Wierd disaster! I need a guru - PLEASE

[notachance]

Core Duo, 2GB RAM, Vista Home Premium

This computer was running flawlessly, and then I
stupidly decided to try Vista Manager. I looked through
the options, not intending to change anything. But when
Vista Manager checked UPDATES, it indicated that some
were necessary so I allowed them. It seemed fine at
first, but something bad happened and I need to fix it.

Now, most apps cannot be made to open by clicking on the
correct icon. And, I cannot go back to an earlier
Restore Point. When I try, a dialog box appears with
something like this:

********************************************
System Restore did not complete successfully.

System Restore failed due to unspecified error.
Parameter is incorrect (0x80070057)

Options are SHUT DOWN or RESTART
********************************************

I have tried several earlier dates with the same result,
even from safe mode. Avast thorough scan found nothing.

In most other respects, the computer seems stable though
slow.

HELP, PLEASE!!!

Silvy

 

[notachance]

I just used Spybot, which found something with the words
"...disableWindowsRestore..." in it. I deleted and tried
again. This time the restore process went much further,
and the computer rebooted.

However, a minute after the desktop became stable, I got
that same Restore-Failure dialog box.
And, it's s--l--o--w.

HELP!

Silvy

 

[notachance]

Just in case there's an expert around, here are more
observations.

Some icons will start apps properly, others won't. The
system tries, and the arrow cursor gets an hourglass for
a couple of seconds and then it returns to an arrow.
Shortcut doesn't matter.

Sidebar takes a long time to load.

Canon printer is inoperative - SETUP and PRINT look
okay, and then there's a box that says "Printer
inoperative". I reloaded the driver and also the Vista
patch, with no change.

Boot, shutdown, and restart are all okay now - speed is
reasonable.

I really, really, REALLY need to restore to a few days ago!

Silvy

 

[Guest]

Format the drive, and reinstall.

Where did you find Vista Manager?

 

[HeyBub]

Format the drive, and reinstall.

Where did you find Vista Manager?

Manufacturer's description:

"All-in-One utility to optimize, tweak, tune up and clean up your Windows
Vista. It bundles more than 30 different utilities in one. Get access to
hundreds of hidden options to improve system's performance and security,
clean registry, junk files and defrag Registry, tune up Vista boot menu,
uninstall program smartly, mange startup items, and many other miscellaneous
utilitiesAll-in-One utility to optimize, tweak, tune up and clean up your
Windows Vista..."

Sounds like snake-oil. Posionous snake oil.

 

[notachance]

It was well-reviewed, and looked very professional, so I
decided to give it a try.

I really cannot format and reinstall. For me it would
take a working day, and also I use some giveaway
software that would have to be purchased after a format.

I wrote to the publisher... let's see what they say.

 

[HeyBub]

It was well-reviewed, and looked very professional, so I
decided to give it a try.

I really cannot format and reinstall. For me it would
take a working day, and also I use some giveaway
software that would have to be purchased after a format.

I wrote to the publisher... let's see what they say.

Well reviewed? Did anyone HERE recommend it? Or did the reviews come from
pubications that contain its advertising?

A "C" (3 of 5 stars)
http://www.download.com/Vista-Manager/3000-2086_4-10607653.html

"Everything related to Vista (its tools) worked great. The rest of the
options introduced by Vista Manager still have a lot to be worked on. I
could find no Vista Manager option that did not have a bug, an error or an
issue."
http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/windows/Vista-Manager-Review-53537.shtml

A "B" (4 of 5 stars)
http://www.laptopmag.com/Review/Vista-Manager.htm

These were the first three Google hits.

 

[Guest]

Please, whatever you do do NOT reformat; you'll just be creating so many more
problems for yourself and a very large headache. Sure, a re-format will leave
you with a working system but that's ALL. You'll have invested hours of
totally needless frustration and possibly TOTALLY messed-up your system for
nothing. The EASIEST, SAFEST way to fix your system is to refresh/reinstall
your system files. Just open a DOS window, having first given yourself
administrative permission if using Vista, and simply type exactly SFC
/scannow let that complete, it should take about 20 miniutes and you'll
have SAFELY re-installed your system files

 

[David]

Just open a DOS window, having first given yourself
administrative permission if using Vista, and simply type exactly SFC
/scannow let that complete, it should take about 20 miniutes and you'll
have SAFELY re-installed your system files

sfc/scannow is highly overated. also it installs files that may have
been replaced by updates. makes for a flaky system in many instances.

 

[Frank]

sfc/scannow is highly overated. also it installs files that may have
been replaced by updates. makes for a flaky system in many instances.

Then you have no idea what sfc is really to be used for do you?
Frank

 

[Adam Albright]

Then you have no idea what sfc is really to be used for do you?
Frank

You know what you're used for Frank? A doormat.

 

[notachance]

I gave up -- need a working computer.

So, we formatted, installed, etc.

Works fine now, of course. What's interesting is that
the computer is far faster than it was yesterday. Word,
XL, PPT (all 2007) and FireFox, Thunderbird, etc. all
load in 1-3 seconds. Shutdown and boot are much faster.

???

Silvy

 

[Frank]

You know what you're used for Frank? A doormat.

hehehe...if I want any sh*t out of you I'll squeeze your fat little pig
face...hahaha...lol!
Frank

 

[Charlie Tame]

I gave up -- need a working computer.

So, we formatted, installed, etc.

Works fine now, of course. What's interesting is that the computer is
far faster than it was yesterday. Word, XL, PPT (all 2007) and FireFox,
Thunderbird, etc. all load in 1-3 seconds. Shutdown and boot are much
faster.

???

Silvy

Hate to say this but my experience with "Make your computer faster"
software is always the same, And utilities making such claims tend to
sell magazines, so the products get good reviews because the journalist
is paid by the magazine, which gets paid by the advertisers...

Avoid add on toolbars and gadgets unless they are actually useful and
you won't need a program to clean up...

 

[Adam Albright]

I gave up -- need a working computer.

So, we formatted, installed, etc.

Works fine now, of course. What's interesting is that
the computer is far faster than it was yesterday. Word,
XL, PPT (all 2007) and FireFox, Thunderbird, etc. all
load in 1-3 seconds. Shutdown and boot are much faster.

???

Silvy

Not really surprising. Windows is so screwed up internally in so many
different areas sometimes starting from scratch can result is marked
system improvement. While nobody can say how long a Vista based PC
should take to boot, shut down, load programs, etc., since there are
so many variables depending in part on the speed of your CPU, total
RAM, hard drives, features of your motherboard, how many and what kind
of programs load at boot and dozens of other things it would be at
best a guess 'how long' certain routine tasks should take.

That said, today's computer meaning one less than a couple years old
and having at least I GB of unshared RAM and a reasonably fast CPU
should on average:

1. Boot and be fully ready to use in less 90 seconds, 45 seconds would
be fairly typical.

2. Applications should load in ten seconds or less. Emphasis on less
except for some very complex demanding ones that may need to
pre load support files before being fully ready to use.

3. You should be easily able to multitask (run at least 4-6
applications)often more at the same time without seeing at slowdown
in overall system performance.

4. Keyboard response should be instantaneous, graphics should be drawn
on the screen so fast you can't see it happening, videos should
play without stuttering (assuming no problems with file), using
Photo Gallery you should be able to see the next image replace the
last instantaneously.

5. System should shut down fully in less than 30 seconds. Often
faster.

 

[HeyBub]

I gave up -- need a working computer.

So, we formatted, installed, etc.

Works fine now, of course. What's interesting is that
the computer is far faster than it was yesterday. Word,
XL, PPT (all 2007) and FireFox, Thunderbird, etc. all
load in 1-3 seconds. Shutdown and boot are much faster.

???

Could be, but check the kitty. Firefox has been know to cause cat warts!

 

[dragunovguy]

Core Duo, 2GB RAM, Vista Home Premium

This computer was running flawlessly, and then I
stupidly decided to try Vista Manager. I looked through
the options, not intending to change anything. But when
Vista Manager checked UPDATES, it indicated that some
were necessary so I allowed them. It seemed fine at
first, but something bad happened and I need to fix it.

Now, most apps cannot be made to open by clicking on the
correct icon. And, I cannot go back to an earlier
Restore Point. When I try, a dialog box appears with
something like this:

********************************************
System Restore did not complete successfully.

System Restore failed due to unspecified error.
Parameter is incorrect (0x80070057)

Options are SHUT DOWN or RESTART
********************************************

I have tried several earlier dates with the same result,
even from safe mode. Avast thorough scan found nothing.

In most other respects, the computer seems stable though
slow.

HELP, PLEASE!!!

Silvy

Silvy,
I have never found a third party registry cleaner or computer "repair"
tool that doesn't have the ability to cause problems. You have to be
careful with most of these programs. I never let them diagnose
problems on a PC, even one that is running slow or showing problems.
These programs will find "problems" that don't exist.
Even Totalidea's software, http://www.totalidea.com/content/tweakvi/tweakvi-index.php,
has some dangers associated with it. But, they actually warn you that
you are about to use a tool that may cause problems. I have used some
of their memory tweaks and such, but I never let a third party program
update my computer.

Daryl