Is Reinstallation the Only Option?

I enjoy installing operating systems. I enjoy upgrading operating systems. I
hate reinstalling operating systems.

I'll make the story as brief as possible: during my last session in Vista,
the pump responsible for cooling my processor died. I have a temperature
monitor open at all times, so I quickly noted the rising temperature and
began to shut down. However, unbeknownst to me, Windows Update had downloaded
five updates that required rebooting to complete their installation, so as I
initiated the shut-down process, Vista faded to a screen which said very
emphatically:

Installing Updates
Please do not shut down or restart your computer.

Or something to that effect. The processor was then at 70C and rising at
0.33 degrees per second -- I knew that if I waited for these five updates to
install, it would surely severely overheat. So I forced the shut-down.

Needless to say, Vista now will not boot. It throws a 0xc000014c error about
C:\Windows\system32\config\system at me. 'Registry file is missing or
corrupt.'

At first, I tried my installation disc, a Vista Home Premium Upgrade disc,
trying to run a startup repair, but the startup repair function on that disc
insisted that I was running a different version of Windows Vista. Nonsense.
So I assumed that it being a mere 'upgrade' disc was the issue and used my
wife's Vista Ultimate disc to run a startup repair. It ran, but it did not
correct the error.

So, my first question is: Is reinstallation my only option at this point or
is there something I'm missing with the startup repair?

My second question is: Assuming I do reinstall, without reformatting, what
am I certain to lose, aside from registry entries for installed software? Are
e-mails in Windows Mail preserved?

Endless thanks for your time.

So, the reason that the Home Premium Upgrade disc's startup repair function
was telling me I'm running an incompatible version is that I've been trying
to use the 32-bit disc. I don't know how the 64-bit disc got separated from
it, but I'll be searching for it.

Another run through the startup repair on the Ultimate disc has allowed me
to now reach the Windows loading screen, hang in blackness for about twenty
seconds, and then see a quick flash of a BSoD (too quick to read anything
from) before the system restarts itself.

Trying to run the startup repair for a fourth time gives me this:

Problem Event Name: StartupRepairV2
Problem Signature 01: ExternalMedia
Problem Signature 02: 6.0.6000.16386.6.0.6000.16386
Problem Signature 03: 3
Problem Signature 04: 131074
Problem Signature 05: CorruptRegistry
Problem Signature 06: CorruptRegistry
Problem Signature 07: 3221225804
Problem Signature 08: 3
Problem Signature 09: RollbackRegistry
Problem Signature 10: 0
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

I doubt that finding the 64-bit disc will help me now.

If I don't receive a response in a few hours, I'll just take my chances with
a reinstall. I'm really only hesitant because I'm unsure of the fate of my
Windows Mail messages. I have 11 years of e-mail in there.


"Saerain" wrote:

> I enjoy installing operating systems. I enjoy upgrading operating systems. I
> hate reinstalling operating systems.
>
> I'll make the story as brief as possible: during my last session in Vista,
> the pump responsible for cooling my processor died. I have a temperature
> monitor open at all times, so I quickly noted the rising temperature and
> began to shut down. However, unbeknownst to me, Windows Update had downloaded
> five updates that required rebooting to complete their installation, so as I
> initiated the shut-down process, Vista faded to a screen which said very
> emphatically:
>
> Installing Updates
> Please do not shut down or restart your computer.
>
> Or something to that effect. The processor was then at 70C and rising at
> 0.33 degrees per second -- I knew that if I waited for these five updates to
> install, it would surely severely overheat. So I forced the shut-down.
>
> Needless to say, Vista now will not boot. It throws a 0xc000014c error about
> C:\Windows\system32\config\system at me. 'Registry file is missing or
> corrupt.'
>
> At first, I tried my installation disc, a Vista Home Premium Upgrade disc,
> trying to run a startup repair, but the startup repair function on that disc
> insisted that I was running a different version of Windows Vista. Nonsense.
> So I assumed that it being a mere 'upgrade' disc was the issue and used my
> wife's Vista Ultimate disc to run a startup repair. It ran, but it did not
> correct the error.
>
> So, my first question is: Is reinstallation my only option at this point or
> is there something I'm missing with the startup repair?
>
> My second question is: Assuming I do reinstall, without reformatting, what
> am I certain to lose, aside from registry entries for installed software? Are
> e-mails in Windows Mail preserved?
>
> Endless thanks for your time.

I had forgotten that an upgrade install can only be done from within Windows,
and that any installation done while booted onto the disc requires a reformat.

Well, blast.

Either Home Premium x64's startup repair works a miracle or all 500GB are
finished. Gorgeous.

I have a new dislike of Windows Update.


"Saerain" wrote:

> So, the reason that the Home Premium Upgrade disc's startup repair function
> was telling me I'm running an incompatible version is that I've been trying
> to use the 32-bit disc. I don't know how the 64-bit disc got separated from
> it, but I'll be searching for it.
>
> Another run through the startup repair on the Ultimate disc has allowed me
> to now reach the Windows loading screen, hang in blackness for about twenty
> seconds, and then see a quick flash of a BSoD (too quick to read anything
> from) before the system restarts itself.
>
> Trying to run the startup repair for a fourth time gives me this:
>
> Problem Event Name: StartupRepairV2
> Problem Signature 01: ExternalMedia
> Problem Signature 02: 6.0.6000.16386.6.0.6000.16386
> Problem Signature 03: 3
> Problem Signature 04: 131074
> Problem Signature 05: CorruptRegistry
> Problem Signature 06: CorruptRegistry
> Problem Signature 07: 3221225804
> Problem Signature 08: 3
> Problem Signature 09: RollbackRegistry
> Problem Signature 10: 0
> OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
> Locale ID: 1033
>
> I doubt that finding the 64-bit disc will help me now.
>
> If I don't receive a response in a few hours, I'll just take my chances with
> a reinstall. I'm really only hesitant because I'm unsure of the fate of my
> Windows Mail messages. I have 11 years of e-mail in there.
>
>
> "Saerain" wrote:
>
> > I enjoy installing operating systems. I enjoy upgrading operating systems. I
> > hate reinstalling operating systems.
> >
> > I'll make the story as brief as possible: during my last session in Vista,
> > the pump responsible for cooling my processor died. I have a temperature
> > monitor open at all times, so I quickly noted the rising temperature and
> > began to shut down. However, unbeknownst to me, Windows Update had downloaded
> > five updates that required rebooting to complete their installation, so as I
> > initiated the shut-down process, Vista faded to a screen which said very
> > emphatically:
> >
> > Installing Updates
> > Please do not shut down or restart your computer.
> >
> > Or something to that effect. The processor was then at 70C and rising at
> > 0.33 degrees per second -- I knew that if I waited for these five updates to
> > install, it would surely severely overheat. So I forced the shut-down.
> >
> > Needless to say, Vista now will not boot. It throws a 0xc000014c error about
> > C:\Windows\system32\config\system at me. 'Registry file is missing or
> > corrupt.'
> >
> > At first, I tried my installation disc, a Vista Home Premium Upgrade disc,
> > trying to run a startup repair, but the startup repair function on that disc
> > insisted that I was running a different version of Windows Vista. Nonsense.
> > So I assumed that it being a mere 'upgrade' disc was the issue and used my
> > wife's Vista Ultimate disc to run a startup repair. It ran, but it did not
> > correct the error.
> >
> > So, my first question is: Is reinstallation my only option at this point or
> > is there something I'm missing with the startup repair?
> >
> > My second question is: Assuming I do reinstall, without reformatting, what
> > am I certain to lose, aside from registry entries for installed software? Are
> > e-mails in Windows Mail preserved?
> >
> > Endless thanks for your time.

I think you can use your OS disk to to repair the missing files. I would try
that first. Boot up with it and see if it works.

"Saerain" wrote:

> I enjoy installing operating systems. I enjoy upgrading operating systems. I
> hate reinstalling operating systems.
>
> I'll make the story as brief as possible: during my last session in Vista,
> the pump responsible for cooling my processor died. I have a temperature
> monitor open at all times, so I quickly noted the rising temperature and
> began to shut down. However, unbeknownst to me, Windows Update had downloaded
> five updates that required rebooting to complete their installation, so as I
> initiated the shut-down process, Vista faded to a screen which said very
> emphatically:
>
> Installing Updates
> Please do not shut down or restart your computer.
>
> Or something to that effect. The processor was then at 70C and rising at
> 0.33 degrees per second -- I knew that if I waited for these five updates to
> install, it would surely severely overheat. So I forced the shut-down.
>
> Needless to say, Vista now will not boot. It throws a 0xc000014c error about
> C:\Windows\system32\config\system at me. 'Registry file is missing or
> corrupt.'
>
> At first, I tried my installation disc, a Vista Home Premium Upgrade disc,
> trying to run a startup repair, but the startup repair function on that disc
> insisted that I was running a different version of Windows Vista. Nonsense.
> So I assumed that it being a mere 'upgrade' disc was the issue and used my
> wife's Vista Ultimate disc to run a startup repair. It ran, but it did not
> correct the error.
>
> So, my first question is: Is reinstallation my only option at this point or
> is there something I'm missing with the startup repair?
>
> My second question is: Assuming I do reinstall, without reformatting, what
> am I certain to lose, aside from registry entries for installed software? Are
> e-mails in Windows Mail preserved?
>
> Endless thanks for your time.

I apologise for the multiple posts in succession.

As of now, I am installing a temporary installation of my wife's copy of
Ultimate until I can backup everything I need to backup, then reformat and do
a clean reinstall of Home Premium if/when I find the 64-bit disc.

Disregard.


"Saerain" wrote:

> I had forgotten that an upgrade install can only be done from within Windows,
> and that any installation done while booted onto the disc requires a reformat.
>
> Well, blast.
>
> Either Home Premium x64's startup repair works a miracle or all 500GB are
> finished. Gorgeous.
>
> I have a new dislike of Windows Update.
>
>
> "Saerain" wrote:
>
> > So, the reason that the Home Premium Upgrade disc's startup repair function
> > was telling me I'm running an incompatible version is that I've been trying
> > to use the 32-bit disc. I don't know how the 64-bit disc got separated from
> > it, but I'll be searching for it.
> >
> > Another run through the startup repair on the Ultimate disc has allowed me
> > to now reach the Windows loading screen, hang in blackness for about twenty
> > seconds, and then see a quick flash of a BSoD (too quick to read anything
> > from) before the system restarts itself.
> >
> > Trying to run the startup repair for a fourth time gives me this:
> >
> > Problem Event Name: StartupRepairV2
> > Problem Signature 01: ExternalMedia
> > Problem Signature 02: 6.0.6000.16386.6.0.6000.16386
> > Problem Signature 03: 3
> > Problem Signature 04: 131074
> > Problem Signature 05: CorruptRegistry
> > Problem Signature 06: CorruptRegistry
> > Problem Signature 07: 3221225804
> > Problem Signature 08: 3
> > Problem Signature 09: RollbackRegistry
> > Problem Signature 10: 0
> > OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
> > Locale ID: 1033
> >
> > I doubt that finding the 64-bit disc will help me now.
> >
> > If I don't receive a response in a few hours, I'll just take my chances with
> > a reinstall. I'm really only hesitant because I'm unsure of the fate of my
> > Windows Mail messages. I have 11 years of e-mail in there.
> >
> >
> > "Saerain" wrote:
> >
> > > I enjoy installing operating systems. I enjoy upgrading operating systems. I
> > > hate reinstalling operating systems.
> > >
> > > I'll make the story as brief as possible: during my last session in Vista,
> > > the pump responsible for cooling my processor died. I have a temperature
> > > monitor open at all times, so I quickly noted the rising temperature and
> > > began to shut down. However, unbeknownst to me, Windows Update had downloaded
> > > five updates that required rebooting to complete their installation, so as I
> > > initiated the shut-down process, Vista faded to a screen which said very
> > > emphatically:
> > >
> > > Installing Updates
> > > Please do not shut down or restart your computer.
> > >
> > > Or something to that effect. The processor was then at 70C and rising at
> > > 0.33 degrees per second -- I knew that if I waited for these five updates to
> > > install, it would surely severely overheat. So I forced the shut-down.
> > >
> > > Needless to say, Vista now will not boot. It throws a 0xc000014c error about
> > > C:\Windows\system32\config\system at me. 'Registry file is missing or
> > > corrupt.'
> > >
> > > At first, I tried my installation disc, a Vista Home Premium Upgrade disc,
> > > trying to run a startup repair, but the startup repair function on that disc
> > > insisted that I was running a different version of Windows Vista. Nonsense.
> > > So I assumed that it being a mere 'upgrade' disc was the issue and used my
> > > wife's Vista Ultimate disc to run a startup repair. It ran, but it did not
> > > correct the error.
> > >
> > > So, my first question is: Is reinstallation my only option at this point or
> > > is there something I'm missing with the startup repair?
> > >
> > > My second question is: Assuming I do reinstall, without reformatting, what
> > > am I certain to lose, aside from registry entries for installed software? Are
> > > e-mails in Windows Mail preserved?
> > >
> > > Endless thanks for your time.

Saerain wrote:
> I apologise for the multiple posts in succession.
>
> As of now, I am installing a temporary installation of my wife's copy of
> Ultimate until I can backup everything I need to backup, then reformat and do
> a clean reinstall of Home Premium if/when I find the 64-bit disc.
>
> Disregard.
>
>
> "Saerain" wrote:
>
>
>>I had forgotten that an upgrade install can only be done from within Windows,
>>and that any installation done while booted onto the disc requires a reformat.
>>
>>Well, blast.
>>
>>Either Home Premium x64's startup repair works a miracle or all 500GB are
>>finished. Gorgeous.
>>
>>I have a new dislike of Windows Update.
>>
>>
>>"Saerain" wrote:
>>
>>
>>>So, the reason that the Home Premium Upgrade disc's startup repair function
>>>was telling me I'm running an incompatible version is that I've been trying
>>>to use the 32-bit disc. I don't know how the 64-bit disc got separated from
>>>it, but I'll be searching for it.
>>>
>>>Another run through the startup repair on the Ultimate disc has allowed me
>>>to now reach the Windows loading screen, hang in blackness for about twenty
>>>seconds, and then see a quick flash of a BSoD (too quick to read anything
>>>from) before the system restarts itself.
>>>
>>>Trying to run the startup repair for a fourth time gives me this:
>>>
>>>Problem Event Name: StartupRepairV2
>>>Problem Signature 01: ExternalMedia
>>>Problem Signature 02: 6.0.6000.16386.6.0.6000.16386
>>>Problem Signature 03: 3
>>>Problem Signature 04: 131074
>>>Problem Signature 05: CorruptRegistry
>>>Problem Signature 06: CorruptRegistry
>>>Problem Signature 07: 3221225804
>>>Problem Signature 08: 3
>>>Problem Signature 09: RollbackRegistry
>>>Problem Signature 10: 0
>>>OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
>>>Locale ID: 1033
>>>
>>>I doubt that finding the 64-bit disc will help me now.
>>>
>>>If I don't receive a response in a few hours, I'll just take my chances with
>>>a reinstall. I'm really only hesitant because I'm unsure of the fate of my
>>>Windows Mail messages. I have 11 years of e-mail in there.
>>>
>>>
>>>"Saerain" wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>I enjoy installing operating systems. I enjoy upgrading operating systems. I
>>>>hate reinstalling operating systems.
>>>>
>>>>I'll make the story as brief as possible: during my last session in Vista,
>>>>the pump responsible for cooling my processor died. I have a temperature
>>>>monitor open at all times, so I quickly noted the rising temperature and
>>>>began to shut down. However, unbeknownst to me, Windows Update had downloaded
>>>>five updates that required rebooting to complete their installation, so as I
>>>>initiated the shut-down process, Vista faded to a screen which said very
>>>>emphatically:
>>>>
>>>>Installing Updates
>>>>Please do not shut down or restart your computer.
>>>>
>>>>Or something to that effect. The processor was then at 70C and rising at
>>>>0.33 degrees per second -- I knew that if I waited for these five updates to
>>>>install, it would surely severely overheat. So I forced the shut-down.
>>>>
>>>>Needless to say, Vista now will not boot. It throws a 0xc000014c error about
>>>>C:\Windows\system32\config\system at me. 'Registry file is missing or
>>>>corrupt.'
>>>>
>>>>At first, I tried my installation disc, a Vista Home Premium Upgrade disc,
>>>>trying to run a startup repair, but the startup repair function on that disc
>>>>insisted that I was running a different version of Windows Vista. Nonsense.
>>>>So I assumed that it being a mere 'upgrade' disc was the issue and used my
>>>>wife's Vista Ultimate disc to run a startup repair. It ran, but it did not
>>>>correct the error.
>>>>
>>>>So, my first question is: Is reinstallation my only option at this point or
>>>>is there something I'm missing with the startup repair?
>>>>
>>>>My second question is: Assuming I do reinstall, without reformatting, what
>>>>am I certain to lose, aside from registry entries for installed software? Are
>>>>e-mails in Windows Mail preserved?
>>>>
>>>>Endless thanks for your time.

You can only do a clean install of Vista x64...no in place upgrade.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...radepaths.mspx

Frank

I thought partition imaging software was only for IT workers until I hit
a snag with WU a while ago. If you were able to restore a saved image
of the system partition, you would not be dealing with such a nightmare.

This group prefers Acronis, I like BootItNG, some still like Ghost.

"Saerain" <> wrote in message
news:BA2D7D09-FDE8-4E32-8129-...
>I apologise for the multiple posts in succession.
>
> As of now, I am installing a temporary installation of my wife's copy of
> Ultimate until I can backup everything I need to backup, then reformat and do
> a clean reinstall of Home Premium if/when I find the 64-bit disc.
>
> Disregard.
>
>
> "Saerain" wrote:
>
>> I had forgotten that an upgrade install can only be done from within Windows,
>> and that any installation done while booted onto the disc requires a
>> reformat.
>>
>> Well, blast.
>>
>> Either Home Premium x64's startup repair works a miracle or all 500GB are
>> finished. Gorgeous.
>>
>> I have a new dislike of Windows Update.
>>
>>
>> "Saerain" wrote:
>>
>> > So, the reason that the Home Premium Upgrade disc's startup repair function
>> > was telling me I'm running an incompatible version is that I've been trying
>> > to use the 32-bit disc. I don't know how the 64-bit disc got separated from
>> > it, but I'll be searching for it.
>> >
>> > Another run through the startup repair on the Ultimate disc has allowed me
>> > to now reach the Windows loading screen, hang in blackness for about twenty
>> > seconds, and then see a quick flash of a BSoD (too quick to read anything
>> > from) before the system restarts itself.
>> >
>> > Trying to run the startup repair for a fourth time gives me this:
>> >
>> > Problem Event Name: StartupRepairV2
>> > Problem Signature 01: ExternalMedia
>> > Problem Signature 02: 6.0.6000.16386.6.0.6000.16386
>> > Problem Signature 03: 3
>> > Problem Signature 04: 131074
>> > Problem Signature 05: CorruptRegistry
>> > Problem Signature 06: CorruptRegistry
>> > Problem Signature 07: 3221225804
>> > Problem Signature 08: 3
>> > Problem Signature 09: RollbackRegistry
>> > Problem Signature 10: 0
>> > OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
>> > Locale ID: 1033
>> >
>> > I doubt that finding the 64-bit disc will help me now.
>> >
>> > If I don't receive a response in a few hours, I'll just take my chances
>> > with
>> > a reinstall. I'm really only hesitant because I'm unsure of the fate of my
>> > Windows Mail messages. I have 11 years of e-mail in there.
>> >
>> >
>> > "Saerain" wrote:
>> >
>> > > I enjoy installing operating systems. I enjoy upgrading operating
>> > > systems. I
>> > > hate reinstalling operating systems.
>> > >
>> > > I'll make the story as brief as possible: during my last session in
>> > > Vista,
>> > > the pump responsible for cooling my processor died. I have a temperature
>> > > monitor open at all times, so I quickly noted the rising temperature and
>> > > began to shut down. However, unbeknownst to me, Windows Update had
>> > > downloaded
>> > > five updates that required rebooting to complete their installation, so
>> > > as I
>> > > initiated the shut-down process, Vista faded to a screen which said very
>> > > emphatically:
>> > >
>> > > Installing Updates
>> > > Please do not shut down or restart your computer.
>> > >
>> > > Or something to that effect. The processor was then at 70C and rising at
>> > > 0.33 degrees per second -- I knew that if I waited for these five updates
>> > > to
>> > > install, it would surely severely overheat. So I forced the shut-down.
>> > >
>> > > Needless to say, Vista now will not boot. It throws a 0xc000014c error
>> > > about
>> > > C:\Windows\system32\config\system at me. 'Registry file is missing or
>> > > corrupt.'
>> > >
>> > > At first, I tried my installation disc, a Vista Home Premium Upgrade
>> > > disc,
>> > > trying to run a startup repair, but the startup repair function on that
>> > > disc
>> > > insisted that I was running a different version of Windows Vista.
>> > > Nonsense.
>> > > So I assumed that it being a mere 'upgrade' disc was the issue and used
>> > > my
>> > > wife's Vista Ultimate disc to run a startup repair. It ran, but it did
>> > > not
>> > > correct the error.
>> > >
>> > > So, my first question is: Is reinstallation my only option at this point
>> > > or
>> > > is there something I'm missing with the startup repair?
>> > >
>> > > My second question is: Assuming I do reinstall, without reformatting,
>> > > what
>> > > am I certain to lose, aside from registry entries for installed software?
>> > > Are
>> > > e-mails in Windows Mail preserved?
>> > >
>> > > Endless thanks for your time.

That was my first action. No such luck.


"WarbNull" wrote:

> I think you can use your OS disk to to repair the missing files. I would try
> that first. Boot up with it and see if it works.
>
> "Saerain" wrote:
>
> > I enjoy installing operating systems. I enjoy upgrading operating systems. I
> > hate reinstalling operating systems.
> >
> > I'll make the story as brief as possible: during my last session in Vista,
> > the pump responsible for cooling my processor died. I have a temperature
> > monitor open at all times, so I quickly noted the rising temperature and
> > began to shut down. However, unbeknownst to me, Windows Update had downloaded
> > five updates that required rebooting to complete their installation, so as I
> > initiated the shut-down process, Vista faded to a screen which said very
> > emphatically:
> >
> > Installing Updates
> > Please do not shut down or restart your computer.
> >
> > Or something to that effect. The processor was then at 70C and rising at
> > 0.33 degrees per second -- I knew that if I waited for these five updates to
> > install, it would surely severely overheat. So I forced the shut-down.
> >
> > Needless to say, Vista now will not boot. It throws a 0xc000014c error about
> > C:\Windows\system32\config\system at me. 'Registry file is missing or
> > corrupt.'
> >
> > At first, I tried my installation disc, a Vista Home Premium Upgrade disc,
> > trying to run a startup repair, but the startup repair function on that disc
> > insisted that I was running a different version of Windows Vista. Nonsense.
> > So I assumed that it being a mere 'upgrade' disc was the issue and used my
> > wife's Vista Ultimate disc to run a startup repair. It ran, but it did not
> > correct the error.
> >
> > So, my first question is: Is reinstallation my only option at this point or
> > is there something I'm missing with the startup repair?
> >
> > My second question is: Assuming I do reinstall, without reformatting, what
> > am I certain to lose, aside from registry entries for installed software? Are
> > e-mails in Windows Mail preserved?
> >
> > Endless thanks for your time.