Entering Safe Mode

[ross m. greenberg]

Whenever I try to do ANYTHING in Safe Mode, I get a Stop 0000007B --
checked the hard disk and it's clean. How do I "reload" Safe Mode??

Thanks!

Ross

 

[Chad Harris]

Whenever I try to do ANYTHING in Safe Mode, I get a Stop 0000007B --
checked the hard disk and it's clean. How do I "reload" Safe Mode??

Thanks!

Ross

Hi Ross--

I'm not sure what you're trying to get done often in Safe Mode, if that's
the case, but that Stop Error usually means the OS has lost access to a boot
device--either the system or boot partition during system startup because of
an incorrect storage device driver installed like an SCSA bus adapter (HBA)
card. I've seen loose cables, disc controllers or even viruses or trojans
cause that problem. I've never heard of it happening in Safe Mode, but now
I have.

You can also check in the Bios to make sure all IDE drives are recognized.

Do a check on your hardware. Open the box and check the usual suspects. If
you don't have a Vista DVD from MSFT (not talking about OEM recovery disks
are partition):

After you check your connections and IDE recognition, try these with the
emphasis on the bootrec switches being run.

Download Vista Repair Disk
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/

How to Use Startup Repair from the Vista DVD or the Repair Disk you make:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial142.html

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx

1) First try 3 options from Startup Repair. If you have a Vista DVD then
restart with it in the drive>press any key to boot from it and run Startup
Repair. From Startup Repair you have 3 good tools with an excellent chance
of fixing your system. If you don't have a Vista DVD from which to boot to
Startup Repair, no problem, Download the .iso from the link below and
burn it, and you'll have the Microsoft Vista Repair Disk with Startup
Repair.

Download Vista Repair Disk
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/

How to Use Startup Repair from the Vista DVD or the Repair Disk you make:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial142.html

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx

2) If Startup Repair does not get your Vista back, then use the 3 bootrec
commands from the command prompt available on the Statup Repair Menu:

The menu I refer to is in this set of directions with a grey background.

http://vistahomepremium.windowsreinstall.com/repairstartup/repairstartup.htm

Those are:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuild BCD

3) If my second option doesn't work, then try System restore from the
Startup Repair list.

1) First try 3 options from Startup Repair. If you have a Vista DVD then
restart with it in the drive>press any key to boot from it and run Startup
Repair. From Startup Repair you have 3 good tools with an excellent chance
of fixing your system. If you don't have a Vista DVD from which to boot to
Startup Repair, no problem, Download the .iso from the link below and
burn it, and you'll have the Microsoft Vista Repair Disk with Startup
Repair.

Download Vista Repair Disk
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/

How to Use Startup Repair from the Vista DVD or the Repair Disk you make:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial142.html

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx

2) If Startup Repair does not get your Vista back, then use the 3 bootrec
commands from the command prompt available on the Statup Repair Menu:

The menu I refer to is in this set of directions with a grey background.

http://vistahomepremium.windowsreinstall.com/repairstartup/repairstartup.htm

Those are:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuild BCD

3) If my second option doesn't work, then try System restore from theStartup
Repair list.

4) If by rare chance you have an actual Vista DVD, you can put it in, boot
from it>choose the Upgrade Option>choose your current broken Vista Drive and
try to do a repair install with the Vista DVD.

How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

5) If the above 3 tools don't work, then use the 4 tools available by
restarting your pc and tapping F8 once per second to get to the Windows
Advanced Options Menu.

From this menu click on 3 Safe Mode links to use System Restore. Make sure
you try all 3 if one doesn't work, because just one of them may work. Tap F8
to Reach Windows Advanced Options Menu Pictured Below:

http://media.photobucket.com/image/...ank/techbliss/Vista-Advanced-Boot-Options.jpg

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command: At the prompt you would type the command to use for
system restore at the safe mode cmd prompt is:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

If these 3 tools don't work, you have one more you can try which is Last
Known Good Configuration.

Good luck,

CH

 

[Chad Harris]

Whenever I try to do ANYTHING in Safe Mode, I get a Stop 0000007B --
checked the hard disk and it's clean. How do I "reload" Safe Mode??

Thanks!

Ross

BTW Ross--

I don't just context the "Startup Repair" features as helpful when you can't
boot to Windows--I use them to fix systemic component problems of Windows as
well. That's not the way the teams building it context it, but it can/does
repair significant Windows problems.

Best,

CH

 

[pupick]

Lest we blame Vista: this has been happening in all flavors of Windows since
the dawn of Safe Mode.
First unplug all peripherals and external drives, if you have any attached
to your computer, and see if you can boot into safe mode.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/199175

A very experienced user, as opposed to an IT person or programmer, might
find this useful.
However, like most such Microsoft Cluessbase Articles it does not work under
many circumstances but if you understand the process try it.
An easier solution may be to make sure you have backed up all your data and
have all your program installation discs. Then let Vista "repair" the
installation, if it even gives you that option.
If the Vista DVD does not recognize a problem it can offer to repair, which
is often the case, you must decide about a reinstall.
The OS is seriously compromised if you cannot boot into Safe mode.
If you cannot boot in safe mode it is probably because the basic drivers are
corrupt. Since most of those drivers are only used in safe mode the more
serious question is how they can get corrupted to begin with.

 

[ross m. greenberg]

Thanks for the response!

I was having no probs when suddenly I lost my sound system! Important to
me because I need it to run Dragon Naturally Speaking (I'm handicapped).
Tech Support at MSDN took over my machine via Easy Assist, wiped out my
Restore Points for an unknown reason and we've been trying to recover my
sound system ever since. We tried an in place reinstall and I saw the
0000007B for the fist time. Did a chkdsk /f which ran clean. Did an sfc
which ran clean, too.

 

[ross m. greenberg]

And then suddenly there was a problem! I had picked up a soundcard to try to
get things working. It was a cheap RocketFish PCI card. It didn't work, and
was trashing my system. So I powered down and removed the card in
preparation for returning it to Best Buy. Reassembling the system and
turning it on I was fascinated by the fact he speaker in the Notification
Area had no red 'X', the problem that had been plaguing me when this problem
first arose.

Suddenly now I have full audio and Dragon NaturallySpeaking is working
again! I have absolutely no idea of what Mysterious Magic took place. I
don't really care! I immediately set a restore point. A full system backup
is about to take place.

Whew!!

 

[Chad Harris]

Thanks for the response!

I was having no probs when suddenly I lost my sound system! Important to
me because I need it to run Dragon Naturally Speaking (I'm handicapped).
Tech Support at MSDN took over my machine via Easy Assist, wiped out my
Restore Points for an unknown reason and we've been trying to recover my
sound system ever since. We tried an in place reinstall and I saw the
0000007B for the fist time. Did a chkdsk /f which ran clean. Did an sfc
which ran clean, too.

Ross--

Try the switches and try startup repair as well. This could recover the
sound system. BTW what did you all try to recover the sound system?

I'd also try checking these items I use when sound is gone:

Check Device Manager to see if your driver is installed correctly. DM is
not reliable up through Vista if you can believe Redmond MSFT did that (they
did) for driver health (maybe next OS--Blackcomb/Vienna or some other ski
slope or city), but it is useful to see if a driver is installed and your
sound card entry is there.

In your run box type devmgmt.msc and see if you have a Sound, Video and Game
Controller Entry and expand it and see if your card is there>rt. click
it>properties>driver>driver details tab and see if drivers are installed.

Touch base with this checklist:

I Can't Hear Sound from My Vista PC:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/1e87a3e8-c0e8-49af-980f-9eb6686f42d21033.mspx

and this one:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f76f244d-56db-4b68-b560-37eb4000253a1033.mspx

My personal ck. list:

1) Check connections from PC to your speakers and any other sound related
peripheral.
2) Ck Control Panel>Playback Tab>Rt. click Speakers and hit items on
context menu including Speaker Configuration and Test them; Click the
Properties button (lower rt. corner)>check the levels tab and make sure
nothing is preventing sound there particular the "Master" lever at the top.
Also on the Advanced tab check that the appropriate pull down menu item is
selected.
3) Get newest driver appropriate to your sound card by visiting the Sound
Card's website.


Some of these principles apply to Vista:

Resources for Troubleshooting Sound Problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307918/en-us

Good luck,

CH

 

[Chad Harris]

And then suddenly there was a problem! I had picked up a soundcard to try
to get things working. It was a cheap RocketFish PCI card. It didn't work,
and was trashing my system. So I powered down and removed the card in
preparation for returning it to Best Buy. Reassembling the system and
turning it on I was fascinated by the fact he speaker in the Notification
Area had no red 'X', the problem that had been plaguing me when this
problem first arose.

Suddenly now I have full audio and Dragon NaturallySpeaking is working
again! I have absolutely no idea of what Mysterious Magic took place. I
don't really care! I immediately set a restore point. A full system backup
is about to take place.

Whew!!

Ross--

Gad you got going.

CH