Not booting into Vista

Question

Hello,

I have a E520 running Windows Vista 32-bit.

My computer received some updates (some seemingly unimportant small security updates) for Vista so I restarted the system. While it was shutting down and configuring the updates my power went out for about thirty seconds. Upon restarting my system it would not boot into Windows. The little green bar at the bottom loads up and looks as if Vista will start then. . . nothing. No hard drive chatter, no activity, just a black screen. It will not work in safe mode, either.

I have ran many of the diagnostic tools included with the computer. I have also tried system restore but it is not working for me. When I have tried system restore it says I have some disk errors that need to be fixed. When I click the option to fix said errors nothing happens. I am thinking I need to run scandisk but I have no idea how. I have also tried to reinstall windows and that is getting me nowhere either. When I boot from the CD-ROM drive with the windows disk and am given the option to reinstall windows nothing happens.

Does anyone have any ideas on what I can do? I know my way around a computer well but I'm starting to run out of ideas. I am really starting to worry that something may be seriously wrong.

Thank you

Sofu · Answer

This link http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=vista&thread.id=59911&view=by_date_ascending&page=1 deals with making and using a Windows Recovery Boot Disc. I have made such a disc and can recommend it. You will then have some tools to work with.

syorkshire · Answer

A few months back I was having many problems with my inspiron 530 freezing, which resulted in having to switch off manually, and then it wouldn't boot into Windows. I finally solved this by stopping Windows Update operating automatically.

Two days ago I downloaded 9 Windows Vista updates, and then found my computer was freezing on the Microsoft Green line screen. Switching off manually and restarting brought up Start Up Repair, which reverted my computer to a previous time, thus losing the nine updates. All was OK until I downloaded them again and the problems reoccured. I am now downloading them a couple at a time. But I've lost that cute little green line thingy :-)

So far I have downloaded Vista Security Updates KB 950762 951376 and 951698

One's I haven't yet downloaded are KB 952714, 905866 (mail junk filter) 890830 (malicious software remover) and -

Media Centre update KB 950126, Int Explore 7 update KB 950759, and Active X Killbits Update KB 950760 - I suspect this may be the problem, whatever it may be ?

Anyone else having these problems ?

Sofu · Answer

Syorkshire.    You can be sure that you are not the only one with update problems. It is most advisable to change the Windows Automatic Update options from the default 'Update Automatically' to 'Notify, Don’t Download'. The latter option lets Windows determine when new updates are available and then notify you. This means you can wait a day or two to install a new patch and check online to see whether a new patch is problematic for a significant number of users.

KanteenBoyy · Answer

I still haven't had any luck with anything.  At this point I am prepared to just format the hard drive, however it won't even allow me to do that.

Sofu · Answer

Have you made a Windows Recovery Boot Disc?

syorkshire · Answer

Well, I have spent all day trying to solve my problems, which are probably the same as Kanteen Boyy's.

Any of the new Windows Updates I download seems to stop my computer booting. Startup Repair removes the Updates by reverting to an earlier time. This morning it wouldn't even do that, and wanted to check the Internet for a solution, but as the computer wasn't booting, I couldn't connect. Running Memory Test finally got the computer going.

I have just found that Dell have issued a BIOS update - Version 1.0.13

Try downloading that if you can from Dell Support Centre.

KanteenBoyy · Answer

Sofu,  I did check out thatlink you provided earlier.  The things described tht are included on the Windows Boot Disk are things that have already come with my compter on a couple DVDs. I am unsure if just creating another boot disk will work.  But I supposedI should try because at this point I don't have many options.

Sofu · Answer

The Windows recovery disc allows you to do more than the discs that came with your computer. For example:

1. Recover a full PC backup.

2. Run a command-line recovery console for advanced recovery purposes.

3. Edit the Registry.

In the worst case you should be able to reformat.

KanteenBoyy · Answer

I did download the recovery disk and it has the extact same things that are on my Vista disc.  Those things are getting me nowhere.  I guess I am about out of options.  I might just have to go buy a new hard drive and start clean. Thanks for your help.

KanteenBoyy · Answer

Yeah the discs came with the computer. I ordered the desktop right after Vista came out, so maybe thats why I got a full Vista DVD.

I am surprised none of those options work, either. From the option to restore to the option the return the hard drive to the original image supplied by Dell. nothing works.

I have tried to format at the command prompt. After typing in the command and pressing enter nothing happens. The cursor moves one line below and just blinks while the window is frozen.

I have been searching around and possibly found some software that can help me, or at least recover some data from my hard drive. What a wonderful time I'm having. Again, thanks for the suggestions.

Sofu · Answer

Frankly I am amazed that you already had a Windows boot disc that was supplied with your laptop that offers advanced recovery options including working from a Command Prompt. If so, you should have been able to reformat from the command prompt when you wanted to. Message Edited by Sofu on 06-15-2008 01:35 PM

Sofu · Answer

Don't give up yet!

Let me know what happens when you type in exactly what is given in bold type below:

At the command prompt type C: and then press ENTER

At the C:\> prompt type FORMAT C: and then press ENTER

Sofu · Answer

Looks like your HDD has NTFS corruption. Am interested to hear how you get on with recovery tools.

KanteenBoyy · Answer

I'll let you know what happens.  Have a busy afternoon today, I'll probably try later on tonight to fix it.

Windows General

Not booting into Vista

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