Crash on Startup

busyliving

Hey all,

I was just handed a laptop an hour ago, and i have been tasked to fix it

So here is all the info i have on it

Runs Vista
Power went while it was installing a windows update
Now the laptop crashes after its turned on
+ It gets past the windows loading Icon
+ Then the blue\green screen appears saying its installing "update 3 of 3"
+ Then blue screen of death...Laptop restarts with the options for safe mode etc

So i have tried to run a system restore which failed, rang it in safe mode via cmd prompt.

None of the "f" buttons are working on startup, so i can't get into system restore, and recovery there

So can you suggest anything else,

Allyall

Alt and F10 for factory restore on some laptops, at the logo. What make and model is it?

WARNING: *That will wipe all the data on it*

Do you have a recovery disk?

Dulchie

Can you tell us how you ran system restore in safe mode

Did you type rstrui.exe at the cmd prompt, if so how far did you get before the restore failed.

Do have a Vista Install disk available ?

see http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Start-System-Restore-from-a-command-prompt

If you can supply more info it should be possible to recover the computer without taking the drastic step of a factory restore and loss of all data and programs.

Capt'n Midnight

make and model ?

run memtest anyway for the lol

use a live linux CD to restore old registry from system volume information folder if it won't boot in safe mode ( you are probably looking at a reinstall anyway )

busyliving

Dulchie wrote: »

Can you tell us how you ran system restore in safe mode

Did you type rstrui.exe at the cmd prompt, if so how far did you get before the restore failed.

Do have a Vista Install disk available ?

see http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Start-System-Restore-from-a-command-prompt

If you can supply more info it should be possible to recover the computer without taking the drastic step of a factory restore and loss of all data and programs.

Tried the system restore in safe mode with command prompt, using the "rstrui.exe". System Restore opens as normal, so I processed and select my restore point and then I get an error message that reads

the system couldn't be restored due to an unspecified problem. (Also something in there about parameter)

Don't have the disks available as far as I know, there is some very important stuff on the laptop so that’s why I’m trying to find a solution that doesn't wipe the hard drive if that’s possible?

Also is it possible to take stuff off that harddrive while computer is running in safe mode?

Oh the make and model: Dell Inspirion 1525

burrentech

busyliving wrote: »

Tried the system restore in safe mode with command prompt, using the "rstrui.exe". System Restore opens as normal, so I processed and select my restore point and then I get an error message that reads


Don't have the disks available as far as I know, there is some very important stuff on the laptop so that’s why I’m trying to find a solution that doesn't wipe the hard drive if that’s possible?

Also is it possible to take stuff off that harddrive while computer is running in safe mode?

Oh the make and model: Dell Inspirion 1525

Sounds like a system restore is required. You can get the data off the disk by running Linux from a CD/DVD (ubuntu.com for the download). You'll need an external disk to copy the data. Better is to use clonezilla (clonezilla.org) to make a copy of the hard drive (external disk of similar size required). At least you can be sure of having all the data available.

If you press F8 to boot the advanced setting you should get the option to restore factory settings. If the restore partition has been removed you will need the MS DVDs to install Vista.

good luck

busyliving

burrentech wrote: »

Sounds like a system restore is required. You can get the data off the disk by running Linux from a CD/DVD (ubuntu.com for the download). You'll need an external disk to copy the data. Better is to use clonezilla (clonezilla.org) to make a copy of the hard drive (external disk of similar size required). At least you can be sure of having all the data available.

If you press F8 to boot the advanced setting you should get the option to restore factory settings. If the restore partition has been removed you will need the MS DVDs to install Vista.

good luck

None of the "f" keys are working on startup

Dulchie

When you start and press F8

Do you have an " Advanced Boot Options" item available

This may or may not be available depending upon the way Dell set up the laptop

If so:

On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair your computer, and then press ENTER. (If Repair your computer is not listed as an option, then your computer does not include Startup Repair as a pre-installed recovery option.)

Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.

Select a user name and enter the password, and then click OK.

On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem and, if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.

If you do not have that option then I suggest that you contact Dell 1850 543 543
they will need the system tag details, usually on the base of the laptop. Try to persuade to send you a copy of the Vista DVD.

ressem

busyliving wrote: »

None of the "f" keys are working on startup

That's unusual. Some annoying new laptops require you to hold 'Fn' while pressing the F1-12 key, but I don't think the Inspiron 1525 is among them.
Is it possible to connect an external USB keyboard and see if it makes a difference?

ressem

If you can get the F- keys to work with a new keyboard, then you should be able to back up essential files using a linux CD.

Once that is done you can look at renaming the 'pending.xml' file so that windows stops trying to install that update, and allows you to boot normally.
This might affect your ability to install updates in future though.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-windows_update/latest-vista-update-stuck-in-stage-3restart-loop/2f70b13c-9db4-4bf9-90ee-7ca63a809973

It worked fine on the one occasion that I've encountered this issue but your mileage may vary.

burrentech

busyliving wrote: »

None of the "f" keys are working on startup

I did see some posts that Dell had an issue with the keyboards on the Vostro laptops like yours. It could be eligible for a replacement, even if its out of warranty.

I'd download the ubuntu, or clonezilla and make sure you have a copy of the disk in case Dell or anyone else decides to 'format C' while in their care.

These can be a pain.

To get to the advanced boot options, I usually start hitting F8 as soon as the screen lights up. Keep hitting it until something happens If it starts the Windows start then you're too late and F8 won't work

Duggy747

When Vista crashes / powers off while installing updates then the OS becomes utterly fùcked and a mess to clean up.

Best option to run a Live CD, copy whatever over to an external HDD and wipe that baby clean. You can get this on Hiren's Boot CD

When you have the data backup up reboot and the very second the laptop comes back on keep pressing F8 until the menu comes up. Choose Startup Repair.

When that finishes loading up you should see an option on the menu (Usually the last choice) that allows you to do a Factory Restore. This will revert it back to the very 1st day it was turned on, DATA WILL BE WIPED!

In some cases, data in the document folders is kept (If it's the same user you're creating) but I wouldn't rely on it and make sure you backup the data on it.

ressem

Duggy747 wrote: »

When Vista crashes / powers off while installing updates then the OS becomes utterly fùcked and a mess to clean up.

It can happen, but this isn't the case every time. If the 3rd update is stuck at 0% then it's just a known Vista / 7 bug. If you can stop windows from trying to update at every start by hiding the pending.xml and related registry entry, then you can boot normally and install a fix as mentioned in the link earlier.