Ugly problems with Vista

Get this: i installed Vista on my computer. then i searched for updates and found about 70. i installed them all and then vista updater found the service pack 1! vista downloaded that SP and then told me

considering that, whats the best way to install vista?
1. install the SP1 manually first, then the rest of the updates
2. let windows install everything for itself

also i had these problems, i didn't had before:
1. can't call the task manager
2. can't shut down some processes (eg. Emule)
3. can't shut down pc!!
4. Internet connection broke down to ~3 kb/s

lord help me!!

Did you install from a disc with SP1 already slipstreamed into the Vista installation? Was it an OEM disc or Retail?

the SP was downloaded from MS here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b0c7136d-5ebb-413b-89c9-cb3d06d12674&DisplayLang=en
that's simply because there is no vista disk with SP1 embedded yet.

my question now is: will these (probably driver) problems be resolved when i re-install vista using the windows updater like described above instead of manually installing the SP1

Overall best solution: Linux. (or wincrap xp)

dude, i asked some questions about vista, and not for your opinion what's the best OS... and i never ever ever install linux on my pc.

Try downloading SP1 and see if that works. I suspect it will fail totally, at which point it might be best to buy Vista with SP1 (which is now available) and reformat and install.

hey listen, if you don't wanna help me, then it's ok, so just don't post here anymore please.

He wasn't helping?

Sounds like he was.

he was fooling me.
now is here anybody who can 'really' help me with this?

Did you buy this or get it off eMule?

You seem to have an awful lot of problems with it, is all - stuff that I've never had in 18 months of using it.

i legaly downloaded it from MSDN

Vista? (chuckles)

As I said, its extremely doubtful whether you'll be able to get SP1 installed now - even if you try and do a voodoo dance whilst reciting the Macavity poem backwards. Hence the need to buy a new copy.


Preview version ?

Most of what is included in SP1 has already been pushed out as hotfixes via Windows Update, so it may be that there IS no need to install the Service Pack as you may be already up to date.

Check Properties on My Computer tells you about which Windows edition it thinks you currently have.

As to your other problems, I have no clue other than it sounds like either a virus or eMule is stealing all your resources. I'd get rid of that junk first of all to see what happens.

Recommending to buy another copy of Vista is just nonsense. There's absolutely no point in buying a Vista SP1 pack if you legally own Vista. Just patch it up.

And for information purposes for those who don't know. MSDN is an official Microsoft Subscription based system, it can cover every single product they have ever made depending on the subscription you buy from them. It's not just for beta stuff.

Also, speaking as a Redhat Certified Engineer and someone who's day job is developing commercial software on Linux based systems, can I just say that Linux is generally even more of a major ball-ache than Windows (on the desktop at least), so let's cut the Linux zealotry a bit shall we? It's not helpful.

Muttley

Well, if he wants to spend time trying to solve the problem he can. Or just do the simple thing and re-install Vista.

run 'winver.exe', does it show SP1 as already installed, or not?

You cannot 'slipstream' a Vista installation CD (yet), so the only option is to first install Vista and then install SP1 - preferably manually, if you have the file.

With those problems on a machine, I'd re-install the OS from scratch. You could also try a manual installation of SP1 first; maybe it'll work (but probably not). Try emptying C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download before you run Windows Update.

I have a vista installation DVD with SP 1, so it is available. Check winver and ensure wheter it has been installed or not. Maybe it was really not needed becouse it is a sumative update.

From the problems you are describing, I would recommend a reinstallation. Grab a DVD with SP1 integrated if you can (they do exist, and are more common than the non-SP1 discs) - you can even order them cheaply from Microsoft (you will need your valid key though!).

as i told above, i installed vista 2-3 days ago and installed the SP1 first, then the rest. and the SP is really installed. So re-installing everything would cause exactly the same problems.
also emule was just an example of an app that can't be shut down via task manager.

So anywayz, when i re-install vista, what can i _change_ to avoid these problems?


a month ago, these problems weren't there...
i installed all updates before the release of the SP1. and after it was released, i installed it by manually downloading it. then, these problems weren't there...

I'm not sure, but if you did installed the updates by hand, I would leave the automatic updater make its job. Maybe you installed an update you shouldn't. Also, check if you have this one: KB947562 This one seems to fix a lot of compatibility problems that appeared just after the SP1 was released.

great, except that i can't install it. i get an error msg.
translated to english: "The installation experienced an error 0xBlah. Illegal data."

Apologies, I was speed-reading the thread whilst our systems were down at work.

The nominally correct procedure for installing Windows is: -

1. Download all required drivers for your system. Store them on some media available during Windows install (could be a USB stick, SD card etc).
2. Physically disconnect your internet connection.
3. Prep your HD partitions (if needed).
4. Boot the Windows DVD.
5. Install Windows.
6. Install motherboard/chipset drivers (SATA, RAID, IDE etc).
7. Shut down.
8. Connect your internet.
9. Boot.
10. Install network drivers (as downloaded from Step 1).
11. Go through the Windows Update process, which should install SP1 as a first option (I haven't been through the process, SP1 is already part of my install disc).
12. Reboot and go through Windows Update as many times as needed to install all critical updates but DO NOT install recommended audio or video drivers, you have already downloaded these from the manufacturer's website (see step 1).
13. Install audio drivers.
14. Install video card drivers.
15. Install your security software (firewall, anti-virus etc).

If you install your security software earlier in the process, it can cause issues. What issues? I don't know, I've never done it. I always install it last. Nvidia drivers, in particular, warn you to disable your anti-virus software during installation.

You may have to go through many reboots, but it's the only way I know to be sure that each stage of installation has gone smoothly and will not cause future problems.

If you still get problems after going through this procedure, something is wrong with your hardware or you have some nasty, persistent malware.

Correct, but you can now get Vista installation discs with SP1 from the factory. I recently installed Vista Ultimate using a Vista (inc. Service Pack 1) disc.

hmm. vinylpusher, i will follow your steps when installing it today or in a few days. (except that there doesnt seem to be chipset vista32 drivers for my M2N-SLI_Deluxe)

however: where can i get the vista disk with the SP1 on it? there is nothing on MSDN to download... do i have to buy it in a store or where do i get it for free? dont wanny buy anything cause i already have it...

Most likely you would have to buy it.

hm. i think i don't.
now when i install the system freshly, what shall i do?
1. install the SP1 first
2. see what auto-update brings me, but it will not install the SP1, because it thinks it's not needed..

Service Pack 1 first, and then look for any other updates.

I had similar problems after an update a few weeks back (explorer not working, hard crashes etc..)

Booted in safe mode and removed them.

--- newsflash ---
i installed vista and then downloaded ~60 updates via autoupdate. then i got to a screen where in the middle i read "Updates are beeing configured".
this screen was there forever and my pc was hanging and doing nothing. i resettet my PC and then i was not able to boot vista anymore, so i had to re-install it. this time SP1 first.

Why aren't you listening to people when they tell you to install Vista THEN Service Pack 1?

You do not need to install any updates first. All updates up to SP1 are included *in* SP1, plus some other OS fixes.

[edit] Would I be right in thinking that all of this is just another public show of your Vista hatemongering? Just been looking through your post history and its pretty clear that you hate it.

If you think Vista is so bad, just go back to XP, or Windows 3.1, or Linux.

There is a similar thing that can happen with XP where updates can not be install. As it turns out the Registry Entries of the Windows Update can get corrupted and can be repaired by re-registering the windows update dlls.

Vista can also experience this problem from what I've been reading.
http://www.instant-registry-fixes.org/vista-update-error-80070057-error-code-643-80004002/

no. i don't like bothering people to help me just to get attention on me. i really wanna stick to vista, but i do have some serious problems and i'm very glad and thankful that you guys are helping me out!

i now installed vista again and then the SP1 and the other updates. i'll keep everybody informed about everything. sorry if i made you upset about that.

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

Select "Motherboard", "SocketAM2/AM2+", "M2N-SLI Deluxe".
Now click on "Chipset" from the tree list, and scroll until you find "Vista 32" and "Vista 64".

On Vista only Raid drivers are needed (if using a RAID setup).

By the way, it's the same motherboard I am using, and I had no problems updating Vista each time and then SP1 when it came out, so for what it's worth your issues do not depend on motherboard compatibility.

Doiron, i have no raid, so as you said i dont need any motherboard drivers :)

so, i now installed all drivers and non-critical applications. when i see that this works, i will install more and more of the critical apps such as nero or daemon tools.
i suspect ZoneAlarm behind some of the troubles because back when i hadn't had these problems i was not using ZoneAlarm on vista.

i thank you all so far for the effort and i also thank vinylpusher for his "order of installing vista", which was helpful :)
thanks :)

Be aware to install only the latest versions of such programs: earlier versions of virtual drive apps often cause critical issues with the OS.

As for the firewall, I suggest you to install Vista Firewall Control, which lets your Vista standard firewall monitor outcoming and incoming connections with ease, thus making the default firewall very usable without the need of other ones.

i recently updated my whole program-installer's collection.

as for now, i am very certain that ZoneAlarm was the program that wrecked my OS. everything worked until i installed it and then nothing worked. then i uninstalled it and everything works fine.

on another opinion: i figured, that my MIC doesn't work properly under vista. when i installed soundmax, i always got this triangle shaped icon in the systemtray, where i can set my mic up, now i don't get anything and my MIC doesn't work. anybody has a clue on this?

I didn't have to install external drivers for it and it's the same motherboard you're using, so check if the peripheral is working correctly and set as default.

Go to the "control panel", "sound" and then click on the "recording" tab. From here check if the "high definition audio" microphone is there, and if so make sure to click on "set as default". Finally click on properties and check in the "general" tab if the "device usage" drop down menu is set on "use this device (enable)".

this is what i see. i don't see the "high definition audio"

I wouldn't install ZoneAlarm or any Norton products under any circumstances. Both products have caused OS problems (quite publically, on occasion) in the past.

Firewall products are generally overkill for most people. Vista's firewall is quite capable.

I'm extremely security consciouss (and clued up with regard to threat vectors) but I don't feel any need to install a 3rd-party firewall product. I grudgingly run F-Secure anti-virus, because I'm not the only user of my laptop and my girlfriend wouldn't know to not forward me dodgy malware-ridden emails.

If it were just me, my laptop, router and the internet, I'd sit behind NAT with no security software at all.

Knowing what not to click, that is the only foolproof security measure I know.

that's my current thought, too. i never run keygens on my computer. i always run them either sandboxed or on a virtual machine with no network access.

back to the mic problem:
i duno why the soundmax taskbar icon in the systemtray is not there in vista anymore. i want this menu:


in order to make the mic (hopefully) work. also i don't have a clue why the MIC doesn't work at all...

Keygens for what?

LOL

Hehe. Whoops.

Whoops. did i say that or did i just think that? can't remember anymore...
i keep myself concentrated on the mic-problem. if anyone finds a solution for that, it would be appreciable.

my motherboard: M2N-SLI Deluxe (sound on board of course)
the thing that still makes me wonder is the blue/white triangle icon in the system tray which will open that black window a few posts above. it's missing under vista. but i see it in xp... weird... i'm not able to set anything up. no wonder it doesn't work :(

edit: the mic is somehow working. it's kinda quiet tho. i'll just try changing everything and see if it works

Explains the deal with emule...

The evidence is irrefutable.

Probably the explanation for the original problem as well.

no, i did not download vista on emule.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD LEAVE ME ALONE


all problems solved. thank you. don't post here anymore.

Just all the applications that you use with it? ;)

LOL

We are just kidding with ya. Don't take it personally. ;)

;)