanks to all who have assisted me so far. You don't know how relieved I am that there are people like you all who care to lend a helping hand. To the issue at hand... I have task manager open but it fails to open most commands. I'm getting an error message saying the I did not type the command right. I'm thinking of just reinstalling. The problem is I have all of my graphic design files still there. I don't have any external hard drives, only jump drives. If anyone could help me just to reach those files and save them would be huge. Thanks in advance.

Will the robocopy cmd copy files to usb jump drive?

[snow]

If windows still has enough fuctionality to mount a USB drive, then yes.

 

Connect the drive to the computer, and then open command prompt. Change to the drive by typing the letter of the drive, followed by a colon, then press enter, like;

E:<Enter>

 

If you don't know the letter of the drive, try d, e, f, g... etc until you access one, then use the DIR command to check it's contents. If you're really in dbout, place a file called 'USB DRIVE.txt' on the USB drive so that you can see it to make sure.

 

To make sure you can run robocopy, type robocopy into the command prompt and press enter.

 

Tell us how you get on, and if you can successfully access your usb drive.

[Neter]

I can get access to the jump drive!!! That is good! Thankyou! Now as far as using the robocopy how does that work?

[Neter]

Robocopy command works. I dont know how to use it though. other than that, I have figured out what usb drive I am using and the computer does access that drive. Can anyone tell me how use command prompt to open files? I CAN ACCESS all of my drives!! I can access the c: drive but I don't know how to open the folders I see. Same forr the usb drive. Also I don't know how to use robocopy at all. You all have been great. Thanks