PC only works in safe mode

[snowdragon]

my pc HAS decided it now wants to run in safe mode and will not do a system restore, any help welcome, I have not done anything to it.I came to put it on today and it is running in safe mode so it is making it very hard to do anything.I have shut it down and restarted it but still doing same, was fine last night, I am using Windows Vista home premium. Comp is about 3 years old, have tried system restore but when it has finished it I get a message saying unknown error prevented it doing it.I found what I thought were the back up discs I got with it, tried them but it is still same, IT will not let me do a restore and I have not installed anything new.

[Ford]

firstly try, restart pressing f8 when booting, should get a menu up. select 'start win normally', see what happens.

 

ps, if it loads up normally, do a full anti virus scan, and check in 'event viewer' in admin tools what has recently happened.

Edited April 14, 2013 by Ford

[renegadeimp]

Easy fix. Grab win 7 disc and install

 

Seriously though, Ford is on the right track here. But as soon as you are able to, get rid of vista. Even MS pretty much disowned it.

[snowdragon]

thank you, the pc already had vista on it when purchased, it was bough new. I tried the F8 but nothing happened, pc works, in safe mode with networking , I have unplugged it, turned it off and on, now just uisng it in safe mode, it just will not come on in normal mode

[renegadeimp]

Nothing happened when you pressed F8? SPam the hell out of that key after the initial boot screen so it can "catch" the menu screen.

[Ford]

surprising that f8 doesn't come up. press f8 repeatedly right from the off, sometimes it doesn't kick in in time.

failing that, when in safe mode go to 'event viewer' in admin tools in control panel, see what errors have recently happened. post back.

or, maybe a virus. try and get/download a boot antiv and run that.

Edited April 14, 2013 by Ford

[renegadeimp]

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-security/vista-only-works-in-safe-mode-and-cannot-do-a/5bbe950f-66f0-4a6b-ac24-27e631006385

 

ALso, when in safemode, perform a clean boot through msconfig. This will allow you to see if its a program that is causing the problem.

[Ford]

also, when in safe mode, go to control panel, system, advanced system settings, advanced, start up and recovery, where there is 'time to list recovery options' tick, also untick auto restart on errors. then restart with f8. or menu may then come up auto.

Edited April 14, 2013 by Ford

[snowdragon]

it says in the event viewer this

Applications and service N/A 14.04.2013 15.29

 

Application 20.00 MB/.... 14/4/2013 15.25 Enabled Overwrite events as ness

 

under admin events are errors going back to 2010!

 

not sure if this is what you mean, I am not able to open my disc draw it seems stuck, if I bang it then it will open

[Ford]

try the 'time to display recovery options' tick, and untick auto restart. then restart, with or without f8, strt win normally

[Ford]

what does event viewer say under 'critical errors'?

[labrat]

just a quick one

 

go to start -> run -> type msconfig and hit enter

 

click the tab that says boot

 

and make sure safeboot ISNT ticked as this will mean it starts in safe mode as well

[snowdragon]

did that labrat but it gave me system restore!

[unclebulgaria67]

I have had similar, but not with Vista. Using system restore creates more problems.

 

If you hold the power button for more than 8 seconds it will force system shutdown and then you have various options for restarting. I think I ran my anti-virus software in safe mode and it found a few viruses, which once they were got rid of, enabled the system to be restarted in normal mode.

 

I am trying to think of anything else I did to solve the problem and will post back if I remember. But it does sound the same. Sudden safe mode only and trouble getting back to normal mode.

 

Another thing. Have you installed any new software recently or any major updates ?

[Ford]

avast does a decent downloadable boot anti virus/rootkit. there are others.

[snowdragon]

no Uncle not a thing and have tried that power button thing but I only get 3 options now and not 4, the fourth is normally the one asking if you want your pc repaired

[Ford]

failing all the above, try a boot antivirus. what does your critical errors say? re the last 24 hours say?

[unclebulgaria67]

Have searched online and there are many reports of this with Vista. Some are saying that if your system was slow, before this recent problem, it is probably a malware problem.

 

Another suggestion is this.

 

"I've seen this problem before and it is not easy to fix because there is no one fix that works in all cases (and Microsoft has put out no articles to address the issue). Try to boot into safe mode (repeatedly click the F8 key while booting and go to safe mode with networking – or do so from the command prompt on the disk). Then let's check some of your system files:

 

Go to Start / All Programs / Accessories / Command prompt and right click on command prompt and click run as Administrator (you can skip this step if using the disk).

 

Type sfc /scannow and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix some of your system files. Hopefully it will complete with no corruption it could not repair (if there is such corruption post back here or try to analyze it to find the problem file(s) using http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228. Try to post any corrupted files here so we can see if they can be repaired with good copies from the installation disk (unless there are too many).

 

While in Command Prompt, type chkdsk /f /r and enter and let it run. It will scan and try to fix any corruption or bad sectors on your hard drive and mostly remove that as a potential cause.

 

 

If that doesn't work, then please post any repeating error messages from the Event Viewer concerning startup (Start / Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Event Viewer – or typing eventvwr from the command prompt). Here's how to use Event Viewer: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic40108.html. Post those messages here so we can review them. "

[unclebulgaria67]

Another suggestion.

 

Type "msconfig" into the command box in safe mode. Your "System Configuration Utility" program should open on your screen. Click on the "General" tab on the utility program. Select the "Normal Startup" option. Click "Apply" and "Ok" to confirm the change back to normal mode.

Follow the on-screen prompts to restart the computer. Your computer should reboot normally.

Run the configuration utility again if the computer restarts in safe mode.

Click on the "Boot" tab and ensure the "Safe boot" option is unchecked. Repeat your steps for the "General" tab described earlier and reboot.

 

I think this is what is detailed in this link.

 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Edited April 14, 2013 by unclebulgaria67

[RebeccaPidgeon]

my pc HAS decided it now wants to run in safe mode and will not do a system restore, any help welcome, I have not done anything to it.I came to put it on today and it is running in safe mode so it is making it very hard to do anything.I have shut it down and restarted it but still doing same, was fine last night, I am using Windows Vista home premium. Comp is about 3 years old, have tried system restore but when it has finished it I get a message saying unknown error prevented it doing it.I found what I thought were the back up discs I got with it, tried them but it is still same, IT will not let me do a restore and I have not installed anything new.

First things first.... what are the machine specifications. Although, for some systems, the F8 suggestion would work, some manufacturers use a different Function Key.

[Ford]

f8 is generic, re the o/s

Edited April 14, 2013 by Ford

[snowdragon]

it is an ACER Desktop

[snowdragon]

well typed in msconfig, screen appeared did the normal start up, still started back up in safe mode

[Ford]

did you do the tick/untick i mentioned? have you done an antivirus check?

[renegadeimp]

You need to go to msconfig, go to the startup tab and disable everything.

 

You can also go to services, check the hide microsoft services box, and disable everything thats left. Although that step is more advanced, it can flag up a few issues.