Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Vista is not working!

Jul 12, 2010 6:17AM PDT

Please help! My computer seems to have many problems and I have no idea what is causing them... no known virus, registry changes, etc. I can not access the internet connection (wireless) in normal mode. The connection is available in safe mode and internet explorer works. Almost everything that I do in normal mode freezes and has to be stopped using ctl alt del. Windows security center and firewall are off and can't be accessed (when I try to turn on security center in safe mode I get "the security center service can't be started"). In normal mode I can't access the control panel, network configurations, services, msconfig, other spyware programs (spysweeper, malware bytes), etc.. IE won't even come up and say that the page can't be displayed or anything. It "thinks" for a few seconds and then the rotating cursor stops (on some actions it will open a blank page and then freeze there "thinking"). Basically, anything that is associated with Windows or IE does not seem to work.

The desktop appears normal and I have full access to all of my files and 3rd party programs (AutoCad, iTunes, etc.).

I had OneCare installed, but uninstalled it in safe mode using the clean utility. I have run several spyware/malware scanners in safe mode and no infected items were found.

I am afraid that I am going to have to reinstall the OS. I have all of my files backed up, but I will lose a lot of programs, etc. if this has to be done.

Any ideas about what may be causing this or how to fix it would be greatly appreciated.

Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit - HP Laptop

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
OK...
Jul 12, 2010 9:19AM PDT

Your problems:

1. Unable to access the Internet in Normal mode, but able to in Safe mode. Is there wireless present ? Cnnected to wireless, but cannot access the Internet ?

2. Cannot access security center in normal nor safe mode.

3. Cannot access the Control Panel....

4. What else ?

- Collapse -
More info, but I'm not sure what is important to mention
Jul 12, 2010 11:27AM PDT

In normal mode I can't connect to wireless and have no access to the internet even though the modem and router are working and I have full access in safe mode.

Basically, the only thing that I can access are files and third party software (except for spysweeper and malware bytes).

For example, if I go to the start menu and type in msconfig in the search bar and then press enter nothing happens. Then, when I try to do that same thing again I can't get the curser in the search bar or access anything else in the start menu.

If I try to connect to a network from the tray it lets me see the pullout menu and then when I select an option nothing happens.

If you have something in mind that you would like me to try let me know... I don't really know what is important to mention here.