Windows failing to start up after automatic update

So, starting yesterday, I've met this new problem on my computer.
Windows loads up and it's on the screen with the green bar on the black background but after about 3 seconds, the screen turns blue with some text on it for about half a second and automatically restarts the computer and then process keeps repeating.
I do get this "Windows failed to start up because of a change in software/hardware" message with the choices of starting in safe mode, with networking, start normally, etc. But none of those work.

The only solution for me to revive my computer is to insert the OS disc and use the repair OS tool which basically just does a system restore.

So after I got it all worked out yesterday, I wondered what could've caused this to happen. I didn't modify any hardware or software recently other than finally getting the microsoft bluetooth 5000 mouse and halo 2. Both of which I doubt caused windows to screw up.

And then the windows failing to start thing happened again. This time, I was able to restore the system to the last major change which was an update from microsoft from the automatic update.

So this lead me to believe that it was this update that caused the problem, but I couldn't confirm it. I did remember how I just updated my computer but I still wasn't sure about it.. UNTIl just a few minutes ago.

So I turned on my computer and the "Installing update x out of 6" welcome screen showed up and guess what? after the last update was installed my computer restarted by itself and the window has failed to start screen showed up again.

So now, after the 3rd system restore, I've turned off automatic updates.

Anyone else experience this?

 

I've had to turn off automatic updates auto-downloading as well, it seems if it downloads something while my sound card is being used my PC will freeze and the sound card will continuously beep.

 

I'm having the same exact problem. I haven't found a solution so i'm putting off downloading the updates.

Also, I can verify that it is caused by the updates because I have restarted my computer with no problems but then tried to install the updates while restarting and get the problem.

 

lol is that the update from january 8-10? i had 6 updates all installed fine. but i think im going 2 turn off automatic updates for now. sounds like bad updates

 

There was a manual update (November last year?) that caused my computer to fail to load a driver at startup, requiring me to repair install. So there are definitely things that can go wrong with Windows Update, though I wouldn't shy away from it because of a single experience.

 

Ahh..the horror of vista...
I can't wait until SP1 comes out...

Here's an update on my situation:
No problems now. Since updates are turned off.

I am very sure that it was the update that was causing windows to fail

 

Freelancer---i was readiing your thread because it sounded similar to my problem. Do you have comodo installed? If so update it to the new version
and try installing your updates. Hope it works.

See this thread post#187
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2865792#post2865792

 

Sillyman,
Comodo? I don't have that installed. The only firewall I'm using right now is windows firewall

 

Sorry!! Worth a try I thought.

 

Welcome to our world ( see here).

Interesting that you also have an M1330 giving the BSOD with error 0x7B - unable to access Hard Disk!!! I think the 6 updates posted by MS on 8th Jan are conflicting big time with a Dell driver.

The only way around it (apart from uninstalling those updates) is to do a shutdown followed by powering up again - for some strange reason soft restarts result in the BSOD after 3 seconds of Vista booting, power cycling doesn't exhibit the problem!

Please note that I did a fresh re-install of Vista followed by Windows Updating itself with 48 updates and it still did it so it has nothing to do with your own software that you have installed.

 

I was using Comodo and I updated it but the problem was not fixed.

 

I see...dell driver and microsoft update conflict...ergh...

I'll be waiting for the next update and hopefully that won't have any problems, until then, I'll just keep the auto update thing off

 

I have been using Windows Vista since it was released for RTM. I never really have any problems with the OS. Only thing I have is some programs incompatiblity such as Nero 6, but I use Vista buildin CD\DVD burner engine.

I think the OS is great! Am I missing something here? I am about to replace XP with Vista at my work. We have 1500+ desktops here.

 

Merlin,

Yeah, Vista is great, I've run into only two incompatibilities with it so far.
Nero 6, as you mentioned.

And this dell driver/vista update incompatibility, which is what thsi thread is about

But other than that, I love vista can't wait for SP1

 

What driver you have problem with? We got practically the same machine, and I have automatic update turn on. I never get a blue screen.

 

I actually don't know what driver is causing the problem --football said that the problem was with a driver and the update.

 

btw noticed its only or mostly on dells.

 

I'm just guessing that the problem must be a driver issue, it seems to be Dells that are mainly affected, some other non-Dell users have had other side effects with these latest updates such as the fact that they won't successfully install.

However, some GOOD NEWS - I've just finished installing SP1 RC during which there were several restarts that failed, but once it got near the end of these the restarts started being successful so I'm happy to say that with SP1 RC there are no restart BSODs on my M1330 If there was a driver issue with Warm Starts (Cold Starts were strangely OK) then SP1 RC makes the driver OK again!

 

That's good to hear. I'll be waiting for the official SP1 though

 

i have the same prob. i installed a dell touchpad driver and the message of windows failing to start came up...dunno if I should do a system restore.
When I put in the OS cd it starts to say install. should i wait for it for something like repair to come up? what happens when i install the cd? I'm not tech friendly so...