Windows Vista crashes shortly after booting -- need help --

[Karronade]

Shortly after booting my ma laptop, WinVista freezes. I can't open any programm, the only thing I can do is moving the mouse and use ALT + TAB. Thats all and yes, if I'm quick enough, I can start a game or watch a video but if I want to save anything, it freezes.

[1DeadlySAMURAI]

Sounds like a classic overheating problem.

clean out the fan intake and outlet.

[UFR-Winter]

Yup you need a can O air .... clean out the fan...also check the batt. the plugs wires for animal chew marks if you have any..
and maybe check the ram to make sure its seated right..a hard set down might of off set it....(didnt say ya dropped it) lol..
then do a system check when your done..

[Bones]

if I want to save anything, it freezes.

looks like HDD issue to me, overheating GPU/CPU ussualy ends up with BSOD but still I would clean up fan and vacum clean air intakes

[Nebula]

ya know I had an issue like this before lol... unplugging it from the network and killing the sidebar helped then I rebooted.

[flarespire]

you may just have to run CHKDSK(by opening command prompt as an administrator, by right clicking on command prompt and clicking "run as administrator" and typing "CHKDSK" in) and then defragment your hard drive too, just incase it was a hard data error with you HDD volumes thats causing the problems, if the data isnt an issue, check our cable between your HDD and the motherboard are connected properly, and also make sure everything ins fully in place, then clean out the air intakes and outtakes,then thats sure to fix your issues. if none of this fixes it, goto a qualified expert and follow his advice, or get a new laptop.....   i know its a long winded method but it should help your machine out a little.

[Karronade]

Hmm, I booted in the protected mode. In this mode my Lapy is fully functional. I think my hardware is intact, so it must be a software problem. I did the following thing:

I saved my personal data during the protected mode session and then I used the recovery-DVD to set WinVista back to originals.

My Lapy is working right now and I must say, much faster than before, for example before this happens it takes about 5min. to shut the computer down, now hardly 20 sec. And it took ever about 5min. to shut my Lapy down....

Just for fun:

Does anyone know what happens? I opened the process explorer but I saw nothing unusual, when my Lapy was/is crashing. And why does it work in the protected mode properly and when I boot normally not? Maybe does it have something to do with an update of WinVista, which I previously installed?

[flarespire]

it may have been a driver DLL or peice of software, that is used in normal mode but not in protected mode, sounds like a logical thing, to be safe id run the CHKDSK just to make sure all you HDD's Data entries and registries are intact and there are no bad sectors, just to be safe.

[Nebula]

in protected mode... not all processes load... in norm I'd watch what processes there are and what ones use the most mem or processor.

[Lionus]

Also, it's Vista. It doesn't need other reasons to acct up..

[flarespire]

lionus, vista is a stable system, its has its ups and downs(all operating systems have flaws and errors, its cant be helped) i suggest you all run a CHKDSK to check for bad sectors, just looking out for you all XD.

[Nebula]

also just curious... do you have the latest system pack?

[flarespire]

if your asking me yeah, im always updated.

[Bones]

lionus, vista is a stable system, its has its ups and downs(all operating systems have flaws and errors, its cant be helped) i suggest you all run a CHKDSK to check for bad sectors, just looking out for you all XD.

QFT

[Nebula]

if your asking me yeah, im always updated.

not you... Karronade... XD

[Karronade]

Vista wants me to be always updated :assimilate