Windows failed to start

O

Ole

Hello all. I have a problem that I need help with.
My elderly Mother's Vista PC isn't working, and as she relies on this for
shopping etc I need to get it working (I am several hundred miles from her).
The PC tried to install the latest Vista updates (20/2/2008) but upon
restart she gets the message "Windows failed to restart - a recent
hardware/software change may be the cause - File windows\system32\winload.exe
"The selected file could not be loaded".
She doesn't have a start in "normal mode" option.
I have walked her through trying system repair/restore using the Vista
installation Cd, but after trying to restore she gets the message; "system
restore failed due to an unspecified error;

"cannot create a file when that file already exists" (0x800700b7)

We have tried 3 different restore points with the same result.
Can anyone help on this?
 
R

Rick Rogers

Hi,

Probably the best thing to do would be to load the Vista DVD and boot from
it, then run a startup repair. The error is indicating that there is a
problem with the file that Vista uses to load the operating system. You
won't be able to successfully access any mode until it is repaired.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
B

Bruce

Rick,
I have had the same problem upon trying to boot my machine. I tried the
installation DVD and ran Startup repair. The program said it was repaired but
I can not boot and get nothing but a blank light blue screen. I tried
re-running the Startup repair program from the DVD again and it says that
everything is fine. Still can not boot. In addition, from the installation
DVD I can not get a command prompt that allows me to get to the C: drive on
the machine. In addition, after installing SP1 all of my restore points are
gone and so I can not restore either. Help would be appreciated as this is my
office machine.

Bruce
 
B

Bruce

Rick,
I have now determined that Vista has loaded but it will not display the
desktop. If I use Ctl-Alt-Delete I get a screen that allows me to change
password (this function works) Log off or shutdown or reboot (all of these
work) but desktop will not display and task manager button just gives a blank
blue screen like the missing desktop screen. How do I fix this problem.
Bruce
 
R

Rick Rogers

Hi Bruce,

This should help:

Hit ctrl+shift+escape to open Task Manager. On the applications tab, click
'new task'. Type regedit and click ok, the continue at the prompt.

Expand the keys in the left pane by clicking the triangles at left to reach
this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Click on this key and locate the 'shell' string in the right pane. Double
click it, replace the contents with just

explorer.exe

Click ok, then close the registry editor and reboot the machine.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
B

Bruce

Rick,
Thank you for the quick response. Unfortunately for me Task Manager will not
open, I get another blue screen when I try to open the Task Manager. The only
windows that work is the one to change password, etc.
I can get to the C: drive from the cmd prompt on the Bootrec.exe containing
install disk I downloaded. Is there any way to access regedit from the cmd
prompt? I haven't used DOS in years so I am very rusty on cmd line work.
Thanks.
Bruce
 
B

Bruce

Bob,
Thank you for your reply. I ran sfc /scannow from both the boot disk and
after cd to the C: drive where my Vista files are installed. Both from within
the boot disk repair computer console. The result was exactly the same in
both instances. "beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation."
Some additional ideas would be most appreciated. Thanks.
Bruce
 
B

Bruce

Rick,
Thank you for the best laugh I have had since this situation started. Not
realizing that there are a multitude of blue screens my first thought was it
was between a Caribbean and a Kingfisher Blue LOL.
The right "arrow | enter" does not do anything so I am guessing it is not a
secure deskstop blue screen. Additional input most welcome.
Thanks,
Bruce
 
B

Bruce

Rick,
No I can not load eventvwr.msc using the cmd prompt via the boot disk and of
course can do nothing in Vista except change my logon password, switch users
(though there is only one), and log off.
Bruce
 
B

Bruce

Rick,
Yes, it does load. However all of my restore points were removed by the SP1
installation so there are none to use and thus my only option is to exit. Got
to love the Catch 22.
Bruce
 
B

Bruce

Rick,
I can not reach Task Manager, it blue screens on me. Can run nothing in Vista.
Bruce
 
B

Bruce

Rick,
Because I can not get to the task manager I can not run any of the task
manager programs.
Bruce
 
B

Bruce

Bob,
I can not access the computer or run any program on it. In other words
except for shutdown and switch user I am dead in the water. For whatever
reason Vista winload.exe can not run or at least can not find anything to
load. The Mbr is either corrupted or destroyed it appears. None of the fixes
for either program have been able to fix it.
Because Vista was pre-loaded on the machine I do not have a Vista disk and I
don't have a copy of Vista at all as the HD only has a partition with a
recovery program which will delete all the files currently on the HD and
restore all the crappola trial programs which I don't want or need. In
addition, even if I had a copy of Vista to re-install the KEY on the machine
is an invalid key that requires you to call MS and register and in any case
without entering a valid KEY on installation the option to re-install without
deleting everything on the HD is not available. Obviously, I am not
interested in purchasing another copy of a program I already paid for. Nor am
I really thrilled with the idea of re-installing all of my software and then
reconfiguring every program.
Bruce

Bob said:
Have you tried Winkey+R?
-------
*Report back, please*
[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to so
that others may learn and benefit from the issue]

[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

Bruce said:
Rick,
Because I can not get to the task manager I can not run any of the task
manager programs.
Bruce
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
B

Bruce

Rick,
The steps in kb/919529 do not work. I get a message that Bootsect.exe is not
recognized as an executable or batch file error message.
chkdsk /r does not work. I get an error message that the disk can not be
locked and the disk is protected.
I guess you would have to be able to get to the command prompt from within
the Vista installation for these to work. From the boot disk they certainly
do not for me.
I really appreciate your continued help. If nothing else I am learning all
kinds of neat stuff that doesn't work LOL.
I have ordered a new copy of Vista Home Premium and now I suppose I will
need to figure out how to install over the old version and retain my
installed programs and their registration in the registry so I can use them.
I do have a current backup but the program I used, Acronis, doesn't work if
you can't get to the hard drive through Windows and the Boot Disk I made with
it will only allow me to permanently erase a HD not reach the backup
software. So much for backups - will be looking for a better backup solution
also.
Any further suggestions or information on re-installing using a new copy and
new key would be most appreciated.
Bruce
 

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