Can I "repair" Vista?

[Guest]

I used my optical drive LG-GSA 4163B fine for a couple of months, then began
getting BSOD whenever I try to do anything relating to the DVD-RAM
capabilities, and also when trying to install some beta softwate from an ISO
disc. I'm thinking that somewhere along the way something has gotten
corrupted or damaged. I decided to repair vista rather than to reinstall. I
think I've gone too far downstream to use the restore function. I inserted
the vista install disc and can't find a repair routine. Is there one? Can I
repair my copy of vista?

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP]

Vista repair options do not go as far as XP.. here is a site that explains
what is available


http://vistasupport.mvps.org/windows_vista_repair_options.htm

It could also be that you DVD drive is faulty.. try a CD cleaner disc in it,
and if that doesn't work, try another DVD drive..

I used my optical drive LG-GSA 4163B fine for a couple of months, then
began
getting BSOD whenever I try to do anything relating to the DVD-RAM
capabilities, and also when trying to install some beta softwate from an
ISO
disc. I'm thinking that somewhere along the way something has gotten
corrupted or damaged. I decided to repair vista rather than to reinstall.
I
think I've gone too far downstream to use the restore function. I inserted
the vista install disc and can't find a repair routine. Is there one?
Can I
repair my copy of vista?

--


Mike Hall
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

 

[Rock]

I used my optical drive LG-GSA 4163B fine for a couple of months, then
began
getting BSOD whenever I try to do anything relating to the DVD-RAM
capabilities, and also when trying to install some beta softwate from an
ISO
disc. I'm thinking that somewhere along the way something has gotten
corrupted or damaged. I decided to repair vista rather than to reinstall.
I
think I've gone too far downstream to use the restore function. I inserted
the vista install disc and can't find a repair routine. Is there one?
Can I
repair my copy of vista?

No there is no repair install in Vista like there was in XP.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Well, the Recovery Environment is not like what it use to be. You boot from
the Vista DVD, and choose the Repair option on the setup screen, which will
then search your system for an existing installation of Vista and ask you if
you would like to repair it. Its very simplified based on my experience.

 

[Guest]

Check your facts, before you touch your keyboard!

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Mike. That article pretty much lays it out, though it's
disappointing that I apparently need to reinstall vista if I suspect a
corrupt file within the OS.

I have eliminated the "bad drive" possibiity. Last night I installed a
LG-H42LI (on sale for $50). It was advertized as vista ready (and probably
is). I'm getting the same problems. It isn't the discs involved since I can
use them on other machines. I'm really starting to think that the problem is
within Vista.

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

I did check my FAQs.

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2006/12/05/windows-recovery-environment.aspx

 

[Guest]

The RE referenced in the cited article referrs basicaly to boot problems.
Sounds like a good feature. Will it work also to diagnose problems like I'm
having? My machine boots and does everything normally until I try to use my
DVD-RAM drive, and then only in a few circumstances (so far accessing .vro
files and ISO discs - consistently). This is occurring with an 18-month old
burner and also with a new one installed a few days ago (Feb '07 manufacture
date). I don't know where else the problems may lie if not within Vista.

 

[Rock]

The RE referenced in the cited article referrs basicaly to boot problems.
Sounds like a good feature. Will it work also to diagnose problems like
I'm
having? My machine boots and does everything normally until I try to use
my
DVD-RAM drive, and then only in a few circumstances (so far accessing .vro
files and ISO discs - consistently). This is occurring with an 18-month
old
burner and also with a new one installed a few days ago (Feb '07
manufacture
date). I don't know where else the problems may lie if not within Vista.

I don't think anyone can say, though my guess is it won't assist with that
problem. The WinRE in it's startup repair, is geared toward startup issues
but then you can try running it. System restore is another option.

In addition to those tools what I do is image the system when it's running
good and make regular images as backups (I do a weekly full image and a
nightly differential image). IMO that is the best way to protect against
the inevitable problems that crop up that one can't fix. Restore the image
then do some thinking about what happened to trigger the change that
resulted in the problem.