System Restore and other system apps do not work

[Guest Dan]

I am using Vista Ultimate x64 Build 6001 SP1.

Intel® Core2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz 2.66 GHz Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

The behavior described below started suddenly, possibly after the

installation of an update.

Some of the symptoms are:

 

When I click on System Restore I get (as expected) the dialog box “Windows

needs your permission to continue”

I click Continue. Apparently nothing happens.

I repeat the above and I get the message “The System Restore wizard is

already running.” However, it is not visible.

 

Task Manager also remains invisible.

 

When I click on “Turn Windows features on and off” the “Windows Features”

box is displayed with “Please wait...” but nothing happens.

 

When trying to uninstall an update, Windows Installer displays "Preparing to

install..." and remains so forever. Click Cancel, after 10 min or so “Install

server is not responding”.

 

At times Visual Studio and the Office 2007 programs go in No responding

mode and I must reboot.

 

When I shut down the computer "Logging off " is displayed until I use the

hardware shut down button.

 

Chkdsk found nothing wrong.

 

Sfc /scannow doesn’t start; the cursor is blinking on the next line for ever.

 

The same in Safe Mode.

 

When I try to start from the DVD the Vista background is displayed with the

mouse cursor but then nothing.

 

Is there a way out?

 

Thanks,

Dan

[Guest Carlos]

RE: System Restore and other system apps do not work

 

Dan,

Since you can't use system restore from within Windows, I would try it

during boot.

I mean, press F8 during boot and choose System Restore from there.

What I still cannot understand is why do you also have issues when booting

with the Vista DVD alone.

Carlos

 

 

"Dan" wrote:

> I am using Vista Ultimate x64 Build 6001 SP1.

> Intel® Core2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz 2.66 GHz Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

> The behavior described below started suddenly, possibly after the

> installation of an update.

> Some of the symptoms are:

>

> When I click on System Restore I get (as expected) the dialog box “Windows

> needs your permission to continue”

> I click Continue. Apparently nothing happens.

> I repeat the above and I get the message “The System Restore wizard is

> already running.” However, it is not visible.

>

> Task Manager also remains invisible.

>

> When I click on “Turn Windows features on and off” the “Windows Features”

> box is displayed with “Please wait...” but nothing happens.

>

> When trying to uninstall an update, Windows Installer displays "Preparing to

> install..." and remains so forever. Click Cancel, after 10 min or so “Install

> server is not responding”.

>

> At times Visual Studio and the Office 2007 programs go in No responding

> mode and I must reboot.

>

> When I shut down the computer "Logging off " is displayed until I use the

> hardware shut down button.

>

> Chkdsk found nothing wrong.

>

> Sfc /scannow doesn’t start; the cursor is blinking on the next line for ever.

>

> The same in Safe Mode.

>

> When I try to start from the DVD the Vista background is displayed with the

> mouse cursor but then nothing.

>

> Is there a way out?

>

> Thanks,

> Dan

>

[Guest Dan]

RE: System Restore and other system apps do not work

 

Thanks for your message Carlos.

I used System Restore during reboot. I am not sure it restored a previous

version, anyway all the symptoms are still present.

 

Not being able to reboot from the DVD is due possibly to a malware present

in the system.

 

Thanks,

 

 

"Carlos" wrote:

> Dan,

> Since you can't use system restore from within Windows, I would try it

> during boot.

> I mean, press F8 during boot and choose System Restore from there.

> What I still cannot understand is why do you also have issues when booting

> with the Vista DVD alone.

> Carlos

>

>

> "Dan" wrote:

>

> > I am using Vista Ultimate x64 Build 6001 SP1.

> > Intel® Core2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz 2.66 GHz Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

> > The behavior described below started suddenly, possibly after the

> > installation of an update.

> > Some of the symptoms are:

> >

> > When I click on System Restore I get (as expected) the dialog box “Windows

> > needs your permission to continue”

> > I click Continue. Apparently nothing happens.

> > I repeat the above and I get the message “The System Restore wizard is

> > already running.” However, it is not visible.

> >

> > Task Manager also remains invisible.

> >

> > When I click on “Turn Windows features on and off” the “Windows Features”

> > box is displayed with “Please wait...” but nothing happens.

> >

> > When trying to uninstall an update, Windows Installer displays "Preparing to

> > install..." and remains so forever. Click Cancel, after 10 min or so “Install

> > server is not responding”.

> >

> > At times Visual Studio and the Office 2007 programs go in No responding

> > mode and I must reboot.

> >

> > When I shut down the computer "Logging off " is displayed until I use the

> > hardware shut down button.

> >

> > Chkdsk found nothing wrong.

> >

> > Sfc /scannow doesn’t start; the cursor is blinking on the next line for ever.

> >

> > The same in Safe Mode.

> >

> > When I try to start from the DVD the Vista background is displayed with the

> > mouse cursor but then nothing.

> >

> > Is there a way out?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Dan

> >

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: System Restore and other system apps do not work

 

Once an OS is installed on the hard drive the optical drive has to be set in

the BIOS to be higher in the boot order than the harddrive in order to boot

from a dvd. Check your boot order in the BIOS.

 

"Dan" <dan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:038E2DEC-DE3A-4EF7-AC6D-A8A134411199@microsoft.com...

> Thanks for your message Carlos.

> I used System Restore during reboot. I am not sure it restored a previous

> version, anyway all the symptoms are still present.

>

> Not being able to reboot from the DVD is due possibly to a malware present

> in the system.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

> "Carlos" wrote:

>

>> Dan,

>> Since you can't use system restore from within Windows, I would try it

>> during boot.

>> I mean, press F8 during boot and choose System Restore from there.

>> What I still cannot understand is why do you also have issues when

>> booting

>> with the Vista DVD alone.

>> Carlos

>>

>>

>> "Dan" wrote:

>>

>> > I am using Vista Ultimate x64 Build 6001 SP1.

>> > Intel® Core2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz 2.66 GHz Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

>> > The behavior described below started suddenly, possibly after the

>> > installation of an update.

>> > Some of the symptoms are:

>> >

>> > When I click on System Restore I get (as expected) the dialog box

>> > “Windows

>> > needs your permission to continue”

>> > I click Continue. Apparently nothing happens.

>> > I repeat the above and I get the message “The System Restore wizard is

>> > already running.” However, it is not visible.

>> >

>> > Task Manager also remains invisible.

>> >

>> > When I click on “Turn Windows features on and off” the “Windows

>> > Features”

>> > box is displayed with “Please wait...” but nothing happens.

>> >

>> > When trying to uninstall an update, Windows Installer displays

>> > "Preparing to

>> > install..." and remains so forever. Click Cancel, after 10 min or so

>> > “Install

>> > server is not responding”.

>> >

>> > At times Visual Studio and the Office 2007 programs go in No

>> > responding

>> > mode and I must reboot.

>> >

>> > When I shut down the computer "Logging off " is displayed until I use

>> > the

>> > hardware shut down button.

>> >

>> > Chkdsk found nothing wrong.

>> >

>> > Sfc /scannow doesn’t start; the cursor is blinking on the next line for

>> > ever.

>> >

>> > The same in Safe Mode.

>> >

>> > When I try to start from the DVD the Vista background is displayed with

>> > the

>> > mouse cursor but then nothing.

>> >

>> > Is there a way out?

>> >

>> > Thanks,

>> > Dan

>> >

[Guest Carlos]

RE: System Restore and other system apps do not work

 

Dan,

Already thought of that, but neither malware nor virus can prevent booting

from the DVD because they are still not running.

Colin's advice about boot sequence in BIOS is the first thing to look at.

By the way, did you do any hardware changes lately?

Can you unplug as many external devices as you can and then check again?

Once you have solved the issue, I suggest you go for full backup setup.

Software: Acronis True Image Home

Media: External (USB) hard disk

I do full Vista backups once a month after the second Tuesday (MSFT monthly

updates) and it is really a life saver.

I had to resort to it a couple of weeks back when my system started to give

many errors after having experimented with video/audio decoders.

Best of luck.

Carlos

 

"Dan" wrote:

> Thanks for your message Carlos.

> I used System Restore during reboot. I am not sure it restored a previous

> version, anyway all the symptoms are still present.

>

> Not being able to reboot from the DVD is due possibly to a malware present

> in the system.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

> "Carlos" wrote:

>

> > Dan,

> > Since you can't use system restore from within Windows, I would try it

> > during boot.

> > I mean, press F8 during boot and choose System Restore from there.

> > What I still cannot understand is why do you also have issues when booting

> > with the Vista DVD alone.

> > Carlos

> >

> >

> > "Dan" wrote:

> >

> > > I am using Vista Ultimate x64 Build 6001 SP1.

> > > Intel® Core2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz 2.66 GHz Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

> > > The behavior described below started suddenly, possibly after the

> > > installation of an update.

> > > Some of the symptoms are:

> > >

> > > When I click on System Restore I get (as expected) the dialog box “Windows

> > > needs your permission to continue”

> > > I click Continue. Apparently nothing happens.

> > > I repeat the above and I get the message “The System Restore wizard is

> > > already running.” However, it is not visible.

> > >

> > > Task Manager also remains invisible.

> > >

> > > When I click on “Turn Windows features on and off” the “Windows Features”

> > > box is displayed with “Please wait...” but nothing happens.

> > >

> > > When trying to uninstall an update, Windows Installer displays "Preparing to

> > > install..." and remains so forever. Click Cancel, after 10 min or so “Install

> > > server is not responding”.

> > >

> > > At times Visual Studio and the Office 2007 programs go in No responding

> > > mode and I must reboot.

> > >

> > > When I shut down the computer "Logging off " is displayed until I use the

> > > hardware shut down button.

> > >

> > > Chkdsk found nothing wrong.

> > >

> > > Sfc /scannow doesn’t start; the cursor is blinking on the next line for ever.

> > >

> > > The same in Safe Mode.

> > >

> > > When I try to start from the DVD the Vista background is displayed with the

> > > mouse cursor but then nothing.

> > >

> > > Is there a way out?

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > > Dan

> > >

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: System Restore and other system apps do not work

 

I do the full backup with ATI just before Patch Tuesday just in case an

update will cause me issues that I cannot correct by uninstalling the

offending update, but the same idea.

 

"Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:A284A239-29C2-44AB-9A14-BDC89D6811E6@microsoft.com...

> Dan,

> Already thought of that, but neither malware nor virus can prevent booting

> from the DVD because they are still not running.

> Colin's advice about boot sequence in BIOS is the first thing to look at.

> By the way, did you do any hardware changes lately?

> Can you unplug as many external devices as you can and then check again?

> Once you have solved the issue, I suggest you go for full backup setup.

> Software: Acronis True Image Home

> Media: External (USB) hard disk

> I do full Vista backups once a month after the second Tuesday (MSFT

> monthly

> updates) and it is really a life saver.

> I had to resort to it a couple of weeks back when my system started to

> give

> many errors after having experimented with video/audio decoders.

> Best of luck.

> Carlos

>

> "Dan" wrote:

>

>> Thanks for your message Carlos.

>> I used System Restore during reboot. I am not sure it restored a

>> previous

>> version, anyway all the symptoms are still present.

>>

>> Not being able to reboot from the DVD is due possibly to a malware

>> present

>> in the system.

>>

>> Thanks,

>>

>>

>> "Carlos" wrote:

>>

>> > Dan,

>> > Since you can't use system restore from within Windows, I would try it

>> > during boot.

>> > I mean, press F8 during boot and choose System Restore from there.

>> > What I still cannot understand is why do you also have issues when

>> > booting

>> > with the Vista DVD alone.

>> > Carlos

>> >

>> >

>> > "Dan" wrote:

>> >

>> > > I am using Vista Ultimate x64 Build 6001 SP1.

>> > > Intel® Core2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz 2.66 GHz Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

>> > > The behavior described below started suddenly, possibly after the

>> > > installation of an update.

>> > > Some of the symptoms are:

>> > >

>> > > When I click on System Restore I get (as expected) the dialog box

>> > > “Windows

>> > > needs your permission to continue”

>> > > I click Continue. Apparently nothing happens.

>> > > I repeat the above and I get the message “The System Restore wizard

>> > > is

>> > > already running.” However, it is not visible.

>> > >

>> > > Task Manager also remains invisible.

>> > >

>> > > When I click on “Turn Windows features on and off” the “Windows

>> > > Features”

>> > > box is displayed with “Please wait...” but nothing happens.

>> > >

>> > > When trying to uninstall an update, Windows Installer displays

>> > > "Preparing to

>> > > install..." and remains so forever. Click Cancel, after 10 min or so

>> > > “Install

>> > > server is not responding”.

>> > >

>> > > At times Visual Studio and the Office 2007 programs go in No

>> > > responding

>> > > mode and I must reboot.

>> > >

>> > > When I shut down the computer "Logging off " is displayed until I

>> > > use the

>> > > hardware shut down button.

>> > >

>> > > Chkdsk found nothing wrong.

>> > >

>> > > Sfc /scannow doesn’t start; the cursor is blinking on the next line

>> > > for ever.

>> > >

>> > > The same in Safe Mode.

>> > >

>> > > When I try to start from the DVD the Vista background is displayed

>> > > with the

>> > > mouse cursor but then nothing.

>> > >

>> > > Is there a way out?

>> > >

>> > > Thanks,

>> > > Dan

>> > >

[Guest Carlos]

Re: System Restore and other system apps do not work

 

Well, I actually keep two backup copies.

1.- A "pre-Tuesday" one, which is really the "post-Tuesday" of last month.

This is the one I keep "outside" the computer in an external drive.

2.- A "post-Tuesday" one, of the current month.

This one is kept "inside" the computer in a dedicated partition.

So, after Patch Tuesday, I first push the "inside" copy "outside", deleting

the old one and then create an "inside" backup of the current state.

 

Better safe than sorry.

:)

Carlos

 

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> I do the full backup with ATI just before Patch Tuesday just in case an

> update will cause me issues that I cannot correct by uninstalling the

> offending update, but the same idea.

>

> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:A284A239-29C2-44AB-9A14-BDC89D6811E6@microsoft.com...

> > Dan,

> > Already thought of that, but neither malware nor virus can prevent booting

> > from the DVD because they are still not running.

> > Colin's advice about boot sequence in BIOS is the first thing to look at.

> > By the way, did you do any hardware changes lately?

> > Can you unplug as many external devices as you can and then check again?

> > Once you have solved the issue, I suggest you go for full backup setup.

> > Software: Acronis True Image Home

> > Media: External (USB) hard disk

> > I do full Vista backups once a month after the second Tuesday (MSFT

> > monthly

> > updates) and it is really a life saver.

> > I had to resort to it a couple of weeks back when my system started to

> > give

> > many errors after having experimented with video/audio decoders.

> > Best of luck.

> > Carlos

> >

> > "Dan" wrote:

> >

> >> Thanks for your message Carlos.

> >> I used System Restore during reboot. I am not sure it restored a

> >> previous

> >> version, anyway all the symptoms are still present.

> >>

> >> Not being able to reboot from the DVD is due possibly to a malware

> >> present

> >> in the system.

> >>

> >> Thanks,

> >>

> >>

> >> "Carlos" wrote:

> >>

> >> > Dan,

> >> > Since you can't use system restore from within Windows, I would try it

> >> > during boot.

> >> > I mean, press F8 during boot and choose System Restore from there.

> >> > What I still cannot understand is why do you also have issues when

> >> > booting

> >> > with the Vista DVD alone.

> >> > Carlos

> >> >

> >> >

> >> > "Dan" wrote:

> >> >

> >> > > I am using Vista Ultimate x64 Build 6001 SP1.

> >> > > Intel® Core2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz 2.66 GHz Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB

> >> > > The behavior described below started suddenly, possibly after the

> >> > > installation of an update.

> >> > > Some of the symptoms are:

> >> > >

> >> > > When I click on System Restore I get (as expected) the dialog box

> >> > > “Windows

> >> > > needs your permission to continue”

> >> > > I click Continue. Apparently nothing happens.

> >> > > I repeat the above and I get the message “The System Restore wizard

> >> > > is

> >> > > already running.” However, it is not visible.

> >> > >

> >> > > Task Manager also remains invisible.

> >> > >

> >> > > When I click on “Turn Windows features on and off” the “Windows

> >> > > Features”

> >> > > box is displayed with “Please wait...” but nothing happens.

> >> > >

> >> > > When trying to uninstall an update, Windows Installer displays

> >> > > "Preparing to

> >> > > install..." and remains so forever. Click Cancel, after 10 min or so

> >> > > “Install

> >> > > server is not responding”.

> >> > >

> >> > > At times Visual Studio and the Office 2007 programs go in No

> >> > > responding

> >> > > mode and I must reboot.

> >> > >

> >> > > When I shut down the computer "Logging off " is displayed until I

> >> > > use the

> >> > > hardware shut down button.

> >> > >

> >> > > Chkdsk found nothing wrong.

> >> > >

> >> > > Sfc /scannow doesn’t start; the cursor is blinking on the next line

> >> > > for ever.

> >> > >

> >> > > The same in Safe Mode.

> >> > >

> >> > > When I try to start from the DVD the Vista background is displayed

> >> > > with the

> >> > > mouse cursor but then nothing.

> >> > >

> >> > > Is there a way out?

> >> > >

> >> > > Thanks,

> >> > > Dan

> >> > >

>