Shut down problems - recent reinstall of Vista and updates...

Hi All,

I've just recovered from a total OS crash a couple of weeks ago. I'll spare you the details, but essentially for no reason (the night an MBA assignment was due of course) Vista, because of a Boot Manager issue/corrupt BCD file, would NOT boot. It wouldn't repair either. I was left, after 1.5 hours with Dell support coming up with nothing, to remove my hard drive, put it into my boyfriend's macook by removing his hard drive (OH the irony!), connect to my old desktop via Firewire and grab all my files. I then wiped it all clean and reinstalled Vista and ALL the fun that goes with that (drivers etc).

Now that I have everything back up and running (and have done an Acronis PC image backup), but I am experiencing a number of weird computer issues I never had before, and I think they are related to recent Automatic Updates. First off, when I choose SHUT DOWN, it just sits there on that Vista screen saying "Shutting Down" but never (after 35mins I give up and force-quit it) actually shuts down. Also, it will not recognize hardware items I plug in - things like a USB key or my external hard drive that plugs in via USB. It's also having more "this program failed to start" errors and other little wonky goof ups.

1) Has anyone else experienced this?
2) Are there known "bad" auto updates? I always read each one before installing but didn't see anything wrong with them. Prior to my system crash, I had a number of updates I hadn't installed that I DID install AFTER reinstalling Vista.

Help me love my Dell again. It's not it's fault that Vista is being sucky, but I'm starting to get frustrated.

TIA
Kristina

 

Oh, wow. Deja vu. I did the exact same thing just a few days ago (except the first bit about boot problems)! LOL

I re-installed Windows, and ran all the updates. I had to let it sit for about 1hr before it would shut down. Then it kept trying to install the same set of 27 or so updates, and failing on most of them. Then all flash drives except my Cruzer Titanium which I had been using during the whole process stopped working in it. It was bogus.

I am almost positive it was related to Windows Automatic Updates. Anyway, I just re-installed again (it was pretty easy with the Dell Factory Image Restore). This time, all the updates installed in one go, and I've had no problems since. In fact, I am so confident that I deleted the Dell Factory Partition. (I'm trying to install Ubuntu on it!)

So anyway, I think there was just something gone wrong with that set of updates, but it's working now...

Anyway, I hope you get it working!

 

It doesnt look like the updates fault.

Check the softwares you have installed, i had this experience when i had an 'incompatible' software installedd and it kept shutting everything down saying something error it needs to be closed or something like that.

Are you sure your image of vista is in good condition? Maybe you should do a clean install from the cd dell included with the laptop, then put your files on to the computer.

 

Thanks for the replies so far. I should be clear, I did not reinstall from a PC Image backup. I just completely reinstalled Windows from scratch using the CDs Dell provided with my system. I installed all the drivers too from the Dell disks.

Last night I installed one update and it took FOREVER and now crap like my USB plugs and my card reader won't work. So I think I've sort of answered my own question.

I REALLY don't want to redo the whole OS again. I've never uninstalled an automatic update but sounds like I may just try to do that (if it's possible) and try again. It's hard to keep my head up with the taunting of my BF and his allmighty and ever stable Macbook (running leopard).

Groan...

Kristina

 

Do you have the Dell partition on there? It's easier than doing the whole disk. You just hit F8 at the Dell logo screen and choose to repair the computer with the Dell factory image.

At any rate, I think there was some problem with the updates, as I had the exact same problem with the updates and the USB. My second re-install just fixed it, and I had a new computer in a couple hours.

 

i am currently having this exact problem with my dell laptop

could u tell me the best way to go about fixing it