Vista doesn't start after improper shutdown

[Ilkka Pirskanen]

I have been using Windows Vista Ultimate (Finnish language version) for over
a year without major problems until now.

However, this week I encountered a major problem with Vista: if the Shutdown
sequence does not complete successfully, and the computer has to be manually
powered off, Vista is not able to recover. It will remain on the start up
screen with sliding green bars forever.

I have tried the following:
- boot to safe mode: safe mode works, but normal start-up after that
still hangs
- system restore: system restore works, but even after restoring normal
start-up hangs
- system repair with help of installation DVD: is not able to repair,
reports root cause not determined

The only option has been to reinstall Vista (from safe mode, new install)
and then copy documents etc. from windows.old directory. I have now done
this 3 times, as after the first two installations there was a freeze in the
shutdown and I had to manually power off (there probably was a problem with
installing some of the device drivers after the actual Vista installation,
but I cannot point a single cause, because it happened at different times
during different installations).

My point is that Vista has become too "fragile", with one improper shutdown
messing the system beyond repair. If it was a simple broken device driver
installation, System Restore should be able to restore to a working
configuration.

Has there been a Windows update lately that causes improper shutdown
sequence to completely mess Vista installation? Has anybody had similar
experiences?

Kind regards

Ilkka

 

[Malke]

I have been using Windows Vista Ultimate (Finnish language version) for
over a year without major problems until now.

However, this week I encountered a major problem with Vista: if the
Shutdown sequence does not complete successfully, and the computer has to
be manually powered off, Vista is not able to recover. It will remain on
the start up screen with sliding green bars forever.

I have tried the following:
- boot to safe mode: safe mode works, but normal start-up after that
still hangs
- system restore: system restore works, but even after restoring normal
start-up hangs
- system repair with help of installation DVD: is not able to repair,
reports root cause not determined

The only option has been to reinstall Vista (from safe mode, new install)
and then copy documents etc. from windows.old directory. I have now done
this 3 times, as after the first two installations there was a freeze in
the shutdown and I had to manually power off (there probably was a problem
with installing some of the device drivers after the actual Vista
installation, but I cannot point a single cause, because it happened at
different times during different installations).

My point is that Vista has become too "fragile", with one improper
shutdown messing the system beyond repair. If it was a simple broken
device driver installation, System Restore should be able to restore to a
working configuration.

Has there been a Windows update lately that causes improper shutdown
sequence to completely mess Vista installation? Has anybody had similar
experiences?

From your description of the problem, I would look to failing hardware
rather than software. Start your troubleshooting there.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

Malke

 

[UnswoleLilDude]

Try booting Vista in it's last known good configuration.
http://www.maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista-hangs-at-a-black-screen-when-booting-up/

 

[Ilkka Pirskanen]

Try booting Vista in it's last known good configuration.
http://www.maximumpcguides.com/windows-vista-hangs-at-a-black-screen-when-booting-up/

I tried that too, but it didn't work.

Ilkka

 

[Ilkka Pirskanen]

From your description of the problem, I would look to failing hardware
rather than software. Start your troubleshooting there.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

I agree on that the problem has some similarities with a hardware problem.
But after a clean install everything works perfectly - until for any reason
shutdown process does not complete cleanly.

One time this was caused by having to exit unresponsive installation of a
device driver for Microsoft Fingerprint Reader (keyboard), and the other
time when having to exit unsuccesful installation of Tom Tom HOME (car
navigator software). I suspect that there are minor bugs in these
installation routines that resulted in the end into a stuck shutdown process
and in the end not being able to start Vista in normal mode. The question is
why Vista is not able to recover.

Ilkka

 

[Malke]

I agree on that the problem has some similarities with a hardware problem.
But after a clean install everything works perfectly - until for any
reason shutdown process does not complete cleanly.

One time this was caused by having to exit unresponsive installation of a
device driver for Microsoft Fingerprint Reader (keyboard), and the other
time when having to exit unsuccesful installation of Tom Tom HOME (car
navigator software). I suspect that there are minor bugs in these
installation routines that resulted in the end into a stuck shutdown
process and in the end not being able to start Vista in normal mode. The
question is why Vista is not able to recover.

If you've already tested the hardware and know - not just guess - that it's
good, particularly the hard drive and the RAM, then I'd have to say that
one or more things you are installing don't play nicely with the operating
system. It could be drivers or other legitimate software. There's no way
for me to know without looking at the machine. But if you keep installing
the same bad stuff, the same symptoms are going to occur.

No operating system will recover from having bad drivers/software installed
except perhaps one of those specialized redundant failsafe systems (and I
don't know this for a fact never having worked with one of those OSs).
Certainly not a consumer-level OS like Windows, OS X, or consumer Linux
distro.

Malke

 

[bobg]

I have Vista Premium 32 bit. I've learned that patience is important in my
"Shutdown"! It seems like nothing happens for about 3 to 5 minutes....then
it does the shutdown or restart just fine. Probably not your problem, but
maybe it's worth a try. bobg

 

[burch41]

I have been using WindowsVistaUltimate(Finnish language version) for over
a year without major problems until now.

However, this week I encountered a major problem withVista: if the Shutdown
sequence does not complete successfully, and the computer has to be manually
powered off,Vistais not able to recover. It will remain on the start up
screen with sliding green bars forever.

I have tried the following:
-    boot to safe mode: safe mode works, but normal start-up after that
still hangs
-    system restore: system restore works, but even after restoring normal
start-up hangs
-    system repair with help of installation DVD: is not able to repair,
reports root cause not determined

The only option has been to reinstallVista(from safe mode, new install)
and then copy documents etc. from windows.old directory. I have now done
this 3 times, as after the first two installations there was a freeze in the
shutdown and I had to manually power off (there probably was a problem with
installing some of the device drivers after the actualVistainstallation,
but I cannot point a single cause, because it happened at different times
during different installations).

My point is thatVistahas become too "fragile", with one improper shutdown
messing the system beyond repair. If it was a simple broken device driver
installation, System Restore should be able to restore to a working
configuration.

Has there been a Windows update lately that causes improper shutdown
sequence to completely messVistainstallation? Has anybody had similar
experiences?

Kind regards

Ilkka

llkka try clearing your CMOS.IT MIGHT WORK. GOOD LUCK.