Comments on: Possible KSOD (blacK Screen Of Death) Solution for Windows Vista

By: Baltoeric

Baltoeric — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:30:30 +0000

After spending 2 days trying to fix this issue for a friend of mine’s Vista 32 bit laptop, M. Bakir’s solution worked like a champ! Instead of software.previous, I had to use software.bak. Still worked perfectly.

Thank you SO much!!!

By: Voshi

Voshi — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:21:43 +0000

M. Bakir solution worked just rename software_previous to software ))))))) big thx

By: Jay

Jay — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:07:20 +0000

M. Bakir said,
Wrote on September 16, 2009 @ 10:21 pm
here is a new solution for the Black screen of Death.
Using the ultimate boot disk tools, used explorer to access the registery directory at C:|windows\system32\config\ found two registery files “software” and “software_previous” I renamed the “software” file into “software_corrupt” and the “software_previous” to “software”.
Guess what! it worked.

if it worked for you join my network
http://www.linkedin.com/in/mbakir

WORKED FOR ME
DELL XPS M1330, WIndows Vista: KSOD after security update

By: jAH

jAH — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:10:08 +0000

Where are the damn recovery points when you really need them?

By: whatalongsearchoninternet

whatalongsearchoninternet — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:44:49 +0000

of course, i’ve used standard linux commands:
mv (to rename a file)

By: whatalongsearchoninternet

whatalongsearchoninternet — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:42:16 +0000

Hi,

changing the software_previous to software worked for me

I was a bit confuse if it was in regedit or directly in directory (tried many linux livecd)

Finallly I changed the files in the directory [C:/]windows/system32/config (which is not necessarily accessed via a regedit software)

Bactrack 5 worked for me using the commend prompt:

fdisk -l (to check if C or system disk is an NTFS disk and its name)
mkdir /mnt/windows (create a “shortcut” folder into which mouting the disk)
mount -t ntfs /dev/sda2 /mnt/windows (to mount the disk: for me, C: is named /dev/sda2 accoring to fdisk -l)

then in /mnt/windows i had the same directories software and software_privious that Mr. Bakir, so i did the same and it worked!

For the Linux commands explanation in backtrack, check this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsGlnhF7JbE

Good luck

By: amanda

amanda — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:42:11 +0000

NONE of these have worked. I have repaired the registry using a program, done all the fixes listed here… I do not have or cannot find my disc and I do not have any recovery points.

A little more info..

I have Windows Vista Home Premium.
The kid had an annoying popup so he used my admin password, then the black screen… dang kid
Found and removed a virus, which is why I started with the registry repair first.

check disc, malwarebytes, and spybot come back clean

Tried all the fixes above, logs are changed, softwaredistribution is changed, etc. nada

any other ideas folks? Thanks in advance!!

By: Marc Gregoire

Marc Gregoire — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:27:39 +0000

You should at least be able to access your files throught the windows recovery console.
Or maybe you can connect the drive to another working machine to copy all data from the drive.
NOTE: you should *always* have offline backups of your data. Never trust a harddisk.

By: joy-p

joy-p — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:00:17 +0000

Mine looks overcomplicated than the problems u guys got. Avg antivirus captured some system files including winlogon. I used winxp boot disk to repair the captured files. During repair, with 2 mins remaining, there is power failure and i had to restart the repair process again. Thinking that the power is okay, i tried again and with 25mins remaining, power failure occurs. Not risking another power failure, i powered up my generating set and tried the repair again from beginning. After the repair consule has copied the files it needs to use for repair, system reboots, windows xp loads and then the blacK screen with only cursor shows, preventing the repair. Tried every idea u guys have posted but nothing. I dont wanna format cos of important family photos and videos. HELPPPPPPPPPP

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:42:37 +0000

I finally found a way to get the desktop to show after login on Vista.

1.Go to Start –> Run –> Regedit
2.Find the following key:
HKEY_ LOCAL_ MACHINE, SOFTWARE, Microsoft, Windows NT, CurrentVersion, Winlogin
3.On the right hand pane, find Shell and double click it to edit its value. Its value should be explorer.exe only.

Mine had the explorer exe and winlogin exe or something. I deleted the winlogin one, leaving only explorer.exe and it worked. Thanks goes to Duno http://www.technize.com/my-documents-folder-opens-at-windows-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-73588

By: Troy

Troy — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 22:24:29 +0000

M. Bakir had the answer to my KSOD problem this time as well. I had this once before, but can’t quite remember what the solution was. I think it was the clearing of the log files, since I had a folder named Logs_bad in addition to the Logs folder. Of course I tried that solution this time without success, so it may just have been from a failed attempt. I didn’t use the previous_software file since it was dated 2006. I found a folder created by System Mechanic which backs up my registry and had a software file dated 9/2010 which is probably pretty close to when the pesky KSOD reared its ugly head this time around. Mind you, it didn’t take me that long to fix the problem, I just gave up for awhile and used my backup PC. Every now and again, I would take another crack at fixing it. I’m now in the process of updating software and running System Mechinic to get another good backup of my registry. Many thanks to all who persevere, especially M. Bakir.

By: miafora

miafora — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:30:46 +0000

Forgot to say that i refer to vista.

By: miafora

miafora — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:29:50 +0000

Thanx MBakir! Your solution worked fine for me.
Rename windows/system32/config/software_previous to software.

By: kristaps12

kristaps12 — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:00:33 +0000

M.Bakir’s solution worked flawlessly. Thanks man!
P.S. HP Pavilion dv6500 Vista Home Premium 32bit

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 18:40:11 +0000

KSOD for two days now and going insane Here is the info, if anyone has any suggestions I would be so greatful!

HP Pavilion laptop (dv4), originally Vista 32bit. Had been upgraded to 7 through the upgrade program. Came to me with a Win7 repair disc (not recovery discs)

Needed to get back to Vista and did not yet know there was an HP tool for this, so stupidly followed these directions found all over the web (legit but turns out NOT for use with upgraded units, only clean installs I believe – since there is no “full” Vista OS to revert to)

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-downgrade-from-windows-7-to-vista-step-by-step-guide/

C:
Md Win7
Move Windows Win7\Windows
Move “Program Files” “Win7\Program Files”
Move Users Win7\Users
Attrib –h –s –r ProgramData
Move ProgramData Win7\ProgramData
Rd “Documents and Settings”

move /y c:\Windows.old\Windows c:\
move /y “c:\Windows.old\Program Files” c:\
move /y c:\Windows.old\ProgramData c:\
move /y c:\Windows.old\Users c:\
move /y “c:\Windows.old\Documents and Settings” c:\

D:\boot\bootsect /nt60 c:

First section went fine. Second section was fine except for the Program Data and Users – both came up with “not found”. Googled this, and other people w the same tutorial said to just keep going if that happened. Also, I mistakenly put in D: as the text lists, not E which is my dvd drive.

Now – the laptop boots up, I see the XP logo, Windows logo with the bar going left to right…but then goes to ALL black with a cursor and that’s where it stays. Cursor is movable, but nothing else. CT alt Del and shift 5x does not work. Same thing with safe mode, sm with CP or NW. After a few minutes, I see the default screen saver come up, and occasionally a second of the four corner text in safe mode comes up but then goes away.

I put in the repair disc and can view that fine – screen is normal.

Memory check comes up fine, and the repair option says “no errors” Restore has no point to go back to, and image recovery – no image found/have none saved or on disc.

Command prompt, which is where I entered the stuff to begin with that messed this up, is the only option left really I can work with. I did get
into the regedit menu as people here suggested and followed those directions, but this did not work either. Don’t know what else to do with regedit so leaving it alone for now. HP doesn’t carry the 32bit recovery discs and all I have here is a set of 64bit ones.

Also, not sure if this matters, but when running the repair disc, it finds two entries for windows – windows 7 and windows 7 home premiums. Both identical partition size and on C:local disc. First option must be Vista as choosing that gives “this version of system recovery options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair” However, it still saying Windows 7 means I messed something big up, I suppose! It does have a “load drivers” button that seems to work.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

By: Marc Gregoire

Marc Gregoire — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 17:49:07 +0000

If your machine does not recognize the CD drive for booting, it probably means something is wrongly configured in the BIOS. Try to enter you BIOS. This is usually done by pressing DEL or some other key right at the beginning when the PC starts. Then you should try to browse the BIOS settings and find somewhere something called boot sequence. There you should be able to add your CD-Rom to the boot sequence.

By: Semi Bald from pulling hair out

Semi Bald from pulling hair out — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 16:35:15 +0000

I am sorry to sound like a novice, but my Systemax (asus 5gpc MB) Running Vista will not let me past the dreaded “Loading windows files” screen. My Bios screen pops up, but I cannot even get it to recognize a boot request from CD (I only have drivers, pre-installed Vista). All requests (safe mode, etc.) lead to Loading Windows Files, then NADA! Ctrl/Alt/Del gives nothing but “Loading windows files screen. I cannot access hardware, safe start, and have no Vista disc for reinstall. Tried ultimate boot CD, but it would not recognize CD drive for boot. Can anybody help?

By: Dan T

Dan T — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:40:48 +0000

Thanks, Nick67, your steps worked. I just recovered TWO Dell M1330′s which both KSOD’s nearly simultaneously.

Jeremy V – I will retrace my steps so you can try this solution:

1. Right-click Taskbar (or CTRL-ALT-DEL) and select Task Manager
2. File > New Task (Run) > Regedit
3. Disable UAC
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System
Key EnableLUA set value = 0
4. Enable the administrator account.
File > New Task (Run) > cmd > net user administrator /Active:yes
5. Diagnostics Mode
File > New Task (Run) > msconfig > select Diagnostic Startup > Ok > Reboot
6. Logon as Administrator
7. Rename c:\windows\softwaredistribution to softwaredistributionold and create new softwaredistribution
8. Rename c:\windows\system32\winevt\logs to logsold and create new logs
9. Boot up in normal mode
10. Run WindowsUpdate
11. Turn on UAC
12. Turned off the administrator
cmd > net user administrator /active:no

Done.

By: Jeremy V

Jeremy V — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:38:05 +0000

Hello all,

Maybe I’m doing something incorrectly, but I’ve tried a few of these without success. The same symptoms persist:
Black screen after logging in, can access task manager, can access safe mode, dont’ have explorer.exe running, etc….

I deleted my event log, and MBakir’s suggestion was to rename Software_previous to software and rename Software to Software_corrupt….except I only have one Software in Windows/system32/config, so i don’t know where to go with that one.

I also did Nick67′s idea only to find my BLACK screen of death had changed into a Pale BLUE screen of death with the same symptoms (not the old school blue SOD with the error message displayed). And when I get to the step “sfc /scannow” it won’t let me.

So what now?

Jeremy

By: Dylan

Dylan — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:23:03 +0000

MBakir! Thank you ! It works
Used the command prompt from recovery console to rename windows/system32/config/software_previous to software. Works great. Thanks