Vista Failure

[Asrial]

COMPUTER 1: Dell Desktop (owned by customer 1)
COMPUTER 2: HP Laptop (owned by customer 1)

COMPUTER 3: HP Laptop (owned by customer 2)

.

All three computers are doing the exact same thing and the only easily noticeable similarity between them is Vista + Windows Live OneCare.

It's hard to describe what Vista is doing in a generic word so I'll explain specifics.

The network icon never shows that it's connected and you can't bring up network sharing location. The system won't display the processor/memory in system information and will never bring up device manager. You can ping Google, but the web browser will never bring up a website (this isn't a hijacked browser issue as best I can tell). I can't seem to access several of my utility programs (suspect it's UAC related, though it still doesn't work with UAC turned off). I can't access all the areas of control panel. Basically, it seems hosed.

However, everything works fine in safe mode. I also am not seeing any evidence of a virus/spyware infection and these are optimized computers so this isn't a resource issue.

So my question is...

Is anyone aware of any current issue with perhaps a Windows Vista update or a Windows Live OneCare update?

I uninstalled OneCare on computer 3 but that didn't resolve the issue.

 

[Onouris]

COMPUTER 1: Dell Desktop (owned by customer 1)
COMPUTER 2: HP Laptop (owned by customer 1)
COMPUTER 3: HP Laptop (owned by customer 2)

All three computers are doing the exact same thing and the only easily noticeable similarity between them is Vista + Windows Live OneCare.

It's hard to describe what Vista is doing in a generic word so I'll explain specifics.

The network icon never shows that it's connected and you can't bring up network sharing location. The system won't display the processor/memory in system information and will never bring up device manager. You can ping Google, but the web browser will never bring up a website (this isn't a hijacked browser issue as best I can tell). I can't seem to access several of my utility programs (suspect it's UAC related, though it still doesn't work with UAC turned off). I can't access all the areas of control panel. Basically, it seems hosed.

However, everything works fine in safe mode. I also am not seeing any evidence of a virus/spyware infection and these are optimized computers so this isn't a resource issue.

So my question is...
Is anyone aware of any current issue with perhaps a Windows Vista update or a Windows Live OneCare update?

I uninstalled OneCare on computer 3 but that didn't resolve the issue.

I had this SAME EXACT issue with a client computer. It also exhibits freezing with explorer (not IE) where if you try to delete a file the "Calculating Time" dialog never goes away.

My client was TRYING to remove OneCare when the issues started happening. Using the MS provided tool to wipe out remnants of Onecare didn't help.

I deduced that it was a MS service causing the issue through lots of trial and error... however after a bit on tinkering, we decided the best course would be a backup/nuke&pave.

It's hard to get good info on this considering how awful Vista is, most threads online are hijacked/irrelevant.

(From what I could gather, Windows Defender service and Windows Search service were possible issues, but didn't help me).

Going to network and sharing center freezes explorer too, right?

If you do find a resolution, please do share it here... I'm dying to know the final cause.

::sigh::

 

[Asrial]

Going to network and sharing center freezes explorer too, right?

Yes.

This issue is hard to search for too...

"Vista freezes" = rofl

Anyways, I DID find this...

http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/onecaregeneral/thread/d58206f4-d23a-49d2-b1ba-fb36f9bce5c1

Cross your fingers! ..and yeah, if it works, I'll post here.

[EDIT: This looks VERY promising. All I've done is change the date back to 7/7/10 and already I can get the processor/memory information AND I can get back into device manager.]

[EDIT 2: I had to do this step too http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/onecaregeneral/thread/531bbf4f-6f1a-4f44-afba-de263196269d because I was under the "still not working after removing Live OneCare" situation. Restarting!]

 

[Asrial]

This is awesome. Looks like we found our solution rhinetech

Looks like it's an issue with Live OneCare and the extension certificates (if I'm understanding it correctly).

Computer 3 is now working properly (and yes, back to the current date). Computer 1 and 2 are on-site so I'll post about those two in a few days.

 

[Onouris]

Many props to you. I've forwarded this information onto my client (he wanted to do his own backup because he has over 150GB of data) and I'll post my results here as well as I am updated.

More Info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2284591

 

[Asrial]

I had to do the extra step of deleting a certificate from the 'personal' section, but all three computers have been fixed after doing the steps needed to completely get rid of Live OneCare.

 

[repairit]

Darn.... I read the post title and was thinking it was going to be a rant post ala vista=failure

 

[xxsilk109xx]

Yea I too saw the post title and thought...well this could be interesting..
could have also been titled

vista=failure

 

[B Trevathan]

Asrial
Thanks for posting your fix. I had the same problem and I had already told my client that I thought a n&p would be the only way to fix it as I had already tried everything that I could think to do.

After deleting the certificates I still had to uninstall OneCare and use the removal tool but after I did that it was fixed.

 

[vdub12]

Yea I too saw the post title and thought...well this could be interesting..
could have also been titled

vista=failure

I just about cracked a gut watching the new IT Crowd when the bomb disposal robot's control system was running Vista and Moss said "We are all going to die!"

 

[norm1320]

I just about cracked a gut watching the new IT Crowd when the bomb disposal robot's control system was running Vista and Moss said "We are all going to die!"

Damnit, now my mind won't be blown when it finally gets to Netflix and I get to see that episode. lol

 

[vdub12]

Damnit, now my mind won't be blown when it finally gets to Netflix and I get to see that episode. lol

I was going to post a link but then I figured might get me in trouble.

From what I here the pirate bay is faster then netflix

 

[Asrial]

Just wanted to add that I fixed a 4th computer with this issue.

Booted into SAFE MODE, set the date to 7/7/10 (you can't access this area in normal mode because of the 'issues' with Vista), restarted into NORMAL MODE.

Ran the Live OneCare removal tool. Went into the certificate area (local machine and the personal category) and removed the certificate there.

Done