Vista is corrupted and no one will help

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First I noticed that my internet connection is telling me that I have no
connection- well I'm on the internet.
Second I can't play sounds in games or music programs, while Windows sounds
play.
Third Windows Security Center is telling me my firewall is turned off,
Windows can't find any antivirus software on my computer (which I have) and
Windows Defender is turned off and won't turn back on.
Microsoft won't help me if I don't pay them.
Dell wants to reformat my computer back to XP, then upgrade again to Vista.
A process I'm estimating to take 6 hours minimum. They think that it was a
Vista upgrade that corrupted my computer.
I don't know what to do. I want my computer FIXED. Microsoft's upgrade broke
it, and I shouldn't have to pay them to fix it. I need help! This is BS.
 
Hi ivesflower--

1) Internet not a problem then.

2) Sounds--here's what I'd do:

Check Device Manager to see if your driver is installed correctly. DM is
not reliable up through Vista if you can believe Redmond MSFT did that (they
did) for driver health (maybe next OS--Blackcomb/Vienna or some other ski
slope or city), but it is useful to see if a driver is installed and your
sound card entry is there.

In your run box type devmgmt.msc and see if you have a Sound, Video and Game
Controller Entry and expand it and see if your card is there>rt. click
it>properties>driver>driver details tab and see if drivers are installed.

Touch base with this checklist:

I Can't Hear Sound from My Vista PC:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/1e87a3e8-c0e8-49af-980f-9eb6686f42d21033.mspx

and this one:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f76f244d-56db-4b68-b560-37eb4000253a1033.mspx

My personal ck. list:

1) Check connections from PC to your speakers and any other sound related
peripheral.
2) Ck Control Panel>Playback Tab>Rt. click Speakers and hit items on
context menu including Speaker Configuration and Test them; Click the
Properties button (lower rt. corner)>check the levels tab and make sure
nothing is preventing sound there particular the "Master" lever at the top.
Also on the Advanced tab check that the appropriate pull down menu item is
selected.
3) Get newest driver appropriate to your sound card by visiting the Sound
Card's website.


Some of these principles apply to Vista:

Resources for Troubleshooting Sound Problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307918/en-us

Windows Security Center--Sometimes that happens. Open it up and click the
button to turn on the firewall.

If your antivirus software doesn't include a spyware program, (for example
One Care does) that turn on defender and check by typing in "services.msc"
(lose quotes) in the run box to make sure that Windows Defender service
listed under "W" is on. Also type in defender in the search box>click it to
make sure it's on.

What is the AV program on your box? What happens when you either type its
name in search and click it or find it under programs and open it up and
turn it on?

I also recommend if you need to to fix this trying the following: SFC>and
if no joy>Startup Repair if you have a Vista DVD>or you could then try a
repair install or System Reestore. Dell should have sent you a DVD which
you don't need to run SFC or try System Restore.

Check Device Manager to see if your driver is installed correctly. DM is
not reliable up through Vista if you can believe Redmond MSFT did that (they
did) for driver health (maybe next OS--Blackcomb/Vienna or some other ski
slope or city), but it is useful to see if a driver is installed and your
sound card entry is there.

In your run box type devmgmt.msc and see if you have a Sound, Video and Game
Controller Entry and expand it and see if your card is there>rt. click
it>properties>driver>driver details tab and see if drivers are installed.

Touch base with this checklist:

I Can't Hear Sound from My Vista PC:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/1e87a3e8-c0e8-49af-980f-9eb6686f42d21033.mspx

and this one:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/f76f244d-56db-4b68-b560-37eb4000253a1033.mspx

My personal ck. list:

1) Check connections from PC to your speakers and any other sound related
peripheral.
2) Ck Control Panel>Playback Tab>Rt. click Speakers and hit items on
context menu including Speaker Configuration and Test them; Click the
Properties button (lower rt. corner)>check the levels tab and make sure
nothing is preventing sound there particular the "Master" lever at the top.
Also on the Advanced tab check that the appropriate pull down menu item is
selected.
3) Get newest driver appropriate to your sound card by visiting the Sound
Card's website.


Some of these principles apply to Vista:

Resources for Troubleshooting Sound Problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307918/en-us


Good luck,

CH
 
welcome to microsoft version of HELL, unfortunatly there's not much we can
do about that

--
Licensed Boating Capt. Jonathan Perreault
http://www.AllAboutGames.BraveHost.com
- note: click continue, when it ask about security certificate -

Best Comments From Users:
Vista is satan's way to bring hell to earth. -Me

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely
foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Web

No Matter The Problem Even With Linux, It's Microsoft's And Windows's
Faults -Everyone
 
Computer & Sound System Expert said:
welcome to microsoft version of HELL, unfortunatly there's not much we can
do about that
Click to expand...

There are lots of things one -can- do... use some flavor of Linux, use XP,
buy a Mac, or, god forbid, attempt to actually assist someone like Chad
Harris did upstream in this thread.

Lang
 
The sound and everything were working just fine a few minutes before this
happened, so its not a driver issue. I can hear Windows sounds, just not
music or games.
The internet works, since I'm posting this, but tells me I don't have a
connection at all.

It was all of a sudden, while working on the computer, that everything quit
working correctly. I'm not a casual internet person. I don't download things
from unsafe sources, don't go to web sites where I would get pop-ups. I'm a
relatively safe internet user.

I have run virus and spyware programs multiple times and from multiple
companies. I have run Norton, McAfee, AVG, Ad-Aware, and HitMan Pro (which
includes 6+ spyware programs). There is nothing foreign or strange on my
system- just the usual tracking cookies everyone would expect to get.

I've tried system restore twice, once at one day, once at one week. They
don't work.

Like I said, Microsoft won't help me unless I pay. I assume they would want
to know that something funky is happening.

Dell thinks it was a Windows update that corrupted my system, but I don't
think they really know what they're talking about because yesterday,
according to them, I had a virus. Dell wants me to reformat my entire
computer and reinstall XP and then upgrade to Vista, since I was originally
an upgrade. I don't have the time to back up my computer and then reformat
it, that would take me weeks. I have a life and don't live in front of my
home computer. I WORK!

I want to know what Microsoft has to say, since according to Dell now, it
was their update that caused the corruption. I just want things to work. Dell
can have this computer back as far as I'm concerned since they can't help me
fix it. And if an update corrupted my system, wouldn't I download the same
update if Microsoft doesn't know about it?
This just sucks so much.
 
Computer & Sound System Expert said:
welcome to microsoft version of HELL, unfortunatly there's not much we can
do about that
Click to expand...

Then you are a very incompetent expert LOL.
 
open up Sounds in Control Panel and check all the devices (ALL) to insure they are turned on/enabled and the volume is up.



(e-mail address removed)



The sound and everything were working just fine a few minutes before this
happened, so its not a driver issue. I can hear Windows sounds, just not
music or games.
The internet works, since I'm posting this, but tells me I don't have a
connection at all.

It was all of a sudden, while working on the computer, that everything quit
working correctly. I'm not a casual internet person. I don't download things
from unsafe sources, don't go to web sites where I would get pop-ups. I'm a
relatively safe internet user.

I have run virus and spyware programs multiple times and from multiple
companies. I have run Norton, McAfee, AVG, Ad-Aware, and HitMan Pro (which
includes 6+ spyware programs). There is nothing foreign or strange on my
system- just the usual tracking cookies everyone would expect to get.

I've tried system restore twice, once at one day, once at one week. They
don't work.

Like I said, Microsoft won't help me unless I pay. I assume they would want
to know that something funky is happening.

Dell thinks it was a Windows update that corrupted my system, but I don't
think they really know what they're talking about because yesterday,
according to them, I had a virus. Dell wants me to reformat my entire
computer and reinstall XP and then upgrade to Vista, since I was originally
an upgrade. I don't have the time to back up my computer and then reformat
it, that would take me weeks. I have a life and don't live in front of my
home computer. I WORK!

I want to know what Microsoft has to say, since according to Dell now, it
was their update that caused the corruption. I just want things to work. Dell
can have this computer back as far as I'm concerned since they can't help me
fix it. And if an update corrupted my system, wouldn't I download the same
update if Microsoft doesn't know about it?
This just sucks so much.
 
ivesflower said:
First I noticed that my internet connection is telling me that I have no
connection- well I'm on the internet.
Second I can't play sounds in games or music programs, while Windows
sounds
play.
Third Windows Security Center is telling me my firewall is turned off,
Windows can't find any antivirus software on my computer (which I have)
and
Windows Defender is turned off and won't turn back on.
Microsoft won't help me if I don't pay them.
Dell wants to reformat my computer back to XP, then upgrade again to
Vista.
A process I'm estimating to take 6 hours minimum. They think that it was a
Vista upgrade that corrupted my computer.
I don't know what to do. I want my computer FIXED. Microsoft's upgrade
broke
it, and I shouldn't have to pay them to fix it. I need help! This is BS.
Click to expand...

An upgrade can toast the machine. It's the nature of the beast with an
upgrade sometimes. Your best path is to format the HD, lay down XP, don't do
any other software installs, lay down Vista get drivers and such installed,
and then install your other software. You may not like this path, but it may
be the least path of resistance for you.
 
I sympathize with you, because I have been there twice on my Vista unit.

Files, etc, started becoming corrupted, and applications stopped working.
Support suggested that I do a System Restore. Did that, no luck.

Finally I backed up my personal files and did a System Recover.
The Recover seems to have corrected some problems that were extant on my
machine from the original install.

I changed firewall and virus software, having heard that Avast doesnt always
work as it should in these machines.

If this doesnt work, I will
(1) Find an expert who can abort this bastard Vista from my machine, and
install a more
friendly platform like Windows 2000 or XP. I am tired of trying to make
this POS reliable.
OR
(2) I will dump this POS and get an Apple. I have no more patience
AND
(3) As soon as the Asus eee is out, I will look into that as a utilitarian
notebook to back up my desktop.

As I do consulting work, I cannot tolerate a system like this which has so
far shown to be unstable and unreliable.
 
Mr. Arnold said:
any other software installs, lay down Vista get drivers and such
installed, and then install your other software. You may not like this
path, but it may be the least path of resistance for you.
Click to expand...

I mentioned this possibility once on this newsgroup, and contributors did
not recommend it.
I also talked to HP online help, and they were downright snotty about it. HP
doesnt recommend it either. They told me "Next time, dont erase any HP
files". Heck, I HADNT
erased anything...they just sort of crumbled all by themselves;>)

I would be much happier with XP, but I am afraid that I will find myself out
of the frying pan and into the fire.

Is there a good resource online anywhere about how to get shuck Vista and
successfully install XP?
 
HLS said:
I mentioned this possibility once on this newsgroup, and contributors did
not recommend it.
I also talked to HP online help, and they were downright snotty about it.
HP doesnt recommend it either. They told me "Next time, dont erase any HP
files". Heck, I HADNT
erased anything...they just sort of crumbled all by themselves;>)

I would be much happier with XP, but I am afraid that I will find myself
out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Is there a good resource online anywhere about how to get shuck Vista and
successfully install XP?
Click to expand...

Anytime, you try to do an upgrade over the top of XP with something like
Vista, there is the possibility that things can go wrong. I didn't do an
upgrade from Win Nt 4.0 to Win 2K or Win 2k to XP. There were all clean
installs to avoid these kind of situation.

In this particular situation, I would never upgrade to Vista over XP. It
would be a clean install right off the top of the bat. So, you dump the
software warrantee from the vendor by doing your own clean install, which
can be done by the upgrade dvd. Who needs the vendors tech support? Heck, I
lost the software warrantee from the vendor the moment I upgraded Vista HP
to Ultimate.

As far as going back to XP, there have been posts in this NG made about the
how(to).
 
(being sarcastic) oh i'm sorry i didn't it was prohibited to make a joke in
this newsgroup

--
Licensed Boating Capt. Jonathan Perreault
http://www.AllAboutGames.BraveHost.com
- note: click continue, when it ask about security certificate -

Best Comments From Users:
Vista is satan's way to bring hell to earth. -Me

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely
foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Web

No Matter The Problem Even With Linux, It's Microsoft's And Windows's
Faults -Everyone
 
sorry it was suppose to read i didn't know it was.....

--
Licensed Boating Capt. Jonathan Perreault
http://www.AllAboutGames.BraveHost.com
- note: click continue, when it ask about security certificate -

Best Comments From Users:
Vista is satan's way to bring hell to earth. -Me

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely
foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. -Web

No Matter The Problem Even With Linux, It's Microsoft's And Windows's
Faults -Everyone
 
Mr. Arnold said:
Anytime, you try to do an upgrade over the top of XP with something like
Vista, there is the possibility that things can go wrong. I didn't do an
upgrade from Win Nt 4.0 to Win 2K or Win 2k to XP. There were all clean
installs to avoid these kind of situation.
Click to expand...

Vista installs use a image based system. You will not have the same problem
as in past upgrades with 98, 2K and XP which use file by file copying.
In this particular situation, I would never upgrade to Vista over XP. It
would be a clean install right off the top of the bat.
Click to expand...

A Vista upgrade is a clean install. Previous os files are placed into the
Windows OLD folder.

So, you dump the
software warrantee from the vendor by doing your own clean install, which
can be done by the upgrade dvd. Who needs the vendors tech support? Heck,
I lost the software warrantee from the vendor the moment I upgraded Vista
HP to Ultimate.

As far as going back to XP, there have been posts in this NG made about
the how(to).
Click to expand...
m
 
* miss-information:
Vista installs use a image based system. You will not have the same problem
as in past upgrades with 98, 2K and XP which use file by file copying.


A Vista upgrade is a clean install. Previous os files are placed into the
Windows OLD folder.
Click to expand...

What you say is true. However, I think where folks run into problems
is not removing certain software prior to upgrading. AVs, anti-spyware
programs, firewalls and any other programs that do some type of
real-time scanning. They should also do a good cleanup before upgrading.
There will also be some programs that don't get discarded to Windows.old
that should have been, and reinstalled fresh.


-Michael
 
miss-information said:
Vista installs use a image based system. You will not have the same
problem as in past upgrades with 98, 2K and XP which use file by file
copying.
Click to expand...

That doesn't account for any programs that are already on the machine that
are left intac. I prefer to wipe out everything and install things freash --
no upgrade.
A Vista upgrade is a clean install. Previous os files are placed into the
Windows OLD folder.
Click to expand...


My take of a clean intsall is to format the HD, and then you install the
O/S.
 
Maybe you misunderstood my point. My machine came loaded with Vista.
I would like to downgrade to a more agreeable system, like XP or even 2000.
 
Maybe you misunderstood my point. My machine came loaded with Vista.
I would like to downgrade to a more agreeable system, like XP or even 2000.
Click to expand...

There is no Microsoft approved path to fall back to XP or another
version of Windows. In fact if you install Vista over a XP system it
will trash that operating system's validation key. A lot of people
learn that the hard way. I'm kind of surprised nobody I'm aware of has
sued over that.

You have limited options, all bad. If still new you may be able to get
the seller to take the entire system back and give you a new one with
XP installed. If that isn't an option you can buy a copy of XP either
as a full version or OEM version. Spend a few minutes shopping around
on the web. With a little effort you should be able to find shrink
wrapped copy of XP for around $100. I would avoid EBay or similar
sites since you never know what you'll end up with. Be willing to
spend a few bucks more to buy from a brick and mortar store like
Egghead or Tiger Direct.

The bad part is whatever is on your machine in the way of software
will be lost unless you were lucky enough to get install CD/DVD's for
all of it which is rare these days. So if you don't have much personal
data just back it up on some external drive, even on a buddy's
computer, even one of those web storage sites, anything to save your
data then do a clean install.

The best choice is probably hold your nose and just put up with
Vista's limitations and annoyances. It will get better hopefully over
time. SPI should be out 1st Quarter 2008 if not sooner. Hopefully that
will get a lot of people experiencing problems some relief.
 
I TURNED ON MY COMPUTER ONE DAY AND ALL I RECEIVED WAS A MESSAGE STATING MY
VISTA "PRODUCT KEY WAS NOT GENUINE." THE KEY WAS GENUINE ENOUGH TO CHARGE
HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO PURCHASE IT, BUT ITS NOT GENUINE ENOUGH TO USE IT. I
CANNOT LOG ON AND I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. MICROSOFT ACTUALLY WANTS ORE TO FIX
THE PROBLEM! VISTA'S 'SEARCH ONLINE FOR HELP" ENGINE IS A JOKE. IF I'M
SEARCHING FOR HELP 'UP,' IT GIVES ME 'DOWN'; IF I'M SEARCHING FOR HELP
'DOWN', IT GIVES ME 'UP,' AND SO FORTH...DOES IT EVER WORK?
 
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