How to recover from “safe mode” problems in Vista

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Please help.
I chose “Safe Mode” trying to correct some corrupted files.
I was impatient waiting until the system finished and chose to shut down the computer.
Now the Computer does not reboot at all. In addition, I have no power to the keyboard (PS2) and no power to my USB ports.
I downloaded on my laptop a boot file to a CD which showed the boot menu
on my problem computer but I could not select the proper heading since my keyboard
is not working.
Is there a DOS Recovery Disk with self extracting files to fix these problems ?
I appreciate your advice

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If you have a installation disk, or made a rescue disk, you should be okay. otherwise you may have to acquire an installation disk. You can probably find Vista disks pretty cheap now.

It sounds as though you have corrupted your Master Boot Record (MBR) There is a procedure to fix the MBR.

This might be an opportune time to consider an installation of Win 7. Good luck.

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Ted Myers, MS OS’s just get more difficult, bloated, and buggy. To suggest upgrading to Win7 as a cure for Vista misses the problem. Generally when we buy “things” we expect “things” that work! IMHO, MS has never understood this. I am older than you and have used computers way before IBM PC & PCDOS. My experience with each MS version up to today never allowed me to recommend MS OS’s to anyone. I did sort of like XP Pro. Now Vista IMHO has regressed. So, my question to you is: Why would I wish to upgrade to an exponentially bloated beast like Win7.

Perhaps you don’t know how MS creates it’s OS’s? Too many cooks and when bolted together that causes problems because it is too large and bloated to ever be de-bugged. IMHO, MS has never released a truly de-bugged OS version.

Some how MS created the concept of SP1-2-3 – OO and people thinking MS knows what it is doing have bought this sillyness!

I may upgrade to Win7 SP$+. I am not interested in being a “life Tester” for MS.

In the meantime I have found Linux Distros have become quite good but the World is stuck on MS and we are “boxed in”.

I am smart enough to leave all of MS’s OS & SF alonYou can probably find Vista disks pretty cheap now. as IMHO they have built-in booby-traps since PC/MS-DOS 1.0. But other than the bare OS I have used other better SF since before 1980.

I am a long time fan of Fred Langa. He has kept me “out of the woods” with MS, but the exponential reality of MS has exceeded any human being since XP Pro or Vista. Frankly, it is put together sort of like a certain SCIFI character & with the expected results.

OH! Why should anyone need to buy [You can probably find Vista disks pretty cheap now]. MS should have them for down load! !

Is there enough “lip stick” in the World …………………..

The only reason MS is still a problem is corporate thinking. But I see a trend. MS will try to continue but the bloat will ………….. reminds me of a song: “Help! I’m being eaten by a Boa Constrictor and I don’t like it a….h….lup…..

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How did you shut down the PC?

If you can get into the BIOS check to see that legacy USB is enabled.

Joe

--Joe

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Hi, JoeP517

My plunder was that I shut the computer down during a safe mode with warning to “please wait”. I was impatient to wait for all the files to safe load and pushed the
on/off button until the computer shut down.
So far all my effort to boot failed. Have no power to keyboard and mouse.

Regards,

Ront

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I downloaded on my laptop a boot file to a CD which showed the boot menu
on my problem computer but I could not select the proper heading since my keyboard
is not working.

RONT38,
Hello… If you can “boot” into The “BIOS” Menu. You should be able to use the “Arrow Keys” to select The HD you want, and then hit Enter (No Mouse or other keys Involved)… If your using a “Wireless ” keyboard and Mouse you could try to use a “hardwired” keyboard… As far as i know with my Vista… i have the “recovery disks” Purchased after my “homemade” ones either failed (or got lost )…Or… if your PC came with a recovery partition, on my OS you would hit F-11 to enter the recovery choices when the system was booting. Regards Fred

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Thanks, Fred

See my comments to Ted.

Regards,

Ront

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Thanks Ted,
All good suggestions. I’ve purchased Win7 upgrade, downloaded a Vista Recovery CD, but to no avail could I boot up.
My big problems are that I have no power going to the PS2 keyboard and no power to my USB mouse. Even if I had the BIOS on my screen,
I could not maneuver the cursor to where I need to without power to the keyboard.
My next try is to see a friend who has a working floppy drive and hopefully I can download a DOS Recovery disk and try that.

Regards, Ront

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Have you tried the mouse in a different USB port?

Can you borrow a USB keyboard from someone?

Joe

--Joe

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Joe,

The mouse fired right up using it on my laptop, which I use right now to write to you and did the downloads.

Thanks,
Ront

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Here is a long shot…..
Unplug the computer.
Unplug the mouse and keyboard.
Hold the computer “power on” button for about 60 seconds.
Plug everything back in and see what happens.

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Hi, tfspry

Did what you suggested. No good news. The system is running with the Floppy drive (light on). No sign of HD doing anything.

Thanks for helping.

Ront38

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By the time you see a boot menu a lot has already happened on the PC. Have you tried getting into the BIOS?

If you know which key to press to get into the BIOS, try pressing that immediately after pushing the power button. You may have to press the key repeatedly.

Joe

--Joe

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Are we sure there was not a hardware failure during this abnormal shutdown. It does not make sense that the keyboard (ps2 I believe) will not work to allow access to the BIOS. I might try a different keyboard (either borrow or buy, they are pretty cheap) You do not need a mouse to get into and use the BIOS. A keyboard will do.

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Ted,
I reckon that since the USB receptacles did not power my mouse, even though I tested it and found good on my laptop, a USB keyboard would not work there either.
I’ll pursue tomorrow to get a DOS floppy and see if something good come out of.

Thanks,

Ront38

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See if you can get into BIOS (may have to use a ps2 keyboard) and make sure legacy USB is enabled. If you don’t have a PS2 keyboard, try removing the CMOS battery for 30 minutes or so to reset the BIOS.

Jerry

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Jerry,
Jerry,
Can you give me a hint where the CMOS battery is most likely located and what shape would it be i.e. round, square etc.
The keyboard I use is a PS2 one.
Thanks,

ront38

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Can you give me a hint where the CMOS battery is most likely located and what shape would it be i.e. round, square etc.

RONT38,
Hello…Just thought that you could use this…
Regards Fred

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Thanks, Fred,

That picture helped and I could locate the battery right of way. Now, since I have the Boot Menu, I still need help how to proceed from there.
See my words to Jerry.

Thanks,

ront38

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That picture helped and I could locate the battery right of way. Now, since I have the Boot Menu, I still need help how to proceed from there.

RONT38,
Hello… Once you have the “Boot Menu” select the hard drive that you want to boot from,using the “updown arrows” to maneuver to it … then hit enter , and see what happens …Sometimes the PC will boot up … IF not you need to enter “BIOS” configure (set up) and make sure of your boot order… EX: Usually set up this way
1. floppy group
2. CD DVD group
3. hard drive group
Or something close (wording wise) . If all is well you should be able to boot from a CDDVD at this point.. :cheers: Regards Fred

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Go to Google Images address below to see CMOS batteries on motherboards and you will find an image that may help.

http://www.google.com/search?um=1&hl=en&biw=832&bih=499&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=motherboard+cmos+battery&oq=motherboard+cmos+battery&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=298978l316499l0l30l29l4l6l7l4l303l3574l0.9.8.1

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Jerry,

Removing the CMOS battery did the trick. Now I have the Boot Menu on the screen, saying “Select a Boot First Device”.
Removable- floppy disk, Hard disk-Sata3, Sata5, CDRom-1st Master, Sata6.
If I accept all as is, then I get the message “Operating sytem missing”.
I would like to get my Vista back and then upgrade to Win7. Don’t want to lose my files.
At this time I don’t know how to proceed. I’m happy to have the keyboard and mouse working again.
I’m waiting for some coaching from you all who helped me along. Thank you very much.

Regards,

ront38

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The BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is in charge of the computer until the operating system (such as Windows) takes over. If the keyboard is not seen by the BIOS, then the BIOS may stop and ask you to respond to a prompt (which is hard to do if the keyboard is not functioning). If your keyboard is not functioning, especially a USB keyboard, a basic system setup option may be corrupted. (BIOS typically don’t support a mouse, as all entries can be made using a keyboard.)

First connect a keyboard directly to the keyboard plug on your computer, and try to get into the BIOS setup. The key required could be Delete, Esc(ape), F2, F1, F11… The initial boot screens should tell you what the key is. If this works and the USB keyboard doesn’t, either the BIOS USB parameters are corrupt, or the USB or keyboard are dead. (Have you tried the USB keyboard on another system?)

BIOS settings that are necessary to provide information about your system are stored in a CMOS memory, which requires a voltage source to retain the information. When the computer is off, a battery (typically a larger round watch style battery) is used to provide the necessary supply. The CMOS battery may be dead or dying. A dying battery can corrupt CMOS contents, a dead battery may cause a prompt or warning which may be overwritten before you notice it. Most computers have a socket allowing easy replacement of the CMOS battery, although I had a older one with a soldered battery. Replacement batteries are typically the same as those used in watches.

Even though you unplugged the computer and pressed the power button for a long period of time, the CMOS backup battery would prevent the CMOS from being reset.

Your motherboard may have a pair of jumpers (posts with a removable or movable “jumper”) that can be changed to a “reset CMOS” position, then returned to normal position. Look up your computer manufacturer or mother board manufacturer in the internet and search support or download the appropriate manual (you may have to download several to find the right one).

Once you get into the BIOS setup screens, you can change any options such as boot order, displaying boot details or a picture, whether to do a complete or quick POST (Power on self test), possibly some USB settings. (I have two original memory boards that pass various diagnostics. Running a compete POST discovered memory errors in them, but not the newer ones I bought to expand the memory. Normally you want to do a quick POST.)

I have my BIOS boot order as CD-ROM (or DVD), Disk. (I don’t have floppy drives. If I did I would have that between CD-ROM and Disk.) In the event of system failure and other times I use a LINUX bootable CD-ROM or DVD (that can be downloaded from the internet and written to the CD or DVD). (e.g. to make whole disk or partition backups using “dd”). The LINUX tools available for system repair could take up a book, but thie first things I would try would be a partition manager, such as partimage or gparted. If you can’t get to the BIOS setup screens, then you won’t be able to change the boot order.

Good luck

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Thank you Leland, for your detailed help on my problem.
To enlighten you of what I did so far (with the help of many of this Win Secrets Lounge) is as follows:
I did remove and reinstall the CMOS battery which enabled to get power back to my PS2 keyboard and my USB mouse.
I am able to boot to the Boot Menu via F8 during start up.
I selected the CD Rom to boot from, having the Win7 upgrade disk in place (even though I have Vista as the OS), hoping the disk would fix any errors, to no avail.
Next, I tried to boot from the HD ( having 2 partitions on it). On one partition, I got the message “Invalid Partition Table” and on the 2nd partition it says “Missing OS”
At this point, I thought that I need the Vista OS CD to correct the errors which I have ordered and are waiting any day for its arrival. This decision was echoed also by Fred earlier. How long will a CMOS battery last ? Mine is about 5 years in there.

Thanks, I appreciate all your help.

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The CMOS battery is a button (circular) battery and should be located somewhere around the perimeter of the motherboard. If you have a PS2 keyboard, you should be able to get into BIOS. Look for an on screen message at the start of boot to tell you what key to press tog et into BIOS (or setup). What is the vendor of your motherboard?

Jerry

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In addition to Fred’s excellent advice, IN BIOS there may be the option to select which hard drive to boot from if you have more than one.
In my BIOS its called Hard Disk Boot Priority.

Jerry

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I followed all your suggestions, but couldn’t boot from the hard disk. I inserted my new Win7 upgrade disk and it did load and prepare for the installation.
When I selected “upgrade” it said that I needed to have the Vista OS running in order to keep all my settings/programs and files, otherwise I could do a fresh install
and lose all the aforementioned. Unfortunately, I don’t have my Vista OS disk anymore. It means I need to buy one ?.

Thanks,

ront

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Unfortunately, I don’t have my Vista OS disk anymore. It means I need to buy one ?.

RONT38,
Hello… No …you can do a “Clean Install” http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-7/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media and you will end up with a folder called “Windows Old” and you can copy your “Vista Programs” over… There are many threads on this forum about this …Just do an “Advanced Search”…:cheers: Regards Fred

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Hello,

My Vista disk arrived and low behold I had the same problems as with the Win7 upgrade disk. Vista did not do a repair, nor could it find my installed Vista.
A clean install as outlined at the http://www.winsupersite.com/article/…-upgrade-media will be my ultimate method, but before that I must recover my data
first. Since I don’t have a backup in my possession, I ordered a USB adapter cable, take my HD out, connect to my laptop and transfer data that way.
Now, if I lose something during clean install, at least I have all my files and programs saved in my laptop.
Lesson learned: Backup your data and follow the instruction on the screen.
Thanks for all your great input .

ront

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Hi ront,

If you want to preserve all your settings and programs as well as your user files, then you must begin a Windows 7 upgrade install from within Windows Vista (called an in place upgrade).

If you do a Custom install (same as clean install) following the winsupersite.com method Fred mentioned, you will be booting from your Windows 7 upgrade disk rather than from within your Vista installation. Doing the Custom install will move all your Vista installation to the Windows.old folder, but copying your programs from Windows.old to Windows 7 will not make them useable. Your programs will need to be reinstalled on Windows 7, not copied to it. You can copy all your user files from Windows.old to your new Windows 7 installation.

There is a large advantage in going the Custom install route rather than the in place upgrade route. In an in place upgrade (upgrading from within Vista), any weakness or problems in your Vista installation will be transferred over to Windows 7, and may cause some serious instability. Many who experienced troublesome issues when they upgraded from Vista to Windows 7 used the in place upgrade method. The Custom install enables one to start with a fresh, clean install of Windows 7, avoiding any underlying problems in the old Vista install. The Custom install is better to ensure the most trouble free Windows 7 experience, and offers a good payoff for the extra time invested.

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Hello,

I tried any which way to install Win7. At the upgrade Window it ask me to remove the Win7 installation disk and start Windows normally to bring in the vista OS.
Well, that’s my problem to begin with. I can’t recover to Vista. Tried to boot from my HD. I have 2 partitions on my HD. Either one does not bring back Vista.
I tried to do the Start Up Repair from the Win7 disk to no avail.
When I select the Custom Install, then I get an Error Message: “Windows installation encountered an unexpected error, code 0x0000100”
It looks to me like I have to have the Vista OS disk to fix errors and then do the Win7 upgrade.
I appreciate all your help.

Thanks,

Ront

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Vista.

When I select the Custom Install, then I get an Error Message: “Windows installation encountered an unexpected error, code 0x0000100”
It looks to me like I have to have the Vista OS disk to fix errors and then do the Win7 upgrade.

RONT,
Hello… yes i agree … I doing a search about error code “0X0000100” i didn’t find much but thought that you might be interested in this …Guess the best thing you can do is as you have said…. try to find a Vista disk . Sorry that i couldn’t be of more help :cheers: Regards Fred

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I had the same problem on my Vista Gateway machine. A member named Jerry told me to remove the battery on my motherboard (very carefully), then hold in the power switch for 10 secs. This reset the BIOS and I was then able to boot into Windows. Most motherboards also have BIOS reset jumpers (mine are near the battery) however I was afraid to mess around with them, so removing the battery did the same thing. Hope this helps.

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Hello,
Yes, I did also follow Jerry’s advice to take out the CMOS battery, but I did not hold the power button for 10 sec.
My system is still down, waiting to receive my ordered Vista OS disk, hoping to fix the errors with it.
In the mean time I could try your suggestion again.
I’ll keep you all informed when and how I was successful or not.
Thanks to all,

ront

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Bash Win 7 as much as you want, but most people that have switched feel it is the best OS ever, period. If you like linux so much then great, spend your time there. I did try linux for several months and had too many problems getting software and peripherals working properly and finally gave up. I enjoy being able to plug something in and it just works. I did not miss the problem. I agree that Vista was a half baked effort to create Win 7. You want to talk about too many “cooks”, there are more “cooks” in any Linux Distro than any other OS out there, and more different Linux Distros than any OS out there. And even the various distros work differently from each other. OMG talk about diversity!

So go ahead and keep bashing Win 7 and keep using Linux. We will continue to use our OS and enjoy it’s various strengths!

Sorry for the off topic rant, but I just had to answer post 32

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Ron, Realize that when you do the clean install you will have to reinstall your apps as well. This is a great time to see if there are updates to the apps. You data should be able to be used by the reinstalled apps. Your link did not seem to work for me. This seems to be a good linkto the article you referenced. A Google searchshows many sites discussing this install method.

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Hi All,
Now that I have the proper file transfer cables hooked up between my HD of my desktop and to the USB port on my laptop. In “My Computer” one of the drives shows up, but
it ask me to Format that drive to be used. Obviously, that’s not what I want. I need to get my files off it, before or if I need to Format later to install my OS again.
I have two HD’s in my desktop and the other one does not even show up when connected to my laptop. My HD’s are both WD4000AAKS-00TMAO, caviar SE16.
The transfer cable Mfg indicated that I may need a 3rd party utility in order to make the transfer of data work.
Do you some thoughts/ recommendations on this ?

Thanks,

ront

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Hi All,
Now that I have the proper file transfer cables hooked up between my HD of my desktop and to the USB port on my laptop. In “My Computer” one of the drives shows up,
I have two HD’s in my desktop and the other one does not even show up when connected to my laptop.

ront,
Hello… On your “Laptop” go to Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Disk Management…Look to see if there is a “Hard Drive” that has no “Letter Assignment” If there is, assign one to it …then it should show up in (My Computer):cheers: Regards Fred

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Fred,
You’re so right about your suggestion. Now, I did assign drive letters, one to HD (1) which has 2 partitions. I selected 1 of the 2 partitions and when I clicked on it
in “My Computer” the drive showed empty. The 2. partition which is the largest said ” unallocated” in the “computer management window”.
The other HD (2) said that I need to format it before I can use it. Also, it is listed as RAW, instead of NTFS
I have no clue how to get to my data on my HD’s. Sorry for the “hand holding”, but I’d never done this before.

Thanks for your help.

Ront

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“My Computer” the drive showed empty. The 2. partition which is the largest said ” unallocated” in the “computer management window”.
The other HD (2) said that I need to format it before I can use it. Also, it is listed as RAW, instead of NTFS

RONT,
Hello.. I’m not familiar with a Hard Drive being formatted “RAW” Thought that was for Pictures? Did you mean FAT32 ? If so see this link NTFS could you post a screen shot of your Hard Drive layout? Regards Fred:cheers:

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Hello Fred,

Sorry, I have captured a screen shot of my HD’s, but don’t know how to get it to this Forum ( in to this space).
Maybe you can help again.

Thanks,

Ront

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Hello Fred,

Sorry, I have captured a screen shot of my HD’s, but don’t know how to get it to this Forum ( in to this space).

ront,
Hello… Go to “Advanced”( When replying) then “Manage Attachments” then to “Browse” (on the pop up window) Then select wherever you placed the Screenshot >click “open” on that screen > the click “Upload” on the “Browse” Pop up screen, Then click “Submit” Regards Fred

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Hello Fred,

Well, thanks for guiding me again. I hope the screen shots are readable.
You see the (2) HD’s I have. Don’t know why on the “G” HD I can’t assign another
drive letter to my second partition. The first partition said “folder is empty”.

On the second drive (H), you see the RAW description instead of NTFS.
No data out of this one either, instead it ask me to “Format” in order to be used.

Thank you for you continued help.

Ront

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You see the (2) HD’s I have. Don’t know why on the “G” HD I can’t assign another
drive letter to my second partition. The first partition said “folder is empty”.

On the second drive (H), you see the RAW description instead of NTFS.
No data out of this one either, instead it ask me to “Format” in order to be used.

ront,
Hello…On the “Unallocated” Partition you should be able to “right click” on it and Format it and then assign a letter, and choose whether you want a Primary , logical,or active setup.
As far as the RAW partition, i have no experience, and have never encountered one …A brief Web search shows that it’s used in “UNIX” and “LINUX” . The data can be recovered with some 3rd party software … but know nothing about them… How on earth did you end up with a “RAW” partition?….:cheers: Regards Fred

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Hello Fred,
Thank you for your research and explanations to my problems. My desktop was home build by my Grandson at age 15. He ordered the parts (no cheap ones) and I just watched him assemble it and he did all the software installations. The machine worked great until I screwed it up.
I do see him next week for his HS Grad. and hope he can help remedy my problems. I keep you all posted.
Thanks for your help and thanks to all who contributed.

Regards,

Ront

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Hello All,

I wonder if Microsoft knows about the problem one encounters when one is in “Safe Mode” and the power to the computer goes out. At this point one cannot
simply reboot to the OS. You’re is in a heap of trouble to save your data from your HD and may have to reinstall your OS.
It happened to me at my own peril, but it could happen to no fault to anyone.

Regards,

Ront

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