Vista functionality bugged.

[Departed]

Have been using Vista Ultimate x64 since Beta 2, went through upgrades to RC1, RC2 and finally RTM. I am NOT a person who reformats constantly, I loathe reformatting as I can't even think of going through all the manual tweaks and customizations I do. I do not make images of my drive with software like Norton Ghost, I only manually backup files. With that aside..

vLited my Vista (retail, not RTM, still Ultimate x64), and have ONLY had this problem on the vLited version. If I had any idea what was causing it, I would've fixed it, but I don't. I tried to search for similar issues but either they weren't resolved, caused by viruses and such, or I tried them and they didn't work.

Using the Classic start menu for reference.

Control Panel (Start Menu and Computer shortcuts) doesn't open, Network and Sharing center (network icon in notification area) doesn't open, Properties (right clicking on Network) doesn't open, Properties (right clicking on Computer) doesn't open, Personalize (right clicking desktop) doesn't open. O&O Defrag opens 50% of the time. Windows Update (start menu shortcut) doesn't open.

Right clicking on Folders/Files and selecting Properties takes 10 seconds to open. Using the 3D 'switch between programs' thing with the quicklaunch shortcut causes it to hang for 10 seconds and then open the normal alt+tab switch. Using the Windows key + tab shortcut causes it to hang and not open at all. Opening an image in Windows Photo Gallery takes 10 seconds to open.

As I said, I know for a fact that this is due to my vLited install, though I have no clue as to why. I went over my prior vLite'd install, as it happened on the first restart after installation was fully finished and removed less of what I first removed. It worked just fine, multiple reboots, ended up customizing my install back to the way I had to before I refomatted for the first time.

I'll be updating the post with more things I find, and I've also attached my vLite Preset file for diagnostic if anyone cares to check it out.

If anyone could help, that would obviously be wonderful, and I'd be grateful to have this problem resolved WITHOUT reformatting for the 6th time.

For more clarification, I have a 5 year old Windows XP installation I've used until I got the first beta of Vista, played around with it for a bit, but still used my XP installation. When my XP install died due to.. overclocking (*cough*) I actively used Vista ever since. That 180GB of data is still sitting there (though, or course, I backed up and deleted as much as I could to make room for more and more, and also backing up of my current Vista partition before reformatting that for the first time). I also recently used Vista's disk management to make a 3GB partition and install stock XP on it to use partitioning software to extend my 30GB Vista partition to 85GB by shifting free space from my storage (dead xp) partition to the Vista one. So, summed up, I have a dead XP, then active Vista, then active XP, on 3 partitions, respectively.

vLite.ini

Edited May 30, 2007 by Departed

[nuhi]

Hm very weird, never experienced such a thing even when messed it up badly during testing.

Anyway I will try your preset and let you know how it goes. As for the reformatting goes since that error is unheard of could be due to the drivers, or at least the integration of the same.

If I were you I would reformat with full Vista. This tool, especially in the beta phase, isn't for those who dislike playing with the OS.

[Departed]

Running stock Vista is, well, obviously horrid, and going through the time to turn off/disable/delete the things I removed with vLite isn't effecient whatsoever (nor does everything get removed as deepy as with vLite), but I guess I'll do it again in a week or two if I can't find a solution to this problem. I might try just one more vLite, without intigrating drivers or any unattended option and with Window's intigrated drivers (minus printers and modems).

I'll try to uninstall my drivers, see if the problem goes away. Also now that you mentioned it, it could very well be one of the drivers, as the problem does not exist in safe mode.

Thanks for looking into it, Nuhi. Great program even in a beta state, just my conflicting nature (or drivers) causing problems. D:

[nuhi]

Ok, I hope it's the drivers, if not be sure to let me know, I'll be happy to fix.

[Departed]

(Sorry about the delay, was out working)

That was really bizarre.. I uninstalled my sound drivers (Realtek AC'97 intigrated audio) and without even rebooting to fully uninstall them, everything opened up again.

Posting back after I restart, going to clean my registry and reinstall them again. If the problem persists, an e-mail is going to Realtek.

Edit: Okay.. after rebooting, everything is back to being screwed up. Now this is really iffy..

Edited May 30, 2007 by Departed

[JohnnyFu]

Hi,

I experienced a similar problem.

Did a fresh vLite_Vista_x86 install, installed a couple of drivers, played with some services, did one or two reboots and suddenly the bug occoured, Control Panel and my Dial-Up connection didn't worked anymore.

It was really strange, i can't remember and exactly what i did last but i'm almost sure it was nothing with the services, it might be caused by a driver install.

Sorry i can't tell you something really interessting it was just a Vista test and I didn't payed much attention on the problem

Edited May 31, 2007 by JohnnyFu

[nuhi]

Departed, no rush, it sure does sound confusing. First uninstall 2 remaining drivers, for Nvidia use control panel - programs, not just in the device manager.

Maybe after you rebooted it installed those drivers again, they are in the cache now. Try to just disable the sound chip in the device manager.

I tried your preset (without the drivers) in the virtual machine and it worked just fine. Now I wouldn't blame Realtek on this if it turns out to be just that driver. I think it could be that vLite forced the wrong driver to install.

JohnnyFu, did you integrate any of the same drivers Marvell, Nvidia or Realtek?

[JohnnyFu]

[Drivers]

D:\Treiber\nVidia Treiber\Vista x86\158.18_forceware_winvista_32bit_english_whql\nv_disp.inf

D:\Treiber\nVidia Treiber\Vista x86\nforce4_amd_winvista32_15.00_english_whql\Ethernet\nvfd6032.inf

D:\Treiber\nVidia Treiber\Vista x86\nforce4_amd_winvista32_15.00_english_whql\SMBus\nvsmbus.inf

D:\Treiber\nVidia Treiber\Vista x86\nforce4_amd_winvista32_15.00_english_whql\SMU\smuc.inf

As I said i'm not sure if my problem was caused by vLite. I tried to reproduce it yesterday, without the 15.00 chipset and slightly newer graphic drivers, without success.

I think you shouldn't spend to much time on this until someone is able to reproduce it and can make sure it's caused by vLite.

Also tomshardware-germany wrote an article about similar weird Vista problems. Topic: Nvidia and Western Digital to cripple Vista.

[nuhi]

Ok thanks. I will be ready if someone reports it, meanwhile reinstall the full Vista with the same drivers and you also be on the lookout.

[pallavsuri]

now that you guys have mentioned. there is some problem with driver integration. even my control panel at times refuses to work. didnt think it could be vlite. thought it was a vista bug.

its difficult to reproduce though. just happens.

[Orioon]

which hdd are you guys using and which video card?

there was a report on the german "tomshardware" side that tells about this error when using a nvidia graphics card and a WD raptor hdd.

Does this meet your system?

[pallavsuri]

its a thinkpad t42.

hitachi hdd 80gb 5400 rpm

and ati mobility radeon 9600/9700 1400x1050 14inch

[roadapathy]

Same problem for me. Things seemed great until I rebooted. I haven't messed around but it seems like the control panel should open. But I won't complain since vLite is an early beta. I just think this program is the BOMB! THANKS! Please keep up the awesome work!

[rebelo]

Hi,

I had a similar problem after I disabled 'Software Licensing' after using Vista for a while. It doesn't make sense, but after putting it back to Automatic, everything was working just fine. I had the problem with Realtek audio (laptop) and Creative SB X-Fi as well. Try to check your services and set it back to default, or at least software licensing and see if it works?

Rebêlo.

[geo411m]

i too have noticed some bugs with functionality. like snipping tool not running unless right click on and ran as administrator. there are other but this one is real pain for me. i dont remove alot either, i only remove languages, media center, tablet pc, help, and speech which by the way removes over 4gigs. i feel like permissions gets screwed somehow as this doesn't happen if i logon in true admin account.