VIsta hangs on Welcome Screen

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

Like the Title says this new machine I bought has Vista Home Premium on it and randomly it will hang on that screen after entering the PW. Must hard reboot to get it going again. Have searched long time and cannot find any definitive cure, just guesses that haven't worked yet.

Also Windows Update seems broken, no matter how I try to use it I get Error Code 80073712. This was a semi-new comp, it was an off-the-shelf store Demo that I got for almost $200 off the new price. At one point just before I bought it someone, probably the store tech, had put a lot of Updates on it on Feb 5, but since then nothing.

Any ideas?

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

I'd return it because it sounds like something is wrong with it.

If you don't want to do that, then a clen install of the OS might be the best solution. At this point, since it was a store demo, you don't know who did what to it.

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

Thing is on tech boards I've been led to believe many people who have Vista all have that same error, I've found comments on it often, but no solutions. Apparently MS tells people the same 3 things to try and when it doesn't work they say they cannot fix it at this time and wait for SP1 it may fix it. The only solution I've found anywhere is to do an upgrade install of Vista, not possible in my case.

This is the message we get:

Windows could not search for new updates.

Error(S) found: Code 80073712

I do not have a Vista retail install disc. I know if I take it back to Future Shop they will only tell me to run the 'System Restore' disc, which would put it right back in the same bloated, barely usable condition HP shipped it in and even then it didn't run update, before I did ANY changes/tweaks. First thing I did when I hooked it into the Network here was try to run WU.

Even still that I could live with, I run my own better Security Apps, it's the hanging on the Welcome screen that annoys me most. I even removed the PW in case it was causing troubles, but it can still hang randomly or freeze up after a period of inactivity, logged on or not.

THOSE problems I really want to solve. I'm one of those people who leave my comp running 24/7 except during electrical storms, I hate rebooting.

Since I don't have much installed yet I'm considering just partitioning the drive and setting up a Dual-Boot with XP Pro Sp2 and just using that until Vista gets the kinks worked out. With 320 GB I have room to spare.

I know eventually Vista will be rammed down our throats, especially for gaming with DirerctX10, (and that's what I wanted this machine for, a cheap upgradeable gaming box) but right now it is a barely useful piece of crapware. Compared to Vista XP is a super stable, marvelous OS you have to work hard at to crash.

I was just curious to see if anyone here had any ideas or common experiences.

goretsky

Hello,

It sounds like you bought a floor model, which may have had strange things done to it while it was on display.

I would suggest following ZLim's recommendation to return it and get a different computer.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

goretsky

Hello,

If you have discs you can use to reinstall the operating system, you can go ahead and erase the hard disk, reload the operating system and then restore your data from backups. That might solve the problem. If it does not, though, then replacing the computer will likely save you money and time, in the long run.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 1059

Since you've put all that into it - go one step further and put in a different hard drive. Sounds drastic, but if you do have further problems - just put the original equipment back in and return it to the store. You've almost got enough to build a new unit already! With all the stuff built in theses days, you might have a defective motherboard. One last thought, are you sure it's not an over-heating problem?

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

Update: I tried a fix I read about on another tech forum, and it just may have done the trick. This tech guy said to cure Vistas Hang on Welcome screen problem, which apparently is affecting many people, was twofold.

First of he recommended stopping all unneeded programs at boot up, stuff like Abode reader, Quicktime, PowerDVD, and others that try to make themselves 'Quick Launch' using the Start tab in the System Configuration control. (something I always do anyway, it's good advice for people who don't have a lot of RAM )

His 2nd idea was to stop from starting any nVidia app except the Driver itself, which obviously you need. Any other file starting with 'NV' like the Media Library, tray icon or anything else uncheck the box and reboot. It still leaves the service intact should you need it but it won't load on boot.

Since Wednesday night when I did that I have had no hangs on bootup after about 5 boots, nor any system freezeups even when I left it idle for awhile or when gaming. In fact Vista has been behaving itself. (perhaps I scared it when I waved a Vista Ultimate disc at it and threatened to wipe it off the drive if it didn't behave) Wink

Is it fixed? Time will tell, I'll report back in a week or so, that should be proof enough considering I use the comp daily. It would be nice to know there is a fix for this problem that appears to be plaguing a lot of people from what I've Googled.

Now if I could only find a fix for the Update Error Code 80073712 , perhaps SP1 will fix that.

Wonsr · Joined: Nov 26, 2004 Posts: 42

Vista SP1 is now available. If I had Vista, I would go for the download. Very Happy

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

Ok, now I seem to be getting the same problem that is affecting many other Vista users, and that is random crashes after 10 minutes or so of inactivity.

Based on what I've read in answers offered on other pages, I know my problem isn't heat related as the covers are off and I can see the fans working and can feel that it's not all that warm. Nor is it RAM related as I have 3 GB of matched DDR 2 modules, the most Vista can really use. Nor is it vid card related as I have a fast nVidia 8600GTS with the very latest Vista drivers, WHQL certified. All drivers and apps are updated to latest versions. HDD defragged too. SATA cable replaced with know good version. Brand new PSU. Virus/Spyware scanned.

The last crash was the worst, the HDD didn't want to boot, so I ran a Bootable Hardware Diagnostic disc that ran outside Windows and said there was nothing wrong with my hardware after performing many tests. It suggested the problem was software related.

Trying to boot to Last Know Good Configuration didn't work as I found out after I got it started that all my Restore Points got wiped somehow, as well as all my Performance And Reliability Data too, how I don't know.

I'm ready to wipe C:\ and just install XP...I just can't waste anymore time fighting this, unless anyone else has any ideas I haven't tried?

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2747

Caution: before you wipe, see if you can get drivers for all the hardware on your new computer. If you can't, you will have to live with Vista or start replacing components.

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

Good point, will be scouring the HP downloads, and elsewhere, tonite!

After the next crash I'm going to try a Repair Install off a disc I borrowed, just for fun... Wink

Maybe there's something missing in these OEM installs since many of the affected people whose comments I've read all said Vista came pre-installed. The simplest thing would be to fix my install that I own.

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53

OK, just to report back I did an Upgrade install of Vista Ultimate to see if stability would improve, and it has. Gone are the HDD freezeups, Vista lockups and Welcome screen hangs. The system is behaving itself, except for 3 BSOD's I got called "bad_pool_call" which shut the machine down. From what I understand it's a Driver incompatibility which is odd because I've installed no new drivers since the old OEM OS. But I've read people have had troubles with the Creative Driver for their Audigy cards and Vista.

I think I should have done a complete wipe and clean install, so that's what I will do, the choice is now...Vista Ultimate or XP Pro Sp2? I have the Drivers for both....how badly do I want DirectX10? (or to be able to play games like HALO 2 which is Vista specific, and there will probably be more in the future)

Just to be sure about my Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320 GB HDD I ran the DOS Boot Disc version of Seagate Tools since the Windows version didn't seem to like my old OS last Saturday and half the tests 'were unavailable'.

The DOS version worked, it told me that SMART is enabled and has NOT been tripped so I would assume no HDD failure is imminent since SMART correctly predicted my other 2 HDD failures a couple of years ago.

But the 'Long' thorough version of the scan is telling me I have 4 bad sectors or 'LBA's'. ( perhaps that's why CHKDSK kept finding the same errors last week concerning 'XPSViewer.exe' ? )

Ok, so now I got the 'Long Test PASSED After Repair' message.

To quote Seagate: ""Passed after Repair" is a special condition where bad sectors were detected as unreadable and the user gave permission to SeaTools to attempt to reallocate blank replacement sectors which was successful. The drive is now considered a good drive. A few defects are usually not a cause for concern. For example,there are nearly four hundred million sectors on a 200GB drive.Nonetheless, you should run the LONG Test more often to see if there is a trend of growing defects."

So in conclusion I think this machine is far better off without the HP OEM install of Vista and I would definitely recommend to anyone having troubles with a OEM Vista install to wipe the drive and put on a fresh FULL copy without the bloatware or things that the computer makers wants you to have.

And spend a bit of time on a Vista tweak page to learn what to turn off and take control of your machine, you will be happier for it.

http://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html

http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/supertweaks.htm

http://www.speedyvista.com/tweaks.html

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 2240 Location: Central FL, USA

Hmmmmm!

Almost all the hints and tweaks are at least a year old.
I'd think there would be some more recent updates.... maybe not Sad

Many, I've been using for quite some time.

Some, are the same tweaks I've been using for years on XP.
Like speeding up the shutdown. Idea

Vista is more like XP than many would like to think. Rolling Eyes

Like, my XPCleanup program.... it's at least 90% effective on Vista.
So what the heck.... I'm still using it on Vista PC's.

Reinstalling Vista to a better version is OK, but way beyond the finances or capability of the average user. Retail versions of Vista are way overpriced anyway, even with the most recent price reductions from MS.

If buying a store display model of any PC, I'd insist they return the unit to Factory Restore condition. Many store display models already have the store name on them, and most users won't know how to change that to their own name. Also the screen saver/blanker may be password protected. All that junk needs to be removed.

Cost aside, there are definite drawbacks to buying display models.

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor

AD · Joined: Dec 27, 2007 Posts: 53