Vista won't start after scheduling a boot-time scan

[wh1pla5h]

I scheduled a boot-time scan with my avast and when I tried restarting the computer, Windows went into the Startup Repair and was unable to resolve the issue. It seems like Vista is detecting the boot-time scan as an issue and is not letting the OS boot up until it resolves it. I've tried everything I could think of, including booting in safe mode, but whatever I choose to do, it always ends up going to the Startup Repair and failing to fix it. I thought that if I could uninstall avast from the command script, then maybe that would work, but I don't know the code to do that. Can anyone help me out?

[Lisandro]

Choose 'Last good configuration' to disable the boot time scanning.
If it fails, enter in Safe Mode and uninstall avast.
Do you have any other antivirus in this machine or other security program?

[wh1pla5h]

I've already tried that, and all it does is take me to the Startup Recovery and tries to fix it and fails. No, I don't have any other anti-virus installed.

[Vlk]

I'm not sure I understand. What exactly do you call Startup Repair? Can the system be booted? Or does it hang/crash during boot?

Cheers
Vlk

[wh1pla5h]

Startup Repair is Vista's attempt to fix some startup issue it detects. It is essentially blocking windows from starting up, ironically.

[Vlk]

Are you talking about the black screen with the menu (Normal Mode, Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking etc)?

[wh1pla5h]

No, this is something new to Vista that wasn't on XP. Whatever, I spoke to an HP rep and they told me the only thing I could do is a system recovery, which would wipe my hard drive.

[Vlk]

So you do get to the "Advanced Boot Options" screen (the black one with the menu), but then, whatever you choose, it kicks you to the Startup Repair mode?

I mean, according to this http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/5c59f8c1-b0d1-4f1a-af55-74f3922f3f351033.mspx I don't see why you'd be getting to the Start Repair mode unless you explicitly opt to.

Silly idea - don't you have the Vista install DVD in the drive? (and booting from it)

Cheers
Vlk

[wh1pla5h]

Exactly. And no, my Vista was pre-installed on my laptop, so I don't have a boot-disc.

[Vlk]

I don't see a way how scheduling a boot-time scanner could cause something like this. I mean, the process of scheduling only consists in writing a registry value to HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager. That's all...

[CharleyO]

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Maybe it is some dumb program or setting that HP put on this laptop?   


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