Vista only getting to desktop then reboot.

[alkemyst]

I am trying to help a friend, I never really used Vista though so maybe I am missing something.

Things tried:
Startup repair

Restore system points

safe mode.

All do the same (desktop and reboot)...

I tried to do a upgrade in place from the boot menu, but it says to upgrade Vista please launch the CD from within windows.

Anyone have a solution I can try?

Thanks

Å

edit:

Disabling the reboot on BSOD helped him get this:
STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error}
The Windows Logon Process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc00000000 (0x00000001 0x001003C8)
The system has been shutdown.


he tried to delete the WindowsWinSxS file but the path couldn't be found from C:

what's the path?

 

[alkemyst]

bump

 

[mlc]

try this
1. Insert the Vista install disk into your drive and reboot
2. Select "Repair your Computer" from the list.
3. Select "Command Prompt" from the recovery choices.
4. At the command prompt type C:
5. Type cd WindowsWinSxS
6. Type del pending.xml
7. Exit and reboot

 

[alkemyst]

Thanks, emailed him that to try.

 

[Lanyap]

Could be getting a BSOD and auto restarting too fast for him to see. Send him this link on how to disable auto restart using F8 during boot up.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ss/disable-auto-restart-vista.htm

 

[alkemyst]

Disabling the reboot on BSOD helped him get this:
STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error}
The Windows Logon Process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc00000000 (0x00000001 0x001003C8)
The system has been shutdown.


he tried to delete the WindowsWinSxS file but the path couldn't be found from C:

what's the path?

 

[denis280]

If Repair don't work and the file WinSxS is missing.tell your friend too start with the memory. This sound like a stick failure. remove all exept one and reboot.if it fail try another one.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Windows Login Process is part of the system components, and should never fail. Either bad RAM, corrupt files/bad HD, or malware, would be my diagnosis.

 

[mlc]

common causes of the STOP 0xC000021A include....
mismatched system files
service pack install issues
incompatible 3rd party software was installed....

You said you tried recovering to specific restore points.. How could you have done that if you said you can't boot completely into windows? or did I misintrepret?

If by chance you can get into windows somehow.. follow this link

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156669

Otherwise...
1) when you boot .. try booting into the "last know good configuration" and see if that does anything for you....
2) check the memory using memtest, etc.. as previously suggested

 

[alkemyst]

common causes of the STOP 0xC000021A include....
mismatched system files
service pack install issues
incompatible 3rd party software was installed....

You said you tried recovering to specific restore points.. How could you have done that if you said you can't boot completely into windows? or did I misintrepret?

If by chance you can get into windows somehow.. follow this link

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156669

Otherwise...
1) when you boot .. try booting into the "last know good configuration" and see if that does anything for you....
2) check the memory using memtest, etc.. as previously suggested

That technet link hasn't helped much for anyone, but I can use google and have already.

They did do #1. You don't have to be in Vista to run a system restore. They are going to try the memory pull tonight.

 

[mlc]

That technet link hasn't helped much for anyone, but I can use google and have already.

They did do #1. You don't have to be in Vista to run a system restore. They are going to try the memory pull tonight.

Sorry I didn't understand your prior post.. As the last known good config option is slightly different than a system restore.. as one just overlays the registry , while the other restores the registry along with all of the system folders/files.

Good luck with the memory test

 

[Lanyap]

Disabling the reboot on BSOD helped him get this:
STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error}
The Windows Logon Process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc00000000 (0x00000001 0x001003C8)
The system has been shutdown.


he tried to delete the WindowsWinSxS file but the path couldn't be found from C:

what's the path?

It sounds like he can get into the F8 Safe Mode with Command Prompt option. At the commend prompt have him enter this to check the disk and file system.
CHKDSK /R

If that doesn't help then have him enter this at the commend prompt to verify and fix system files.
SFC /SCANNOW