Factory Vist 64 install faulty!!!

Ok so I just got a p6860-fx refurb from Tigerdirect. Here's the problem:

After picking my username, password, and default desktop the system loaded Vista 64 for the first time. Typing in my password I got the error message "Your user profile was not loaded correctly".

I restarted in safe mode which loaded without a username or password. I tried to repair the profile both in control panel and through regedit before doing anything harsh but no luck. The system would not even start regedit. I enabled the Administrator profile and restarted the system. I was able to get into Vista but again regedit wouldn't start. I couldn't make any changes to user profiles or anything and I noticed there were no images availible for profiles, etc. I kept getting a balloon notification that the user profile didn't load correctly. DUH!

Anyway, In administrator mode I was able to get in and burn the recovery DVD no prob.

-repair vista boot option, no luck

-gateway vista 64 diagnostic then recovery partition, no luck

-gateway recovery disk, no luck

-window os intallation disk, worked great. I kept the recovery partition and disks of course. Got the drivers from the Gateway website (and here) and everything works great.

Now the problem is that they provided a 32-bit Windows Vista installation disk so I'm running Vista x86. I paid for Vista 64 and that's what I want on this laptop. What do you suggest I do?

 

Quick update:

I contacted Gateway support through chat and explained all of the above. They are going to be sending me a their Vista 64bit recovery disk in the mail.

My new question is has anyone used on of these Gateway recovery disks and how well do they work?

 

they work just fine, you will need the drivers dvd you made from the GRC

 

What driver disk are you referring to?

 

The one you make as part of your system recovery. The one made through the Gateway Recovery Center. Should have been one of the first steps you took when setting up your computer.

Speaking of the 64bit install being faulty.
I ran into a problem when reinstalling my OS. I wanted to set up RAID on my machine in preperation for the x9000 install (which went beautifully btw and i'm loving the CPU) My 64 bit install is only recognizing 3 of my 4gigs of memory. It reads 4 gigs in the start up and 4gigs in the System Information screen, but most of my apps and windows itself is only using 3072mb of RAM. Its not really a problem as its rare to use 4gb, but i would like my 1gb back because it does make the system a bit snappier due to being able to load more often used apps on RAM.
(and yes i did install the 64bit OS and not the 32bit OS, i did another full reinstall just to make sure)

 

I never made any system recovery yet. Im still setting it up and once I get it all 100% set I was going to make an image with Acronis and store that for recovery.

I dont recall being prompted to do anything either......

Hmm...I will need to investigate this.

Thx for the info.

 

PS where did you get your x9000? Im looking to upgrade the CPU and cant find the X9xxx series anywhere

 

Making an Acronis Image will work as well, but its alot easier to just make a driver disk and normal back ups (get the best of both worlds that way)

As to being prompted... nope your not going to. Its in the owners manual. I know most of us dont read the owners manual, but its a pretty nifty book if you discount the typos and misinformation.

Basically hit the windows key and type gateway recovery, and then follow the instructions to make back up drivers/apps

Got mine off Ebay from an Ozzy for 384 shipped, thats where most people get them as they weren't a retail chip so finding them otherwise for less than 800+ is a bit difficult