Member Avatar for meksikatsi

All I did was let Windows update install SP1. I get the box:

Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically.

I'm now doing a full system recover...thank goodness this was a new computer! So, do I prevent the thing from doing a Windows update? How do you take care of Vista when it crashes when doing a "security and bug update"?

Or do I just go backwards and install XP on this thing?

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Short version for : this was a known pain with some of the early Vista SP1 installs but there are concrete recovery paths you can try before a full reinstall or downgrading to XP. Microsoft documented uninstall/repair options for Vista service packs, and several reputable writeups show the Control Panel uninstall method for SP1 (the service‑pack package is KB936330). (learn.microsoft.com)

Try these in order (fastest to more invasive): follow and use F8 → Last Known Good Configuration; if that fails, boot to Safe Mode and run System Restore. If you cannot boot, boot from your Vista DVD (or recovery media), choose Repair your computer → System Restore. From the Recovery Command Prompt you can also run disk and boot repairs such as: 

chkdsk C: /r
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuildbcd

These are standard WinRE steps when automatic repair doesn't recover the system. (lifewire.com)

If you believe SP1 itself broke things but Windows won’t start, look (from the Recovery Command Prompt or by mounting the drive on another PC) for rollback folders under C:\Windows like $NtServicePackUninstall$ or $NtUninstallKBxxxxx$ and run the packaged spuninst\spuninst.exe if present. If those folders are gone (Disk Cleanup, the SP cleanup tool, or an integrated image can remove them) you generally cannot reliably undo the service pack. Also note the SP1 cleanup tool vsp1cln permanently removes the uninstall data — don’t run it if you want the option to roll back. (daniweb.com)

Backup personal files first (remove the drive and copy data if needed). Because this is a new machine, the OEM recovery partition or recovery discs are often the fastest route — call the manufacturer if unsure. A repair (in-place) install from a Vista DVD is possible and can preserve programs/data but has SP‑level constraints; if that’s not acceptable a clean reinstall (or an XP install, if preferred) is the final fallback.

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Member Avatar for OlyComputers

First off, did you try the "return to last good settings" option when you hit f8 during start?

Usually update issues like that are a fluke and reinstalling will the OS will keep it from happening again, but XP isn't a terrible idea. A lot of people still prefer XP over vista and if you take that route you can always reinsall Vista later if you choose, since your Key is still valid.

Member Avatar for zeroth

I you google Vista SP1 you'll find that a lot of folks have this problem. I would hold off on updating SP1 until MS issues an OK on it!

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