VISTA stop 7e in Safe Mode - Page 2

gwlogue · 11-05-2009, 02:21 PM

My son tells me he installed Windows UPDATES recently and the computer ran fine for him the next morning. When he got home from school that evening the problem started.

gwlogue · 11-05-2009, 08:14 PM

SATA set to IDE mode in BIOS and HD diagnostics still show no errors.

I am guessing this is a VISTA problem due to the recent Windows Updates.

Is there any chance of getting this system back or does he have to bite the bullet and buy a copy of Windows 7? (Needless to say the laptop vendor did NOT provide recovery CD's or a Vista install CD).

***Midknyte*** · 11-05-2009, 08:40 PM

You can try a system restore to a previous point using Startup Repair.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...torial148.html

If you don't have a Vista OS disc, try the Neosmart boot disc. Make sure to get the correct version (32 or 64 bix)
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/downlo...recovery-disc/

***Midknyte*** · 11-05-2009, 08:42 PM

BTW, Acer tells you to create a set of restore discs when you first turn on the computer. I'm guessing you just ignored that. If the Startup Repair doesn't work, you'll have to request a restore disc set from Acer.

gwlogue · 11-05-2009, 08:56 PM

I didn't ignore anybody. It is my son's laptop. He and his wife live apart from me

gwlogue · 11-05-2009, 09:00 PM

SON OF A !!!!! Just rebooted to confirm the messages and it started normally!

***Midknyte*** · 11-05-2009, 09:01 PM

Ok then, HE ignored the message. In any case, the restores didn't get created. Most manufacturer's do that now. If anything, you have to pay extra for physical media.

gwlogue · 11-05-2009, 09:08 PM

Once it started I see a driver update in progress. Intel(R) ICH8M 3 port serial ATA Storage Controller - 2828

Going to create a restore point before I reboot

gwlogue · 11-05-2009, 09:59 PM

Everything seems OK now. I am wondering of the problem might have been a conflict between the driver update and the SATA BIOS setting? It's the only thing I changed.

Regardless, your time coaching me through these processes has resulted in getting it fixed. Thank you very much.

***Midknyte*** · 11-05-2009, 11:03 PM

Don't update drivers via Windows Update. That is a recipe for disaster.

It's still good to cover your bases. I wasted a lot of time on another thread because the guy said he ran diags. Turns out it was a bad hard drive.

gwlogue · 11-05-2009, 11:11 PM

Driver update was running when I got system to boot. I didn't start it.

Did the other guy's diagnostics run clean too? Maybe this hard drive is still suspect?

***Midknyte*** · 11-06-2009, 12:36 AM

He told me he ran "diags", but he only ran chkdsk. It had errors in chkdsk but he must have though that they were fixed. He didn't bother to run Seatools or other HD diags.

Don't build a house on a cracked foundation. Gotta check that the hardware is good before you diag software.

gwlogue · 11-06-2009, 06:54 PM

So this disk is probably OK as it passed all the disgnostics on USBD 5.

I will warn him to make sure he has backups anyways.

Thanks again