Vista won't start anymore :(

[Guest]

I resarted my computer after some updates automatically installed on my
Windows Vista Ultimate, and when it restarted, It got as far as saying
"starting windows vista". Normally, after that, it goes blank for maybe 10
seconds, and brings up the user logon screen; however, after the "update
restart," it didn't load. The screen stayed blank for about 5 minutes and
then proceeded to a blue screen which was quick to say a file was missing or
corrupt and gave me the path: systemroot/systrem32/config/components
and told me it couldn't be loaded, then it proceeded to do a cache dump, i
believe, then restarted.
I tried running it in every other mode possible, and the same thing happens.
I do no have recovery discs because I didn't have any when the computer was
given to me, and haven't had time to get them.
I really need my computer, and I dont want to wipe it completely because i
havent backed up everything in a very long time. I am messaging from a
different pc, obviously.
Please could someone help me out, i would appreciate it sooo much. If you
need any more details, just message.. Thanks again so much!

 

[Andy]

Call you're computer manufacturer and have them give you a hand.

If you didn't make the recovery CDs when you got the system for $15 they can
usually mail them to you.

Press F8 at bootup, try "use last known working configuration" or whatever
it's called. Try Safe Mode then use System Restore to back up a couple days.

if all that fails, what brand of computer is it? some systems you can press
F10 or F11 while starting up and it'll launch the System Restore program
that's on your D: drive, this should allow you to do a restore of your HD
(format, reinstall original software).

Good luck,
A.

 

[dean-dean]

Do you have access to Vista installation DVD? If so, boot to the DVD, and
try the options in Startup Repair (System Restore is one of them). (Too, if
your computer manufacturer has preinstalled recovery options, Startup Repair
might also be installed on your hard disk). See:

Startup Repair: frequently asked questions
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx

How to automatically repair Windows Vista using Startup Repair
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial148.html

 

[Guest]

Well, it doesnt list "repair my computer" in the advanced boot options, but
it has a recovery partition.. so shouldnt it? i dont have the disk
available.. my unlce has it.. so idk what to do.. here is what it says,
verbatim...

Stop: c0000218 {Registry file failure}
The registry cannot load the hive {file}:
\systemroot\system32\config\COMPONENTS
or its log or alternate.
It is corrupt, absent, or not writable.


Collecting data for crash dump ...
Initializing disk for crash dump ...
Beginning dump of physical memory.
Dumping physical memory to disk: 100

 

[Guest]

also.. if i can get the disk and do the restore.. can i save my files?

 

[dean-dean]

Try System Restore (Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools) from Safe
Mode (using F8 when you boot, a choice in the advanced boot options), as
Andy suggested, first. Your Recovery Partition won't be listed on the F8
list (those are Windows' options). To access the Recovery Partition
probably requires a different hotkey (not F8). What is the name and model
of your computer? Someone might know what the hotkey is, and what your
options are when it's accessed.