MS Update Caused Total Crash

Running Vista 32 Home Premium, 3 GB RAM. For months now, I've been trying
unsuccessfully to install the MS updates that show up on my computer. The
first near disaster was SP 2, which began an endless loop of Stage 1, 2, 3
with percentage meters followed by a restart of the whole process.

To bypass that problem, I performed a system restore and have been trying,
with only occasional success, to install subsequent MS updates. I.e., I
choose one update on the list of any given day, install it, and wait to see
what happens. If restart is successful, great. More often than not, it's
unsuccessful and I have to use system restore to get the computer
functioning properly again.

So last night I tried to install the first of four updates dated November 11
(I had been away for two weeks). When the endless loop action described
above began, I did what I usually do: tapped the F11 key in hopes of
getting, as I've always been able to before, to the system restore screen.
Either I made a mistake and clicked system recovery when I meant to click
system restore or else system restore wasn't even offered as an option. In
any case, I suddenly found myself looking at a screen that was starting a
system recovery operation. I.e., all my data would be lost.

I immediately turned off the computer and tried to go to safe mode. No dice.
Got a black screen saying something about the boot and that Windows hadn't
started normally, I should insert a Windows installation disk. I tried
inserting one of the three DVDs I had been told by the computer to create in
case of emergency, but that did no good, either.

Now, when I turn on the computer and click F8, I get the message "BOOTMGR is
missing, Press Ctrl + Alt + Del to restart. When I do, I get the same
message. I've called Hewlett Packard, which manufactured the computer, and
they say my only choice now is to perform a system recovery. So two
questions:

1. Is there any way to get my data off the hard drive before I perform the
system recovery?
2. Can I buy Windows XP and put it on this machine?

Many thanks for any wise advice that may be forthcoming.

Joan


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Windows Update Problems
    ... System Restore is now working and PC reboot occurs without problem BUT: ... But when I run Windows Update again it shows kb916281 and kb917344 as outstanding critical updates despite prior confirmation of successful install as well as showing kb918547 as outstanding critical update. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: Strange happenings w/browsers and OE, please help!
    ... >> Where there any updates installed from Windows Updates right before>> the ... >> System Restore to before they were installed. ... Remove them through Control Panel | Add/Remove programs. ... That way I can restore a previous image if a software or hardware install causes problems. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Vista constantly rebooting after this weeks updates - "Config
    ... \par 949358\tab Updates do not install successfully and your computer is continually restarting when you try to install updates from Windows Update on a Windows Vista computer. ... \par Organization: Microsoft ... system restore is the answer. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: No sound
    ... I would be more inclined to either look for updated drivers or perhaps ... I can say here is that I install ALL updates my two computers, ... it is not good to use System Restore to recover from updated ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsupdate)
  • Re: Media Center problems after removing SP2
    ... Do you have the install CD's for XP Media Center Edition? ... I backed up my files, set a System Restore Point, used MS ... > the System Recovery Tools to do an OS restore. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)