I tried to have Automatic Updates install SP1 no less than 6 times, but it failed every time. It seems the McAfee Firewall was interfering. So I dumped McAfee & now just use Windows Firewall.

After that, Automatic Update of SP1 failed again - it hung up at 3% complete on Stage 2. After 15 hours running Automatic Update, I finally forced my laptop to power off.

The update appeared to continue just fine on the next bootup, but now I'm having real problems. Each time I start my laptop, it seems fine until I try to start a program (any program). Then it quickly hangs the entire system and I must force a power off. I can't get Task Manager to run.

Running in safe mode with networking, everything seems to be OK. I looked for a way to back out SP1 and try again, but I haven't found a way to do that - all my system restore points prior to SP1 have disappeared. How shall I proceed in order to get my system back in working order?

Vista Home Premium was preinstalled on my laptop: Toshiba Satellite A215 with AMD Turion 64 2.00 GHz
2GB RAM, 147GB HD (100GB free)

T

Tried all the anti virus programs over the years. Both Norton and McAfee are memory hungry and crash prone. I've run AVG Antivirus and firewall for more than two years. Never had a virus or AV-related problems. When I installed Sp1 I forgot to turn off AV and it still worked without a hitch on an HP laptop with two gigs memory and a 2 gig AMD Turion 64 processor.

I imaged my machine with Acronis 11 before updating so if everything turned to s*** I would have a sure way of recovering without reinstalling all my programs.

Without restore points you are limited.
A repair install seems to be the only viable choice at this point and for that you need the Vista CD?
Do you have a CD?

There is another option available to uninstall Vista SP1 aside from System Restore: Control Panel Programs & Features (a.k.a. Add & Remove Program).

i_Xp/VistaUser

With an incomplete install I doubt that it will be in Add\Remove!

Yes you're correct there can be no Add/Remove option fror incomplete installation. The only thing the OP can do is use Toshiba recovery wizard. BTW I happen to have Toshiba A215 and I didn;t6 have any problem installing SP1.

i_Xp/VistaUser

"didn;t6" add that word to your dictionary.

Regards.

Once I thought I was wrong, now I'm not so sure!

Ewen, anyone can make a mistake, lol.

I agree with XPUser. The only way I can think of is to use the Toshiba Recovery CD, but it wouldn't hurt to check Programs and Features for SP1 just to be sure.

Hmm I wonder what happened to decency and morality? Doesn't anyone remember them?

XPuser, SP1 is not listed in Programs & Features. Do I need to back up my data before using the "Toshiba recovery wizard"? (I'm not sure I can connect my external drive to back it up...)

T

Absolutely you should backup everything that is dear to you first before booting to the DVD supplied with your Toshiba or through the Advanced Boot Option (F8). If you cannot use external USB HD you can burn it to CD or DVD if the facility is available to you.

Instructions for using Toshiba Recovery features are given on Page 58 through 63 of the Toshiba User's Guide for Satellite A210/A215 that you can download from HERE.

Good luck.

i_Xp/VistaUser

Oddly enough, after reinstalling Vista from the Recovery DVD, SP1 no longer shows up as an available update in Windows Update... So I guessed that the version of Vista on the Recovery DVD is not actually the same as what came preinstalled on my laptop - it would seem to be newer, already including SP1. And yet SP1 is still not listed under "Progams and Features"...

Thanks for all suggestions. At least I'm working now.

T