Wierd disaster! I need a guru - PLEASE

Core Duo, 2GB RAM, Vista Home Premium

This computer was running flawlessly, and then I
stupidly decided to try Vista Manager. I looked through
the options, not intending to change anything. But when
Vista Manager checked UPDATES, it indicated that some
were necessary so I allowed them. It seemed fine at
first, but something bad happened and I need to fix it.

Now, most apps cannot be made to open by clicking on the
correct icon. And, I cannot go back to an earlier
Restore Point. When I try, a dialog box appears with
something like this:

********************************************
System Restore did not complete successfully.

System Restore failed due to unspecified error.
Parameter is incorrect (0x80070057)

Options are SHUT DOWN or RESTART
********************************************

I have tried several earlier dates with the same result,
even from safe mode. Avast thorough scan found nothing.

In most other respects, the computer seems stable though
slow.

HELP, PLEASE!!!

Silvy

I just used Spybot, which found something with the words
"...disableWindowsRestore..." in it. I deleted and tried
again. This time the restore process went much further,
and the computer rebooted.

However, a minute after the desktop became stable, I got
that same Restore-Failure dialog box.
And, it's s--l--o--w.

HELP!

Silvy

Just in case there's an expert around, here are more
observations.

Some icons will start apps properly, others won't. The
system tries, and the arrow cursor gets an hourglass for
a couple of seconds and then it returns to an arrow.
Shortcut doesn't matter.

Sidebar takes a long time to load.

Canon printer is inoperative - SETUP and PRINT look
okay, and then there's a box that says "Printer
inoperative". I reloaded the driver and also the Vista
patch, with no change.

Boot, shutdown, and restart are all okay now - speed is
reasonable.

I really, really, REALLY need to restore to a few days ago!

Silvy

Format the drive, and reinstall.

Where did you find Vista Manager?

"notachance" wrote:

> Just in case there's an expert around, here are more
> observations.
>
> Some icons will start apps properly, others won't. The
> system tries, and the arrow cursor gets an hourglass for
> a couple of seconds and then it returns to an arrow.
> Shortcut doesn't matter.
>
> Sidebar takes a long time to load.
>
> Canon printer is inoperative - SETUP and PRINT look
> okay, and then there's a box that says "Printer
> inoperative". I reloaded the driver and also the Vista
> patch, with no change.
>
> Boot, shutdown, and restart are all okay now - speed is
> reasonable.
>
> I really, really, REALLY need to restore to a few days ago!
>
> Silvy
>

Mick Murphy wrote:
> Format the drive, and reinstall.
>
> Where did you find Vista Manager?
>

Manufacturer's description:

"All-in-One utility to optimize, tweak, tune up and clean up your Windows
Vista. It bundles more than 30 different utilities in one. Get access to
hundreds of hidden options to improve system's performance and security,
clean registry, junk files and defrag Registry, tune up Vista boot menu,
uninstall program smartly, mange startup items, and many other miscellaneous
utilitiesAll-in-One utility to optimize, tweak, tune up and clean up your
Windows Vista..."

Sounds like snake-oil. Posionous snake oil.

It was well-reviewed, and looked very professional, so I
decided to give it a try.

I really cannot format and reinstall. For me it would
take a working day, and also I use some giveaway
software that would have to be purchased after a format.

I wrote to the publisher... let's see what they say.

notachance wrote:
> It was well-reviewed, and looked very professional, so I
> decided to give it a try.
>
> I really cannot format and reinstall. For me it would
> take a working day, and also I use some giveaway
> software that would have to be purchased after a format.
>
> I wrote to the publisher... let's see what they say.

Well reviewed? Did anyone HERE recommend it? Or did the reviews come from
pubications that contain its advertising?

A "C" (3 of 5 stars)
http://www.download.com/Vista-Manage...-10607653.html

"Everything related to Vista (its tools) worked great. The rest of the
options introduced by Vista Manager still have a lot to be worked on. I
could find no Vista Manager option that did not have a bug, an error or an
issue."
http://www.softpedia.com/reviews/win...ew-53537.shtml

A "B" (4 of 5 stars)
http://www.laptopmag.com/Review/Vista-Manager.htm

These were the first three Google hits.

Please, whatever you do do NOT reformat; you'll just be creating so many more
problems for yourself and a very large headache. Sure, a re-format will leave
you with a working system but that's ALL. You'll have invested hours of
totally needless frustration and possibly TOTALLY messed-up your system for
nothing. The EASIEST, SAFEST way to fix your system is to refresh/reinstall
your system files. Just open a DOS window, having first given yourself
administrative permission if using Vista, and simply type exactly SFC
/scannow let that complete, it should take about 20 miniutes and you'll
have SAFELY re-installed your system files


"notachance" wrote:

> Core Duo, 2GB RAM, Vista Home Premium
>
> This computer was running flawlessly, and then I
> stupidly decided to try Vista Manager. I looked through
> the options, not intending to change anything. But when
> Vista Manager checked UPDATES, it indicated that some
> were necessary so I allowed them. It seemed fine at
> first, but something bad happened and I need to fix it.
>
> Now, most apps cannot be made to open by clicking on the
> correct icon. And, I cannot go back to an earlier
> Restore Point. When I try, a dialog box appears with
> something like this:
>
> ********************************************
> System Restore did not complete successfully.
>
> System Restore failed due to unspecified error.
> Parameter is incorrect (0x80070057)
>
> Options are SHUT DOWN or RESTART
> ********************************************
>
> I have tried several earlier dates with the same result,
> even from safe mode. Avast thorough scan found nothing.
>
> In most other respects, the computer seems stable though
> slow.
>
> HELP, PLEASE!!!
>
> Silvy
>

> Just open a DOS window, having first given yourself
> administrative permission if using Vista, and simply type exactly SFC
> /scannow let that complete, it should take about 20 miniutes and you'll
> have SAFELY re-installed your system files
>
>
>
sfc/scannow is highly overated. also it installs files that may have
been replaced by updates. makes for a flaky system in many instances.

David wrote:

>>
>
> sfc/scannow is highly overated. also it installs files that may have
> been replaced by updates. makes for a flaky system in many instances.

Then you have no idea what sfc is really to be used for do you?
Frank