New Vista Ultimate Installation

[Guest]

I can no longer use the "Restart" option: neither from the Start menu, nor
from an installation dialogue requiring a restart. The PC shows a lot of hard
drive activity, shuts down Windows, shows a black screen and a hard drive
light, but then does nothing more. The only solution (so far...) is to power
off the computer and power it back on. System specs as follows:

MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum [Bios 1.D0] nVidia nForce3 Ultra 250GB
Athlon 64 X2 4600+ (Toledo) @ 2.4GHz with Zalman CPNS9500 LED Cooler
2GB (2x1GB High Performance Kit) Mushkin PC3200 (DDR 400) @ 2x3x2x5 2.6V
BFG Tech NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra OC 256MB AGP
WDC WD3200KS 320GB (x 2), 7200RPM, SATA II, 16MB Cache
WDC WD2500JB 250GB (x 2), 7200RPM, EIDE, 8MB Cache
Plextor PX-716SA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer (SATA)
Sony DRU-820A DVD-RAM/RW Dual Layer (EIDE)
Hiper Modular II Type-R 730 Watt Power Supply (HPU-4S730)
Mitsubishi Diamond Plus 9I 19" CRT Monitor
Altec Lansing 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
Antec Super Lanboy Aluminum Case
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate

 

[John Barnes]

Think about what you did just before the problems started. Install new
program or driver? Could cause the hang. Did you change power settings?
Have you considered doing a System Restore to a point before the problem
developed?

 

[Guest]

Thanks for replying, John. This is a brand new installation of Vista
Ultimate...from scratch. The first time the installation process asked if I
wanted to "restart now", I said yes. The sytem shut down Windows, went to a
black screen, the hard drive light went to solid red, and the process
stopped. I get the same response every time if I try to use the "restart"
option, whether from the Start menu, or from a "restart" dialogue of any
kind. The only way I can get Windows to restart properly is to turn off the
system completely, and then restart using the power button. The reset button
doesn't work either. I have the latest BIOS from MSI installed on the
motherboard. I am an extremely knowledgeable PC tech: I have never seen this
one before. My brother, who is the IT Director at a major corporation, is
also stumped.

Think about what you did just before the problems started. Install new
program or driver? Could cause the hang. Did you change power settings?
Have you considered doing a System Restore to a point before the problem
developed?

I can no longer use the "Restart" option: neither from the Start menu, nor
from an installation dialogue requiring a restart. The PC shows a lot of
hard
drive activity, shuts down Windows, shows a black screen and a hard drive
light, but then does nothing more. The only solution (so far...) is to
power
off the computer and power it back on. System specs as follows:

MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum [Bios 1.D0] nVidia nForce3 Ultra 250GB
Athlon 64 X2 4600+ (Toledo) @ 2.4GHz with Zalman CPNS9500 LED Cooler
2GB (2x1GB High Performance Kit) Mushkin PC3200 (DDR 400) @ 2x3x2x5 2.6V
BFG Tech NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra OC 256MB AGP
WDC WD3200KS 320GB (x 2), 7200RPM, SATA II, 16MB Cache
WDC WD2500JB 250GB (x 2), 7200RPM, EIDE, 8MB Cache
Plextor PX-716SA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer (SATA)
Sony DRU-820A DVD-RAM/RW Dual Layer (EIDE)
Hiper Modular II Type-R 730 Watt Power Supply (HPU-4S730)
Mitsubishi Diamond Plus 9I 19" CRT Monitor
Altec Lansing 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
Antec Super Lanboy Aluminum Case
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate

 

[John Barnes]

Have you installed the ACPI drivers?

Thanks for replying, John. This is a brand new installation of Vista
Ultimate...from scratch. The first time the installation process asked if
I
wanted to "restart now", I said yes. The sytem shut down Windows, went to
a
black screen, the hard drive light went to solid red, and the process
stopped. I get the same response every time if I try to use the "restart"
option, whether from the Start menu, or from a "restart" dialogue of any
kind. The only way I can get Windows to restart properly is to turn off
the
system completely, and then restart using the power button. The reset
button
doesn't work either. I have the latest BIOS from MSI installed on the
motherboard. I am an extremely knowledgeable PC tech: I have never seen
this
one before. My brother, who is the IT Director at a major corporation, is
also stumped.

Think about what you did just before the problems started. Install new
program or driver? Could cause the hang. Did you change power settings?
Have you considered doing a System Restore to a point before the problem
developed?

I can no longer use the "Restart" option: neither from the Start menu,
nor
from an installation dialogue requiring a restart. The PC shows a lot
of
hard
drive activity, shuts down Windows, shows a black screen and a hard
drive
light, but then does nothing more. The only solution (so far...) is to
power
off the computer and power it back on. System specs as follows:

MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum [Bios 1.D0] nVidia nForce3 Ultra 250GB
Athlon 64 X2 4600+ (Toledo) @ 2.4GHz with Zalman CPNS9500 LED Cooler
2GB (2x1GB High Performance Kit) Mushkin PC3200 (DDR 400) @ 2x3x2x5
2.6V
BFG Tech NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra OC 256MB AGP
WDC WD3200KS 320GB (x 2), 7200RPM, SATA II, 16MB Cache
WDC WD2500JB 250GB (x 2), 7200RPM, EIDE, 8MB Cache
Plextor PX-716SA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer (SATA)
Sony DRU-820A DVD-RAM/RW Dual Layer (EIDE)
Hiper Modular II Type-R 730 Watt Power Supply (HPU-4S730)
Mitsubishi Diamond Plus 9I 19" CRT Monitor
Altec Lansing 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
Antec Super Lanboy Aluminum Case
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate

 

[Guest]

Maybe this is a (bunch of) silly question(s), John, but here goes:

Wouldn't that be part of the installation process for Vista? I mean, why
should I have to go back and install drivers necessary for the proper
implementation of a particular Windows feature, especially one so basic as
"Restart"??? I wouldn't even know where to begin...should I try to re-install
Vista, or just the ACPI drivers? Or...should I try to repair the Vista
installation...even though everything else is running as expected??

Have you installed the ACPI drivers?

Thanks for replying, John. This is a brand new installation of Vista
Ultimate...from scratch. The first time the installation process asked if
I
wanted to "restart now", I said yes. The sytem shut down Windows, went to
a
black screen, the hard drive light went to solid red, and the process
stopped. I get the same response every time if I try to use the "restart"
option, whether from the Start menu, or from a "restart" dialogue of any
kind. The only way I can get Windows to restart properly is to turn off
the
system completely, and then restart using the power button. The reset
button
doesn't work either. I have the latest BIOS from MSI installed on the
motherboard. I am an extremely knowledgeable PC tech: I have never seen
this
one before. My brother, who is the IT Director at a major corporation, is
also stumped.

Think about what you did just before the problems started. Install new
program or driver? Could cause the hang. Did you change power settings?
Have you considered doing a System Restore to a point before the problem
developed?

I can no longer use the "Restart" option: neither from the Start menu,
nor
from an installation dialogue requiring a restart. The PC shows a lot
of
hard
drive activity, shuts down Windows, shows a black screen and a hard
drive
light, but then does nothing more. The only solution (so far...) is to
power
off the computer and power it back on. System specs as follows:

MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum [Bios 1.D0] nVidia nForce3 Ultra 250GB
Athlon 64 X2 4600+ (Toledo) @ 2.4GHz with Zalman CPNS9500 LED Cooler
2GB (2x1GB High Performance Kit) Mushkin PC3200 (DDR 400) @ 2x3x2x5
2.6V
BFG Tech NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra OC 256MB AGP
WDC WD3200KS 320GB (x 2), 7200RPM, SATA II, 16MB Cache
WDC WD2500JB 250GB (x 2), 7200RPM, EIDE, 8MB Cache
Plextor PX-716SA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer (SATA)
Sony DRU-820A DVD-RAM/RW Dual Layer (EIDE)
Hiper Modular II Type-R 730 Watt Power Supply (HPU-4S730)
Mitsubishi Diamond Plus 9I 19" CRT Monitor
Altec Lansing 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
Antec Super Lanboy Aluminum Case
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate

 

[John Barnes]

ACPI drivers are usually available from the MOBO manufacturer. You should
look in your Device Manager and see if any ! remain and make sure none are
associated with ACPI. Also check you ACPI settings available in your BIOS.

Maybe this is a (bunch of) silly question(s), John, but here goes:

Wouldn't that be part of the installation process for Vista? I mean, why
should I have to go back and install drivers necessary for the proper
implementation of a particular Windows feature, especially one so basic as
"Restart"??? I wouldn't even know where to begin...should I try to
re-install
Vista, or just the ACPI drivers? Or...should I try to repair the Vista
installation...even though everything else is running as expected??

Have you installed the ACPI drivers?

Thanks for replying, John. This is a brand new installation of Vista
Ultimate...from scratch. The first time the installation process asked
if
I
wanted to "restart now", I said yes. The sytem shut down Windows, went
to
a
black screen, the hard drive light went to solid red, and the process
stopped. I get the same response every time if I try to use the
"restart"
option, whether from the Start menu, or from a "restart" dialogue of
any
kind. The only way I can get Windows to restart properly is to turn off
the
system completely, and then restart using the power button. The reset
button
doesn't work either. I have the latest BIOS from MSI installed on the
motherboard. I am an extremely knowledgeable PC tech: I have never seen
this
one before. My brother, who is the IT Director at a major corporation,
is
also stumped.

:

Think about what you did just before the problems started. Install
new
program or driver? Could cause the hang. Did you change power
settings?
Have you considered doing a System Restore to a point before the
problem
developed?

I can no longer use the "Restart" option: neither from the Start
menu,
nor
from an installation dialogue requiring a restart. The PC shows a
lot
of
hard
drive activity, shuts down Windows, shows a black screen and a hard
drive
light, but then does nothing more. The only solution (so far...) is
to
power
off the computer and power it back on. System specs as follows:

MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum [Bios 1.D0] nVidia nForce3 Ultra 250GB
Athlon 64 X2 4600+ (Toledo) @ 2.4GHz with Zalman CPNS9500 LED Cooler
2GB (2x1GB High Performance Kit) Mushkin PC3200 (DDR 400) @ 2x3x2x5
2.6V
BFG Tech NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra OC 256MB AGP
WDC WD3200KS 320GB (x 2), 7200RPM, SATA II, 16MB Cache
WDC WD2500JB 250GB (x 2), 7200RPM, EIDE, 8MB Cache
Plextor PX-716SA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer (SATA)
Sony DRU-820A DVD-RAM/RW Dual Layer (EIDE)
Hiper Modular II Type-R 730 Watt Power Supply (HPU-4S730)
Mitsubishi Diamond Plus 9I 19" CRT Monitor
Altec Lansing 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System
Antec Super Lanboy Aluminum Case
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate