[jozza800]

Just installed the latest windows updates last night for a client while sorting an email prob and it has killed his PC.

Running Vista Premium 64.

It did the update, i think there was about 15 items for it to install. (including updates for various devices ie, GFX card and usb wireless adapter).Then i restarted the machine after installation, it ran the configuring updates screen then it displayed the shutting down screen.

This is where i think the problem is. The shut down screen was stuck there for a good 40mins with the curser just spinning. So i decided it had hanged. So i did a hard restart with the restart button.

So it starts to boot up gets to the post screen, gets to bit with the windows thing with the bar going accross the middle. But then nothing! No desktop no mouse curser, nothing.

I did a hard restart again this time, the vista did not shut down properly screen appeared.

So i tried booting using safe mode.

It got past the windows load up screen, and tehn the vista logo, but then it goes to the configuring updates screen and then it shuts down.

I tried this a couple of times with the same thing happening.

I tried then to use the Vista Disc to repair, It loads the windows files then gets to a screen with the same background as the shutdown screen and then it hangs. tried 2 or 3 times

I tried booting using in safe mode with networking, and i was able to get to the desk top, but no usb peripherals would would work, i tried uninstalling the updates but there was only one to uninstall.

Tried to boot as normal but still nothing. booting using safe mode with networking is the only way to get to the desktop.

I think im just going to have to do a fresh install on a new harddrive and use the current drive as 2nde drive.

With it being an OEM version of Vista, will i have any problems reactivating if should i need to put a new harddrive in there?

Any help would be much appreciated



Thanks Michael

[Noyb]

The OEM recovery should not need reactivating ... It'll know
Good idea to use another drive .. You should be able to read the bad drive's data.

It's a little late, but I always backup the OS with Acronis True Image to an external HD before doing anything major.
Been bit too many times, even by windows updates.

[jozza800]

Sorry the system is -

Intel Q6600 - CPU
Nvidia 8800 GTX - gpu
4gb OCZ PC2-8500C5
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P - mbd
Western Digital 320g HDD SATA
Creative x-fi soundcard
vista premium 64

[jozza800]

The OEM recovery should not need reactivating ... It'll know
Good idea to use another drive .. You should be able to read the bad drive's data.

So i should be ok just reinstall in vist on a new drive?

[Noyb]

YES .. Who is the OEM ??
I always disconnect the old drive during recovery ... then hook it up later.
Didn't do this once, and paid the price.

[jozza800]

Well i reinstalled VIsta onto a brand new HDD and the problems continue.

The installation proccess took ages, far longer than it was supposed to, nearly an hour.

But eventually it installed. But the problems still appear, i was unable to instal any drivers as the computer seemed to hang after a while of installation. It would take an age to do some things but otheres would act normal. Example just opening folders, going into my computer, browsing the HDD was fine. But trying to run an exe like an installer or getting to device manager would either hang or take way too long.


Some things ive tried and conclusions -


With it being a brand new HDD ive ruled out its a HDD problem. I have tried a million and 1 things to correct it.

Ive tried using a number of diffreent SATA cables (still the same)

Ive removed all components and put them back still the same.

Ive removed the mbd battery and replaced

Ive tested each individual RAm modual and the same for each of them.

After a couple of hangs at the shutting down screen, the machine now refuses to boot and hangs once again after the microsoft loading bar thing. Or it will be a quick BSD on a restart.


I have a sneeking suspision it may be the motherboard (just a hunch mind)


Any suggestions welcome


thanks