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Windows Forum / Windows Vista / General Topics / October 2008Repair install?
I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to Windows. I might get as far as the progress bar running across the bottom of the screen, but it will inevitably reboot, never getting all the was to the log in screen. I have been trying various restore points after booting from the DVD & selecting the Repair My Computer option, but none of them has worked. Is there a repair install option? I have an OEM version & there seems to be mixed answers out there.  SignatureMr. Simpson, there are thousands of people like you with no discernable talent. Yeah, they're called Congress. > I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to Windows. > I might get as far as the progress bar running across the bottom of the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Is there a repair install option? > I have an OEM version & there seems to be mixed answers out there. What you needed is the retail version of the install DVD that you can boot off of that would have given you the options to "Repair Boot problems option". I don't know if that is an option on a OEM version. What are the system recovery options in Windows Vista? http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/windows/en-US/help/2b3724d1-f4ad-5b26-16dc-3e9e 66f4be5e1033.mspx#EVD SignatureCarey Frisch Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience --------------------------------------------------------------------- I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to Windows. I might get as far as the progress bar running across the bottom of the screen, but it will inevitably reboot, never getting all the was to the log in screen. I have been trying various restore points after booting from the DVD & selecting the Repair My Computer option, but none of them has worked. Is there a repair install option? I have an OEM version & there seems to be mixed answers out there. SignatureMr. Simpson, there are thousands of people like you with no discernable talent. Yeah, they're called Congress. Hi Mike you may want to have a look here http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html Signaturebarman58 Regards, *Nigel* the beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.,- frank herbert Carey is not Mike. I noticed lately that you are answering to the wrong person. Check to whom you are answering to SignaturePeter Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged. > Hi Mike you may want to have a look here > > http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html >Carey is not Mike. I noticed lately that you are answering to the wrong person. Check to whom you are answering to Leave him alone. At least he's quoting. > Hi Mike you may want to have a look here > > http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html I can boot to the screen shown there with my OEM disk, but none of the options have worked. To elaborate more on the background, the computer belongs to a friend's kid. It's using an Intel D915PCY board that doesn't even support Vista, but has been running it for almost a year. It had two 512 sticks of 533MHz DDR2 ram & he found some more ram with the same bus speed laying around, so he popped it in there, without considering whether it was compatible or not. Ever since then, it won't boot to windows. I tried popping out the CMOS battery & letting it sit for 20-30 min & trying again, but still no luck. I am open to any other suggestions, including giving it back & saying 'good luck!' So the problem began when he added some incompatible RAM? Presumably, you've tried taking the incompatible RAM out? and perhaps shifting slots for the known-good RAM? --------------------------------------------- >> Hi Mike you may want to have a look here >> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > I am open to any other suggestions, including giving it back & saying 'good > luck!' SignatureDaze Yes, ram is back to the way it was before problems started. > So the problem began when he added some incompatible RAM? Presumably, > you've tried taking the incompatible RAM out? and perhaps shifting slots [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >> I am open to any other suggestions, including giving it back & saying >> 'good luck!' Mike;852717 Wrote: > I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to > Windows. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > talent. > Yeah, they're called Congress. Hi Mike, If you have a MS dvd, with the hologram, then either the retail or oem version will be fine to do this http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html ( tho you don't need the product key to do this, make sure you have it anyway - it's probably on a sticker on your machine - if not, and you need to get it from your hd http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/85023-product-key-number.html ) If you have a recovery dvd sent with your computer , most have very limited options. ( However Dell have recently been shipping what appear to be straight copies of the MS dvd ). If you have one of these , you need to check what is on it. Put the dvd in the drive, right click the dvd drive and select Open - if there's just one big folder, double click that to open it. With any luck you will have these files 7046 - you may want to take a jpeg screenshot and post it back, if you're in doubt http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/148532-how-use-snipping-tool-vista.html Hope that helps SIW2 +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Filename: VISTADVDFILES2008-09-17_022154.jpg | |Download: http://www.vistax64.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7046 | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ SignatureSIW2 > Mike;852717 Wrote: >> I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > |Download: http://www.vistax64.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7046 | > +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ From the link: 1. Insert the Vista DVD into the DVD drive while your current Vista is running. Did I mention that it won't boot to windows? >> Mike;852717 Wrote: >>> I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > > Did I mention that it won't boot to windows? Then you don't have a retail version of the install DVD where you can boot off the DVD retail version that has the other Repair/Restore options. And that's a DVD that you would put into the drive trey, change the BIOS settings to boot from the DVD. The current Vista would not be running, as computer would be booting off of the DVD, standalone. >>> Mike;852717 Wrote: >>>> I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to [quoted text clipped - 60 lines] > settings to boot from the DVD. The current Vista would not be running, as > computer would be booting off of the DVD, standalone. I have an OEM version of Vista Home Premium. I can boot from the DVD & after making sure time, KB, language is right, hit next & chose 'repair my computer'. It finds the instakllation & is smart enough to tell me my computer was unable to start. Startup repair checks for problems & comes back telling me it can't automatically fix the problem. I then chose the advanced repair options, with system restore being the only logical one to try. I can pick each restore point & after trying , it will tell me it didn't complete successfully. Since I don't own a Vista computer myself, I took a blank drive & re-installed on that, thinking I could access original drive, copy docs, etc., re-install on original drive & copy files back, but whatever happened to the 30 days to activate? Since it gives me no choice but to activate if I want to get into Windows, I try to let it activate & it tells me the product key has already been activated! Any other suggestions?!?!? >>>> Mike;852717 Wrote: >>>>> I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to [quoted text clipped - 83 lines] > activated! > Any other suggestions?!?!? Pull those last 2 sticks of RAM out that were added to the PC. Or, run a memtest. But if the not booting occured after adding that RAM, perhaps it is bad RAM/mismatched. SignatureEns causa sui Fit caedes omnibus locis >>>>> Mike;852717 Wrote: >>>>>> I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to [quoted text clipped - 92 lines] > But if the not booting occured after adding that RAM, perhaps it is bad > RAM/mismatched. Ram is back to the way it was originally. I ran the ram test & no problems found. Mike;852717 Wrote: > I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to > Windows. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > talent. > Yeah, they're called Congress. Sorry Mike, This is the correct link http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html Tho it appears you have tried it already, not sure what dvd you have, or at what stage it failed - for example ( underneath the tutorial ) > For step 5: What if there isn't an operating system listed? > Go ahead and click Next anyway. > Shawn If it works, then make sure you have prod. key for future use ( unless you have it already ). If that doesn't succeed, afraid I don't know a way of repairing if you can't get in - looks like it will have to be a reinstall. During the reinstall process it is possible to select the option to save your existing files into a folder called Windows.old - if you have things you can't afford to lose. Hope that helps SIW2 SignatureSIW2 > Mike;852717 Wrote: >> I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > SIW2 But with the OEM version & the fact that it sees an installation already there, will it let me install again? I'd hate to wipe out my docs, etc! Mike;852832 Wrote: > "SIW2" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message > news:78af24190e2c55203cb45e6a3d0a6c7e@xxxxxx-gateway.com...> > > [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > there, will it let me install again? > I'd hate to wipe out my docs, etc! Hi Mike, Yes I have reinstalled several times with oem dvd. You can only have one instance of same o/s with same prod. key running at a time, of course. Not sure why you had to activate - there is an Activate automatically checkbox at the bottom of one the windows that appears during install - untick it if you want to activate manually later. There is tutorial here http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html However, if you want to save the existing files on the drive to a Windows.old folder ( this is from memory - have only done this once, I normally do full clean reinstall ) - at step 10, do not select Drive Options (advanced ) - instead, click on the partition you wish to install to, and it should ask if you want to save the contents of the partition to Windows.old folder, then obviously you do not format the partition. The rest is as the tutorial. You might like to get the free Paragon Drive Backup Express. 'Drive Backup Express - Free Download!' (http://www.paragon-software.com/home/db-express/download.html) You need to download, install - get free reg. key,. You can then image your installation to a second hd for future use. Also has the option to create bootable recovery media - leave default "typical" and burn as bootable .iso to a cd ( if you neded an app. to do that, get free 'The Official ImgBurn Website' (http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download) ). That allows you to boot into your pc and copy the partition / drive to your other hd. Hope that helps SIW2 SignatureSIW2 SIW2;852858 Wrote: > > Mike;852832 Wrote: > > "SIW2" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message [quoted text clipped - 67 lines] > > SIW2 Hi, As you can't boot into your existing Vista , seems you don't get the windows.old option. One way to get your data off the drive is with a bootable app. such as the one above. You could try reinstalling Vista on your second hd skipping the auto activate box, and disconnect from the net - to see if you can transfer your data as you planned. I have not tried this particular combination, but it's worth a go. SIW2 SignatureSIW2 Hey Mike Can you boot into safe mode?? Signaturepooch Hi Mike, As it looks like we are into the realms of Disaster recovery and you wish to recover your personal files before a possible complete re-install. One option would be, that I have used in the past as a last resort option, and I apologise if anyone is offended for me suggesting this in a vista Forum/Newsgroup, a Linux distro such as Ubunto installed onto a second drive, or partition, which would allow you to transfer your personal files, which would appear to be still there, before you then install a fresh Vista. I am not in anyway suggesting that you replace vista with Linux simply that I may be a Zero cost method to get around the single copy activation issue. Signaturebarman58 Regards, *Nigel* the beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand.,- frank herbert > Hey Mike > Can you boot into safe mode?? No. Hi Mike, I do not know why the new install is asking to be activated before you can log in unless it has something to do with the broken copy of Vista that is already installed on the original disk. My advice would be to remove the original disk from the computer leaving only the new disk installed, next you should then install Vista on this disk, this time you should be given the option to automatically activate this copy. (This is the default option) accept this option and allow it to install, when finished you will have about two days before the activation takes place which will give you time to copy your old files. To copy the old files I recommend that you purchase an External usb enclosure, normally you can buy one without a disk and they are not to expensive. (Also they are very handy for making backups) Place the disk with the broken copy of vista into the usb enclosure and attach to the computer this will now allow you to copy your files. When finished and you are happy that you have saved everything you can then format this disk (can also be done over usb) I suggest you use the quick format option to save time. If you want the original disk back in the computer, switch everything off, swap the disks over, reinstall vista back onto the original disk again leaving the option to activate automatically and copy your files back. Finally format the usb disk when finished. If you do all this in one day the first copy of Vista should never need to be activated, if however it still asks for activation before you can go into windows you should be given the option to do this by telephone, which is a pain as you will have to do it twice if you want to use the original disk again, but I dont see any reason for it not to work. My tip when installing vista always make two partitions so that you can keep your personal files on partition D\: This will save all this trouble should you ever have to Reinstall Vista in the future as you can simply reinstall on Partition C\: Remembering not to format D\: during the install which will leave your personal file intact. Finaly remember you are only allowed one copy of Vista per activated key and that all other copys on other drives must be destroyed. By formatting not with a hammer!!:D I hope this helps Pooch Signaturepooch > Hi Mike, > [quoted text clipped - 46 lines] > > Pooch Did the clean install & got the option to save files in ma windows.old folder. That seems to have worked out fine - thanks for all your help, guys! Mike;854049 Wrote: > "pooch" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message > news:181fc90ac570f05c20598caa9d5ce149@xxxxxx-gateway.com...> > > [quoted text clipped - 74 lines] > folder. > That seems to have worked out fine - thanks for all your help, guys! Glad it worked out for you SIW2:D :D :D SignatureSIW2 >I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to Windows. > I might get as far as the progress bar running across the bottom of the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Is there a repair install option? > I have an OEM version & there seems to be mixed answers out there. Try the procedure here: http://blogs.technet.com/askcore/archive/2007/12/18/using-system-file-checker-sf c-to-fix-issues.aspx It's not a repair install. Vista doesn't have this repair option available. This is about as close as you can get to an XP repair install. You can boot from a Vista DVD and run an offline sfc scan. SignatureKerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience: Systems Administration http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/ http://vistahelpca.blogspot.com/ >>I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to Windows. >> I might get as far as the progress bar running across the bottom of the [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > available. This is about as close as you can get to an XP repair install. > You can boot from a Vista DVD and run an offline sfc scan. I tried running SFC.EXE /scannow /offbootdir:c:\ /offwindir=c:\windows like the page said, but I just get what looks like a help file on the command, listing all the various ways it can be ran, etc. >>>I am running Vista Home Premium & can't get the thing to boot to Windows. >>> I might get as far as the progress bar running across the bottom of the [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > like the page said, but I just get what looks like a help file on the > command, listing all the various ways it can be ran, etc. The switches may be specific to SP1. I'm not sure. They work in Server 2008 which is equivalent to Vista SP1. Does the DVD have SP1? SignatureKerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience: Systems Administration http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/ http://vistahelpca.blogspot.com/ |
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