Help with friends computer running windows vista home premium. Downloaded antivirus that said it was compatible with vista but threw it into startup repair at restart. Cannot get in safe mode cannot remove program and windows vista cd doesn’t repair it either. No system restore points available. I would like to help repair system without losing all files. Please help have no idea what to do. Wish I could just remove the downloaded program that I think started it all but cannot get there. Any help would be appreciated thank you
@MDG I'm following up to see what your status is, can we assist further?
Cheers
All: I posted on the MS forums just a bit ago at this link. The suggestion will be the same here as posted there:
All: No restore points would suggest the OS is trashed and cannot be recovered. Why reinstall Vista? Don't!! Go to a more modern OS that is still supported by Microsoft. And, stay away from the freeware trash on the internet. FREE will always mean headaches in the long run.
As suggested earlier, remove the hard drive, connect it via a USB to SATA/EIDE adapter on another computer and backup your files there IF, they still exist on the drive. Format the drive for reuse. Windows 8.1 would be a good start for a newer OS, and its up-gradable to Windows 10 for FREE if your hardware will support it. I believe, if your device will run 8.1 it shouldn't have any issues with upgrading to Windows 10. You can download the Windows 8.1 ISO image at this link. Once you have the ISO you will need a USB drive with at least 8GB storage, and download Rufus to create the bootable USB. Set your BIOS to boot from the USB device and install the OS.
Further, DO NOT reinstall any A/V protection until you have a new OS installed AND it is fully patched. Meaning all the Windows updates that are available have been installed.
Cheers
Hi MDG:
Are you posting as user dongreenME in the MS Answers Vista board at Windows Vista Startup Repair?
MDG. Can you or have you attempted to boot the Vista disc with a command prompt only? You can run a repair on the master boot record in that scenario. If unsuccessful. That suggests you have a boot sector infection that cannot be repaired. Since you cannot execute anything against the current install, recovery or otherwise, format and reinstall. I would suggest NOT reinstalling Vista due to it no longer being supported by Microsoft and most other A/V companies. UNLESS, you will NOT be front facing the internet with the computer and always use it off-line. Carbonite should be able to recover your files but won't reinstall any programs you had installed. Windows 8.1 would be a better solution if that is possible. Norton supports Windows 8.1.
Edited: If you find that you cannot perform a clean install of an OS due to it being blocked, remove and replace the HD. It will no longer be usable due to MBR infection
Cheers
I think I tried all in that article, nothing is working. I’m trying not to lose files if I do a restore will all be gone? I have Carbonite account backing up files but I’m not sure what to do at this point. Any other suggestions would be appreciated
Thank you I will read carefully and post if I get resolution!
Hello MDG. You can have a look at this article from our friends over at Bleeping Computer and see what results you get. READ IT CAREFULLY as there are options available that you may not have used.
Cheers