I'm back...
Recovery - reinstalled ...

Took longer than I thought it would. So I decided to take the time and remove the 'bloat' , that was the best idea, so much garbage added to new machines.

Laptop is not working so smoothly and fast that I did the same on my ancient desktop. (It had slowed to a crawl with coffee breaks.)

Looks like it was software conflict that shut me down. I could not believe that with such an important part of the start up not working that I could at least open a browser and get online for help.

Thank you so much, I really appreciated and needed your help and suggestions.

I'm using Kaspersky and it's a suggestion to make a rescue image disk:

"Dear User,

We are sorry to inform you that the Rescue Disk image is not currently available for download.

We recommend using the BartPE-based recovery disk.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Sincerely,
Kaspersky Lab"

So I followed the link - http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/

But I'm no further ahead.... this laptop is Vista not XP

Maybe it'll work for my desktop?

Have you had any experience with this? Bart PE Builder
said I should download Version 3.1.3 or higher and also have Microsoft Windows XP service pack 2 installation CD.

Disc(s) arrived yesterday.

All five (5) of them

Today I have some time, or I'll make the time to deal with this.

As I do not have use of my "Start" menu key, I've been restricted on utilizing most of the great suggestions.

I was able to download various spyware and malware to run scans.

wish me luck becaue now I'm about to follow the instructions on the sheet of paper included with these disks.

One disc - "System"
two disc - English recovery
two disc - French recovery

This should do the job.

later.....

Calmier, there are going to be repair options worth trying on those disks. Should let you run some of those repair utilities. And Renegade's right, too. When you don't have a lot of software you've added, or a lot of critical files, or you can find some way to backup those files, wiping is often easier.

As to that extra partition, let me clarify. A lot of manufactures are shipping computers now without sending you complete copies of the software on disk. They're storing the installation software on a seperate partition. You then make a repair disk or two with a built in utility. These disks then allow you to repair or they can access the extra partition to reinstall the OS. Couldn't tell from you're first description whether the disks your were looking for were those kind of repair disks or original copies of the OS. I'm now assuming they were original copies, so you won't have another partition. With the repair partition method, you can't order new discs. Must say I prefer having full disks, if the repair partition gets damaged, then you've got problems.

Basically, the consensus opinion is to advise people to get portable drives, or install 2nd hard drives, and then make periodic "ghost" copies of their computers. That way they can just reinstall everything, new software, critical files, and all.

Wise move calmier, very wise move. I only made the suggestion to do a clean re-install because you had already spent a few days trying to find a fix. Otherwise I would never have made that suggestion because painful as it is, I believe it's a good way to gain savvy. Incidentally, did you at some point in time check with Intel for a possible fix? It's not all that uncommon, at least it wasn't for me, to not take into account their role as manufacturer; they have an extensive tech library and all sorts of updates.

http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support?iid=home+hdr_nav1_support

Also, any idea what it exactly was, or what you did that triggered this "problem" of yours in the first place? Or does this experience fall into the "some things are just better forgotten" category? ;)

Watcher 13, Thank you for the research, that was more than I was able to find. And thank you for the suggestions. I'll print them and follow then when the disks I ordered arrive, hopefully within the week.

I've been off line doing other stuff.

I've ordered replacement disks, from my Acer supplier. They are the same disks used to install my OS originally. I say this because when I supplied my SNID they provided the Manufacturing ID #.

Do you think they will offer a repair? or just a clean install?

Watcher 13, I prefer the classis mode in Vista, at the moment I can see the Windows Flag in a circle (Start) I believe. But it has no function when I press it, just nothing happening or it's hidden behind the black screen.

and Ctrl+Alt+Del opens Task Manger, but the only funtion operating is the ability to close programs. Not open - run - or browse any other files.

Following is a copy of the error message I received including the hidden files:

"This is what I get as the error message:

"Event monitor user notification tool has stopped working"

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: IAAnotif.exe
Application Version: 7.8.0.1013
Application Timestamp: 47041a21
Fault Module Name: ISDI.dll
Fault Module Version: 7.8.0.1013
Fault Module Timestamp: 47041627
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00016563
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: fd00
Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3: fd00
Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Read our privacy statement:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=50163&clcid=0x0409"

Hope this offers some help. It's from my first message.

Renegade, I back up my data and I have original disks for programs I use.

Watcher13, When I bought this laptop the OS was installed and it's the disk I made then from the I'm assuming OEM partition that I cannot find. But I bought them online from Acer.

Watcher13, I have Advanced System Care Pro and tried to access the system retore from that program and from the Task Manager, ASC Pro allowed me to access the restore program included with Vista but there were no 'restore times' listed...

I'm guessing they were not loaded yet. What with the "Intel" not completely loaded ....

I don't know too much about this stuff, but you do and I'm grateful you're here to assist. Thank you.

I'll let you know when the "Original Disks" arrive. Then I'll find my disks, I'm sure. I have them for my desktop, just not this laptop.

Sorry, to be accurate I should have said backup disks, above. Certainly, if Calmier can find his originals, if he has any, he can reinstall. But, I gather if he already had them, we wouldn't be having this discussion, so my basic point remains....

Generally good advice, Renegade, but he says he can't find his repair disks and, if they're really repair disks only and if he has an OEM partition, he says he can't get to his System Recovery options. Although, I'd think I'd keep trying to find that screen. Maybe there's instructions for repair options on his manufacturer's sight - since he says he can still surf. Obviously, without one of those two options, he can wipe - but reinstalling might be a little difficult..., :) Sometimes you muck because you don't - at least at the time - have a better option. After all it's not like he's going to lose his ability to wipe. That option is always available, even when you don't want it.

Hello calmier - With all the mucking around you've been doing, unless you've been carefully mapping your activities, the fix for the root cause of your problem might not even work anymore. At this stage, if it were me, I'd wipe the disk and do a clean install of the OS. Then afterwards reinstall all my personal settings, programs, documents, music, pictures, etc, from the backups I made with programs I got from GOTD. You'll be up and running within the hour. You were making backups of your Documents and Settings weren't you?

Calmier, researched IAAnotif.exe and it's part of Intel's Application Accelerator software. It's part of your CPU driver package, which makes it about the utlitmate in critical files. If your chip drivers have some damage, that might explain everything. According to Intel, it's a critical process and could easily cause problems if corrupted.

First, you should still be able to run your repair utilities. If you have your start button still visible, click start, then "run" on the classic menu and type cmd. This should open a DOS black box - a command prompt - that should say C:\Users\(name of your account or "Adminstrator", whatever)>. If you're using the new Windows Menu, just type cmd into where it says start search and hit your enter key. Either way, if it's working right, you'll get the command prompt box. Into this, type chkdsk /r (make sure there's a space before the slash) and Vista will tell you you can't do that, it's locked, do you want to reboot. Reboot and Checkdisk will run before Windos reboots. /r has it check your entire disk, so it will be at least a couple hours. You can also run System File Checker from that command prompt box. Just type sfc/scannow (no spaces). SFC probably won't fix any of the Intel stuff, but might be worth a try if it's a damaged Windows module that's fighting with iaanotif.exe. Which might explain why it's giving you the wrong answer about SP1.

If neither of those will run, you should be able to run at least chkdsk through F8. SFC shouldn't run that way, it needs Windows at least safe booted, but I might be wrong. Definitely try it, I can't remember. To do this, when the F8 boot screen comes up, select "command prompt" or "safe mode with command prompt" to get a command prompt. Your screen will say C:\ or C:\something. Try the sare mode command prompt too, if the first doesn't work. From the c:\ prompt you can type chkdsk /r to run the chkdsk utility, and can try sfc/scannow. I would still run these utilities first before I tried anything else.

Since you can still surf, here's an explanation on iaanotif.exe from a good reference site:

http://exe.paretologic.com/detail.php/iaanotif

After I ran what repair utilities I could run, I'd reinstall my chip drivers. If you can get to your start menu, you can go Control Panel (switch to Classic View - trust me, it's easier) and open your Device Manager. You may even see warnings under your "controllers" (your chip drivers). In any case, you can click on controllers to open the controllers section up. Then right click on one (if there's two or more) of the ones listed and select "update driver" from the menu and Windows will try and download and update your driver, if needed. If that gives you more problems, you can select "properties" from the right click menu, select the driver tab and hit the button that says "roll back driver" to undo what you did.

It's more reliable to download the drivers from either the laptop manufacturer or Intel, but you may not have that option. With Windows messed up, the downloads may not install, but you can try. Using "update driver" may not work for the same reason. The other problem is, to get the right package, your going to have to be sure you've got the right info. Support on the laptop's site should be able to give you the right driver package from your computers name and, possibly, serial #.

If your drivers really are hosed, and you can't get an update, or - better yet - find those disks, which can also let you run repair utilities, then you're probably hosed, too, so I'd make every effort to run the repair utilities. You might even be able to download a DOS disk repair utility that you can run at boot to fix your disk, but it may have to be one that's just a self contained .exe file that you can download to an easy to find place from your command prompt, like downloading to your C: drive itself, because you may not be able to run ANYTHING that requires an installation now.

I would make EVERY effort to try and run at least chkdsk. That may be your ONLY viable option if you can't find those repair disks! Good luck!

Hello again,

Sounds like I have a software problem, some sort of conflict.

and the APP name: IAAnotif.exe

could be the program.....

Is there a fix for this one?

Well, I thought I found the "Black Screen fix for Vista", maybe I did, but It's for a 64 bit machine.

Microsoft went further this time with any downloads or checking, it managed to verify my system as genuine, but could/would not install the 'package'
And I picked the one that didn't say 64 bit, seems they are the same package for download just labeled l. without the 64 bit extended label and 2. with the 64 bit label.

Thank you

Hi Watcher13,

When I reboot and hit F8 It doesn't take me to "Advanced Boot Options" it's the same screen as the 'boot normally' or for Vista used 'Advanced".... it's useless

I've tried reboot in "Safe Mode" F11 when I was hoping to get recovery, but I didn't. I had no options to open anything, no start menu, no programs in 'quick launch tray' etc.

When I reboot let it just open normally, black screen and no start menu, at least I can open IE and get online to read here.

Robert, I had difficulty opening the 'this page' with the bug fix link in the middle of the page, but after a dozen tries I managed to get there.
When I clicked the "fixed by this patch" link, I'm taken to a Microsoft site.

I'm not sure my problem is the same as the Toshiba machine, But I'm going to download and run the 'Windows Vista Package' now,
I'm sure I have this one in the routine updates, judging from its date.

I'll let you know....

wish me luck

Maybe you want to read about the Vista bug that turns screens black (and makes toolbars disappear):
(if this applies to you ,there's a bug fix link in the middle of this page . If not,you should read
this too.)

I think I'd start by running the utilities designed to repair damage. I would start with the Startup Repair Utility and then run the Checkdisk disk repair tool and the System File Checker system file repair tool until you find one that (hopefully) fixes it. You don't have to be in Windows to run any of them. You can run all 3 from the System Recovery screen through the Advanced Boot Options screen which is accessed by hitting F8 while booting up. I'm sorry if you know some or all this. I like to spell things out. Most confusion comes from people not being on the same page. The easiest way to clarify is these links from "Windows VistaForums" which I think is quite a good site with a ton of accurate, simple tutorials:

Getting to the Advanced Boot Screen:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88009-advanced-boot-options.html

System Recovery options:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/194765-system-recovery-options.html

Startup Repair options:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html

Checkdisk (chkdsk)
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67612-check-disk-chkdsk.html?filter11=Performance%20Maintenance

System File Checker
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

PS You could try launching recdisc.exe in the taskmanager
[taskmanager -file tab- new task(run)-type recdisk.exe] to build a a repair disk as yet
(Vista SP1)

Calmier,

I've been off line for while..

Press ctrl-shift-esc to launch task manager.
Go to file tab -new task (run) - type explorer.exe
Does that open the explorer window?

Btw What happens if you press the "windows" button on your keyboard?
You most probably have a recovery partition too(but it could be hidden).

Thanks Robert:

I'm about to re-boot (again) and this time I'll not follow the suggestion : for Vista use Advanced

All the restore points have been deleted by this 'problem'

The 'Advanced' just restored to the point yesterday where Microsoft updated my systemand left a restore point......useless

I know I made 'disks for back up of my OS', I just can't find them or any documentation for this laptop.

FYI: I was able to view the restore points (yesterday) when I had Advanced system Care Pro open, there are no restore points available. (so sad)

I've tried opening 'explorer.exe from the Task Manager, but I cannot see or access it, I noticed a flash of a screen (in the black background, where my wallpaper should be) but then nothing.

The 'restart' in Task Manager has been disabled as well....

If I cannot find my 'back up Vista OS disKs" is there anything I can do??

You could try accessing your system restore points by rebooting
and pressing F8 in order to launch Vista in safe mode.

Enter C:Windows\System32\strui.exe
in the command prompt in order to launch System Restore and choose a restore point.

But remember you can't undo a restore you made in safe mode.
(You can always choose another restore point though).

Or, insert the original Vista DVD (if your system wasn't pre-installed and you are lucky enough to have one), and restart booting from the DVD.
After the "Windows is loading files" thing click "next"( do not install Windows Vista).
Look in the lower left of the screen and click on "Repair your computer." Select the Vista operating system you want to restore, click next and then choose "System Restore."

Good luck.

I need help

I've gotten this message when I started my Vista Home Premiun SP1 laptop

Means I have no wallpaper, no desktop Icons, (just a black screen with gadgets clock and weather) no Start Menu, no ability to set to a previous restore point.

I can open IE or Chrome because they live in the quick lauch tray/tool bar.

Can this be restored/fixed or a new .dll downloaded and installed from somewhere.

I've gone to the Microsoft side for an 'Online check and fix of my computer' but it tells me I don't have IE 8, (and I have this one), also tells me I don't have Vista Home Premium SP1 and I do.

Boy I need help here.

Someone on one of the help sites: "said this happened to me and I downloaded RC for Windows 7"

Seems to me that is only a temporary solution.

This is what I get as the error message:

"Event monitor user notification tool has stopped working"

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: IAAnotif.exe
Application Version: 7.8.0.1013
Application Timestamp: 47041a21
Fault Module Name: ISDI.dll
Fault Module Version: 7.8.0.1013
Fault Module Timestamp: 47041627
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00016563
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: fd00
Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3: fd00
Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160

Read our privacy statement:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=50163&clcid=0x0409

I've also tried using Trend Micro online scan, but I'm told I dont have the necessary Java, etc installed, but I do.
So I try to reinstall, it will not complete installation.