Startup Problem

[DoctorRiddles]

First off, sorry that I'm not exactly up-to with anything computer related, it's not really my area of expertise.
So, this all started back in the summer when my computer (Toshiba) froze on me. Any time I turned it on, after the Toshiba screen faded, the screen would simply stay black. I was getting help at the time, and we used our last resort, which was to simply do a full system restore. Afterwards it seemed to run fine, but about two months later, I noticed that if I left it on for an hour without touching it, the entire computer froze on me. Then, about a week ago, my computer started up normally, except, after I logged onto it it would seem to be loading something, then after a minute it would freeze, except I was still able to move the mouse. This continued for a time.
I think I may have messed it up even more by trying another restore. It shut off on me suddenly, and now every time I try to get on it it will be fine up to when it says that it's configuring updates that I don't even remember it telling me about.
I think another noteworthy statement is that I've run sfc/scannow in the command prompt and it said there is a corrupted file that cannot be fixed.

 

[Lorien]

Hi DoctorRiddles,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

Even though already done, try a System Restore again to a point in time BEFORE the problem began (I mean this most recent one of a week or so ago). Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html. Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points. If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two - this is the best chance of gaining access to the system so a few attempts are worth the effort. NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates. Use the recovery disk (see below) since the system prompt doesn’t work. The recovery disk works a bit different from the above procedures but if you follow the prompts from the System Restore menu option with the above information you should be able to restore with no problems (and hope it helps).

If the System Restore doesn't work, do a Startup Repair by booting to the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (or one you can borrow from ANYONE) or from a Recovery Disk with recovery options included on it. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html. To boot to the CD you may need to change the BIOS to make the CD-drive first in the boot sequence. To do that, wait for the screen that tells you the F key to push to access the boot menu or boot setup. Push it quickly. Make the changes, save your work, and exit. Put the CD in the drive and reboot. When prompted, push any key to boot from the CD.

If you don't have either disk, you can make a bootable Recovery Disk using http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ along with burning software like: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html and, of course, a blank CD (perhaps made on a different computer or perhaps in safe mode with networking if that is working - please note in your reply if you can boot into any safe mode option though it seems that you are currently stuck before that option becomes available).

If that doesn't work, try to boot into safe mode if you can (repeatedly click the F8 key while booting and go to safe mode with networking – or go to command prompt on the disk). Then let's check some of your system files:

Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command prompt and right click on command prompt and click run as Administrator (you can skip this step if using the disk).

If using the disk, type cd C:\Windows\System32 and enter. Type sfc /scannow and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix some of your system files. Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228. If you find corruption, run it 2-3 more times as sometimes repeating the process works when the first attempt didn't. Try to attach the report (you may need to copy it to your desktop or, in this case, to a flash drive if it permits that and you have one, before it will permit you to attach it using the computer you are using to post here) so we can see the errors and if they can be repaired with good copies from other files and/or the installation disk (unless there are too many). If you can get into safe mode with networking, you should be able to do it from there.

While in Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and enter and let it run. It will want to schedule itself to run at the next restart. Answer yes and then reboot to run the program. It will scan and try to fix any corruption or bad sectors on your hard drive and mostly remove that as a potential cause.

Since you note it stalls on doing updates, if none of the above works, go back into the disk's Command Prompt and type cd c:\Windows\Software Distribution\Downloads and enter. Make sure it shows that you are in that folder. Then type del *.* and enter. Then type cd c:\Windows\Software Distribution\Datastore and enter. Make sure it shows you are in that folder. Then type del *.* and enter. Now reboot into normal mode and see if you can get past the update screen (as these changes should have removed the pending updates and possibly get you past that particular problem). If not, but you got further in the startup process and previously couldn't access safe mode, please try to get into safe mode again.

Let's see how the above works before proceeding any further. Please describe the results of each attempt, include reports where available, answer any questions that have been asked, and provide any additional details that may be of assistance. For example, when it stalls on updates, is it doing 1 of 3, 2 of 3, or 3 of 3 and does it make any progress (e.g., 30% complete) or no progress at all?

I hope this helps resolve the problem or at least helps identify the problem.

Thanks and good luck!

 

[DoctorRiddles]

Hello Lorien and thank you for your swift response.
I am able to access safe mode, and the box that gives me the options for system restore, startup repair, etc. Basically I can do any function prior to actually logging in. (And I can fully access anything via safe mode)

Unfortunately I have tried restoring the system to an earlier point. Every time I try that it freezes after I input my password to get on the computer. Also, there are only about 7 or so points I could restore to. I tried a few of the earliest.
The startup repair goes through fine, it states that there is nothing wrong with the computer.
I think that using the command prompt would help solve the problems, however. When it tells me that it's found corrupted files but couldn't fix them, it directs me to a notepad file that keeps telling me "access is denied". Trying to delete the values in c:\Windows\Software Distribution\Downloads and c:\Windows\Software Distribution\Datastore gives the same results, it will say each file, and then say "access is denied". Is there any way to override that?

Well, I'm not sure exactly what info may be helpful here... I'll just start by saying that, when it tries to install the updates, it says "Stage 1 of 3 - 0%". It never gets past that.