Um... my 'puter went kerplodey?

[Snips]

... I have no idea where to start so I'll make this quick.

- Playing fullscreen game. Game crashes and won't restart. I restart my computer. At this point in time, everything was fine.

- "Windows was not properly shut down" Yes it was! What the hell? I get back on, "Your firewall is not enabled, this leaves your computer vulnerable to internet threats. Click here to turn your firewall on." I open Windows Live Onecare and TRY to turn on my firewall. "The Firewall cannot be turned on at this time." Um, whookay? Reboot time.

- "Windows is unable to start. Please run the auto startup repair to fix the problem. Options: Run startuprepair to automatically fix the problem / start windows normally." I ran the autorepair. "Unable to fix the problem automatically, click here to restart your computer and try again."

- After 3 more tries, I tried starting windows normally. Windows can't start up? My ass! "Warning: You have multiple security problems. Firewall disabled and antivirus software not found." The hell? My fucking antivirus is telling me I don't have a fucking antivirus? And I still can't enable my firewall?

- I found my antivirus was actually still functional and ran a full system scan for viruses and spyware. Nothing. I try the autorepair again. "The problem may have been caused by recently added software or hardware." Hmm... recently added software?

- I uninstalled and deleted PSO (sorry Holly and Kimiko, I couldn't get it working anyways) I tried enabling my firewall. Still no good. Okay, whatever. I then tried to run the autorepair again. No good.

Does anyone have a clue on how I can fix this without reformatting? I'd rather not lose 2 month's worth of documents. Though I can still run windows, the lack of a firewall is frightening, and the fucking notice bubbles/ start up autorepair thing are pissing me off....

*cries* RIP Gateway GT5634H, Dec 2007 - Feb 2008

>_<

[Nickelback]

Back up your files and format. Good luck figuring out what's causing this. It might be a hardware/software conflict. I'm not sure. It's possible something got into your root system files and just started wrecking things. Did you install anything besides PSO recently?

[TGLucario]

hmm, might we some strane internal error

just to be safe:

back-up ALL your needed files, onto other PC's if you can, like a laptop

reformat the PC & hope it works

if that doesnt work, go to a PC workshop & ask them whats wrong with it

if that doesnt work, GET A NEW PC!!!

[Miles]

I think it is a new PC >.> Isn't it Saph?

anyways, just back up the needed stuff and a do a system restore...That's what I do when my puter goes nuts o.o it always works.

[Snips]

It kind of IS new... 2 months old >_<

*sigh* Guess I'll start backing up my files then. Crap >_<

[Setzophone]

Have you tried uninstalling/reinstalling your anti-virus software?

[Tirk Renard]

Quit looking up porn

[Snips]

Quit looking up porn

Hey, for the record, I don't look at porn. :chuckle

Have you tried uninstalling/reinstalling your anti-virus software?

I would if it wasn't one of those "can only be installed once" pieces of crap. Stupid Windows Live OneCare....

[Bloozilla]

http://free.grisoft.com/ - free anti-virus.
http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/home.jsp - Free Firewall.

[Nickelback]

Hey, for the record, I don't look at porn. :chuckle

Ahahahahahahahahaha

[Chicken Little]

... I have no idea where to start so I'll make this quick.

Generally being quick leaves out information one might need. :P

- Playing fullscreen game. Game crashes and won't restart. I restart my computer. At this point in time, everything was fine.

A logical approach from an ignorant viewpoint (not dissing you or anything) game crashes the only thing that needs "rebooting" is generally the gpu and not the entire pc.

- "Windows was not properly shut down" Yes it was! What the hell? I get back on, "Your firewall is not enabled, this leaves your computer vulnerable to internet threats. Click here to turn your firewall on." I open Windows Live Onecare and TRY to turn on my firewall. "The Firewall cannot be turned on at this time." Um, whookay? Reboot time.

That entirely depends how you rebooted as to if it was done properly, as for windows alerts, generally it's to do with windows security that they assume programs are off when they are in fact on. Winlive Onecare, I don't use vista but personally I would steer away from Microsoft security products and instead go 3rd party.

- "Windows is unable to start. Please run the auto startup repair to fix the problem. Options: Run startuprepair to automatically fix the problem / start windows normally." I ran the autorepair. "Unable to fix the problem automatically, click here to restart your computer and try again."

Did they give any error codes at this point or simply "stuff got pwnd, click to fix.... oh snap can't do it, sucks to be you"? Generally MS actually provide error messages you can at least google.

- After 3 more tries, I tried starting windows normally. Windows can't start up? My ass! "Warning: You have multiple security problems. Firewall disabled and antivirus software not found." The hell? My fucking antivirus is telling me I don't have a fucking antivirus? And I still can't enable my firewall?

Safe mode. When you cannot access windows brute forcing will do more harm than good to critical processes, giving the pc time to run in a minimal windows state can, at times give it the needed kick start to run a full gpu version.

- I found my antivirus was actually still functional and ran a full system scan for viruses and spyware. Nothing. I try the autorepair again. "The problem may have been caused by recently added software or hardware." Hmm... recently added software?

To me, this would be a software glitch due tot he crash and your brute force to get back in, rolling back to a system restore should have eliminated the problem at this point.

- I uninstalled and deleted PSO (sorry Holly and Kimiko, I couldn't get it working anyways) I tried enabling my firewall. Still no good. Okay, whatever. I then tried to run the autorepair again. No good.

Registry values still exist and the damage has already been done that uninstalling wouldn't immediately remedy the problem. The thing with PC's is that they need to physically forget completely or problems will still persist, unfortunately with MS un/installer they still leave traces on the PC of the programs in question.

Does anyone have a clue on how I can fix this without reformatting? I'd rather not lose 2 month's worth of documents. Though I can still run windows, the lack of a firewall is frightening, and the fucking notice bubbles/ start up autorepair thing are pissing me off....

1st question: System restore prior to PSO installation, if that fails restore back further.

2nd statement: back up the 2months of documents to a zip drive, the documents are inconsequential to the problem at hand.

3rd statement: Vista security, you pay for what you get, either way notifications are easily turned off.

*cries* RIP Gateway GT5634H, Dec 2007 - Feb 2008

>_<

Buck up, PC's throw tantrums all the time, it's only cause for crying when you see smoke pouring out the back of one.

[Snips]

Yeah, I got an error code, I forgot to write it down though. I'll check next time I turn it on.

I'm starting to backup my files (apprently with Vista I neet to manually set up system restorte points so I have none?) but something else came up. I decided to play Oblivion again. I can run it in Windowed mode but not fullscreen. If I run anything in Fullscreen, I get a notice saying my software may be counterfeit and to validate it online at the Microsoft website.

... do I pass? Nope. I get a message saying "It might still be the proper Microsoft software, and recent updates are interfering." or something along those lines. I have a feeling its related to those NINE updates that recently installed (which I forgot to mention in my first post, frigging hell Fly, you covered EVERYTHING in your post, lol) "Use the uninstall program to safely remove these updates." Uhhh great, but how do I single out those updates? >_<

If this doesn't work, then I reformat. It's that simple.

Ahahahahahahahahaha

... I used to, but I grew out of it, it's that simple.

[Chicken Little]

Yeah, I got an error code, I forgot to write it down though. I'll check next time I turn it on.

Well now you know to always write them down. :P Really there are very few software makers that actually give the consumer the benefit of the doubt, the rest assume you have certificates in IT&T, give you a hashed number and tlel you to fuck off it's busy.

I'm starting to backup my files (apprently with Vista I neet to manually set up system restorte points so I have none?) but something else came up. I decided to play Oblivion again. I can run it in Windowed mode but not fullscreen. If I run anything in Fullscreen, I get a notice saying my software may be counterfeit and to validate it online at the Microsoft website.

You know, I assumed as much since helping my sister with her vista machine system restore, but still, I know the options in XP to create restore points upon significant changes to the system (installation of new products for instance) and I wouldn't had assumed that MS would ditch that in Vista, it seems moronic if they did. Anyway, leads me to believe your problem is do with the gpu for the most part which led you to reboot and then MS' programs assuming or validating that subsequent reboots were incorrectly done and thus throwing a hissy fit. Attempt to update the driver of the gpu both automatically (using windows) and manually (manufacturers website) and they should allow you to restart the PC to change the drivers which may at least fix the gpu issue.

... do I pass? Nope. I get a message saying "It might still be the proper Microsoft software, and recent updates are interfering." or something along those lines. I have a feeling its related to those NINE updates that recently installed (which I forgot to mention in my first post, frigging hell Fly, you covered EVERYTHING in your post, lol) "Use the uninstall program to safely remove these updates." Uhhh great, but how do I single out those updates? >_<

Biased Statement: Microsoft are pinheaded wankers when it comes to validating shit, it doesn't surprise me that they don't recognise hardware or software when they can't even produce it properly.

As for singling out the updates, usually they have a date associated with them (eg KB800000PQFAAAAAAAAG - 19/02/08) or a last accessed / modified section that you could differentiate between the rest of the updates. And I aim to please with ze troubleshooting. :P

If this doesn't work, then I reformat. It's that simple.

If you can't restore stability there is no harm in reformatting, just be wary to ensure that programs are properly gone afterwards before you reinstall, since MS put limitations on programs as if their own software is flawless.... bunch of cockheads they are.