Repair Query

Have a Vista Ultimate laptop upgraded from XP. Worked flawlessly for more
than a year until the security center service failed to start. Locked out of
just about everything although when logged on as administrator when booted to
safemode with networking internet access and some functions are allowed.
Cannot start this service. Never created an image.... believe one restore
point was created but the repair option revealed none.
Wiping the machine would be the simplest thing to do but I wanted this to be
a learning experience. I've heard much about powershell and other features
and seek guidance on my options in this case. Guidance sought.

"Maurice" wrote in message

> Have a Vista Ultimate laptop upgraded from XP. Worked flawlessly for more
> than a year until the security center service failed to start. Locked out
> of
> just about everything although when logged on as administrator when booted
> to
> safemode with networking internet access and some functions are allowed.
> Cannot start this service. Never created an image.... believe one restore
> point was created but the repair option revealed none.
> Wiping the machine would be the simplest thing to do but I wanted this to
> be
> a learning experience. I've heard much about powershell and other
> features
> and seek guidance on my options in this case. Guidance sought.

Hi Maurice--

This is one set of steps that may help from the wise and presient Jimmah who
used to help here all the time:

[URL="http://www.jimmah.com/vista/Administration/locked_out_of_admin.aspx"]http://www.jimmah.com/vista/Administration/locked_out_of_admin.aspx[/URL]

If this fails, try repairing your Vista following these steps when needed
in order of what to try first:

If you don't have a Vista DVD use the first link to make a Startup Repair
DVD with the bits from MSFT:

Download Vista Repair Disk
[URL="http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/"]http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/[/URL]

1) First try 3 options from Startup Repair. If you have a Vista DVD then
restart with it in the drive>press any key to boot from it and run Startup
Repair. From Startup Repair you have 3 good tools with an excellent chance
of fixing your system. If you don't have a Vista DVD from which to boot to
Startup Repair, no problem, Download the .iso from the link below and
burn it, and you'll have the Microsoft Vista Repair Disk with Startup
Repair.

Download Vista Repair Disk
[URL="http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/"]http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/[/URL]

How to Use Startup Repair from the Vista DVD or the Repair Disk you make:

[URL="http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial142.html"]http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial142.html[/URL]

[URL="http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx"]http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx[/URL]

2) If Startup Repair does not get your Vista back, then use the 3 bootrec
commands from the command prompt available on the Statup Repair Menu:

The menu I refer to is in this set of directions with a grey background.

[URL="http://vistahomepremium.windowsreinstall.com/repairstartup/repairstartup.htm"]http://vistahomepremium.windowsreinstall.com/repairstartup/repairstartup.htm[/URL]

Those are:

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /rebuild BCD

3) If my second option doesn't work, then try System restore from the
Startup Repair list.

4) If by rare chance you have an actual Vista DVD, you can put it in, boot
from it>choose the Upgrade Option>choose your current broken Vista Drive and
try to do a repair install with the Vista DVD.

How To Perform a Repair Installation For Vista
[URL="http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html"]http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html[/URL]

5) If the above 3 tools don't work, then use the 4 tools available by
restarting your pc and tapping F8 once per second to get to the Windows
Advanced Options Menu.

From this menu click on 3 Safe Mode links to use System Restore. Make sure
you try all 3 if one doesn't work, because just one of them may work.
Tap F8 to Reach Windows Advanced Options Menu Pictured Below:

[URL="http://media.photobucket.com/image/vista%20windows%20advanced%20options%20menu/indyank/techbliss/Vista-Advanced-Boot-Options.jpg"]http://media.photobucket.com/image/vista%20windows%20advanced%20options%20menu/indyank/techbliss/Vista-Advanced-Boot-Options.jpg[/URL]

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command: At the prompt you would type the command to use
forsystem restore at the safe mode cmd prompt is:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

If these 3 tools don't work, you have one more you can try which is Last
Known Good Configuration.

Good luck,

CH