Numerous Vista Problems

[Itronix]

Hello. I finished building my first computer (see signature). It's great, but I'm having quite a few problems with Home Premium 64bit. Here they are:
1. Control Panel won't open
2. System Properties won't open
3. Windows can't check for updates
4. Windows defender can't check for updates ( error 0x80070426 )

I read that I should go into services and start Software Licensing, but it just says "Windows could not start the Software Licensing service on local Computer. Error 3: The system could not find the path specified."

Because this is an OEM copy, Microsoft won't help me unless I fork over $59.00 for service. I don't have $59.00 to fork over. Has this happened to anyone else? I don't want to reload the OS because I already have things on here that I can't save (like save games on San Andreas). That might seem silly, but I've probably played for 20 hours and I'd rather not repeat it . Thanks for any help!

 

[PC eye]

Gave saves can be copied out of the save folder to removable media if necessary since it sounds like you saw a bad install of Windows to start with. That's one reason for seeing how things are going on a new build or fresh install of Windows before getting into too much abd then seeing problems like that come up.

There's no repair install option like seen in XP available. Vista is also a bit more fussy about fresh partitions as well.

 

[Itronix]

Ok, thanks! The save files are hard to find in this game, but on another forum, someone showed me a link to download them individually (for San Andreas, which is the game I was worried about) by mission. I wouldn't have a problem with that, if I could just start back from where I was in the story.

I haven't ever done this. How do I reinstall Vista? Do I have to reformat (don't know how to do that either)? Does the Vista disk just take over and clean out the drive and start fresh?

Sorry for all the questions, but what causes this? Is it one of those things that just "happen" sometimes? Thanks!

EDIT: I just read that someone thinks that there is a repair option, if you boot from the Vista DVD. Is this true? Would it help me with my problem?

 

[PC eye]

Unlike Vista's predacessor XP Vista lacks the repair install option. The repair tools now seen are for correcting startup problems when Windows won't load for some reason.

With a full reinstall of Windows on the same partition the old Windows, users, and Program Files directories are rolled up into a Windows.old folder for retrieving files later then deleting the then useless folder off of the drive. But you can also run into problems at times where it will turn out that you may need to reformat the drive to see a fresh install work as it should.

This is one reason why I suggested locating the folder where the game saves are tucked away and save them on removable media or a second partition or drive for safe keeping. Then clean it up for a fresh install with nothing lingering to see further problems since Windows apparently when on sideways there by the description. One last thought however would be using the system file checker and even the system restore feature in case it turns out to be something else installed causing the problems there.

At the Run prompt right off of the Start menu type in "sfc /scannow" and press enter to have Windows verify the main files. The system restore feature is located in Start>accessories>system tools where you simply pick from a list of dates depending on the amount of restore points created so far. You'll need to go back as far as you can to see if that will clear up the problems before planning a fresh install of Windows.

Those are the choices there. If you go back far enough and find Windows then runs normally you will likely need to reinstall the game along with other things. First look over what was installed to see what can be uninstalled. That will usually mean video and sound as well as other 3rd party programs to see if you can isolate the offending program or driver set.