Changes not kept after restart

[shartlesville]

Running Vista Home Premium on an HP Pavillion Slimline AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual
Core Processor 4200+

Every time I start or restart my computer, I have to reinstall certain
software or run certain programs to get things working properly. The
changes I have made do not stay in effect.

For example, every time I start or restart I have to re-install Flash Player
or it says it is not installed. Also I have used a program to "un-associate"
certain file types with one program and associate them with another, but
every time I start or restart the computer, they are "re-associated" with the
wrong programs so I have to re-run the "un-associate" program, then
re-install the program I want them to work with.

Why are the changes not kept when the computer shuts down? This does not
happen if the computer is hibernating or in sleep mode, only if it is
completely shut down as in a restart.

Does anyone know how to make the changes stay in effect? I am VERY
frustrated with having to reinstall this stuff everytime I need to restart
the computer.

Thank you in advance!
K

 

[uvbogden]

For Adobe Flash, it seems like it's installed but it's not really installed
unless you use the Adobe Flash Removal Tool to completely remove Flash so you
can do a clean install of the updated Adobe Flash.

http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_14157

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/87249-unable-install-latest-version-program-vista.html

As far as file associations, first you need to take Ownership and grant
yourself Full Control permissions on all the affected folders. Then you need
to set your default programs and then make any changes to file associations.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67717-take-ownership-file.html

http://tinyurl.com/2xsewp

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/83196-default-programs-program-default-associations.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69758-default-programs.html

 

[shartlesville]

Thank you for your suggestions, unfortunately they don't fix the issue.

I have used the adobe un-install tool numerous times (I have it saved on my
computer, the install file too) to uninstall and reinstall the program and it
works great, UNTIL I restart the computer. I have also tried different
uninstall utilities but that doesn't do anything either, as soon as I restart
the computer Flash is no longer installed.

As for the files, I have also tried granting full permission, running as
administrator, etc. The file types I am talking about are embroidery files,
..dst .pes .xxx, etc. and they need to *not* be associated with *any* program
so that the program that converts them to viewable images will work. If I
run the "un-associate" program and re-run the conversion program, it works
fine, UNTIL I restart the computer whether that is immediately, or 10 days
from now, or whenever the computer is restarted rather than set to hibernate
or sleep.

It is driving me up the wall. I just want the changes I make to STAY in
effect when I turn the computer off and then back on. This does not happen
on my XP machine, only on the Vista, both are HP Computers.

Thanks again, I wish it had been that simple, lol. Any other suggestions?

Blessings,
K

 

[shartlesville]

How is This for a twist!?!

When I restart in Safe Mode with Networking - Flash is installed and the
other changes work perfectly, but when I restart again in regular mode Flash
is "not installed" and the other changes are undone!

Something in Vista is preventing these from working when it starts. If I
"reinstall" everything they work in regular mode UNTIL I restart, but if I
restart in Safe Mode with Networking I don't have to reinstall anything, it
all just works.

Even though it was working, I did use the "uninstall" program from Adobe to
uninstall it in safe mode and then I reinstalled it in safe mode. I also ran
the unassociate program for the other files and reinstalled the other
software in safe mode just in case. When I rebooted in regular mode the
changes were gone. I started again in safe mode with networking and all the
changes were in effect and flash was installed.

I am ready to pull my hair out! Any ideas???

Thanks,
K

 

[uvbogden]

I'm curious as to why you don't associate the files with the program that
converts them to images? Safe Mode runs with minimal programs, processes and
services. Since the changes you make stick in Safe Mode but not with regular
boot, this means that a program, process, or service is likely preventing
your settings from being permanent.

The most likely source of this is your antivirus/antimalware or Vista
security. Vista security should cooperate if you take Ownership and have
full permissions. I would try disabling your antivirus/antimalware,
uninstall and reinstall Flash, fix your file associations, then try
rebooting. If this is not the problem, consider going in to System
Configuration (Start-> type msconfig->Enter) and start disabling services and
processes one at a time, rebooting, until you find the one that's causing the
problem.

Alternatively, you could consider your Repair Vista Options in the following
tutorial. For example, you may be able to do a System Restore to a point
before you started having this problem and get back full Vista function. Or
System File Check may find and fix a corrupt system file, or at least
identify a corrupt system file that it could not repair and you could replace
the bad file with a good one from your Vista Install DVD.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/101393-repair-vista-options-preferred-sequence.html

 

[shartlesville]

I cannot associate them with that program because that program does not
actually open the files, I have a different (actually several) program that
opens them. That program only converts them to images within the folders so
I can see what the embroidery design will look like sewn out. It saves me
from having to open tons of files to find something.

I had thought about it possibly being McAfee but I have tried disabling and
uninstalling/reinstalling/rebooting but it had no effect so it isn't the
anti-virus, etc. I don't have any other security software installed (except
Windows which is disabled because McAfee is being used).

Thanks for the suggestions, I will start with the MSCONFIG to disable things
and see where I stand. It just doesn't make any sense to me why I can
reinstall and have it all work UNTIL I restart OR if I don't reinstall but
restart in Safe/Networking it all works fine. Very frustrating, lol.

I had a ton of trouble with the built in wireless driver quiting in the
middle of the day and then not being recognized until I manually restarted
(as in hold the power button until the computer shut off) because it would
lock up if I tried the "shut down" or "restart" options. HP and MS couldn't
(still haven't) figured out why. I can't remember what I changed to fix that
but at least that issue is solved. Vista sure seems to be a lot more trouble
than it is worth. I have spent countless hours working on this, 2 full
nights (11 PM - 4 AM) on the phone with tech support, etc. Why can't things
ever be easy, lol?

Anyway, thanks again for the suggestions. I will let you know how things
pan out.

K

 

[shartlesville]

Well, msconfig was no help. It did not matter what I did (except boot in
safe mode/networking) I had the same problems. Even starting in just
diagnostic mode with everything disabled didn't work. I cannot figure out
what is not allowing them to work or what is making it not work whichever,
lol.

Unfortunately, restore points won't work, they don't go back far enough to
affect either Flash or the other files. I haven't tried the other repair
option yet, that is my next step. Wish me luck!

Thanks for trying to help, I really appreciate it.
K