I have a Dell Latitude D520 laptop with Windows Vista business 32 bit SP2. For about 6 months I have struggled trying to figure out how to fix my computer. Many computer support sites have tried to help me and Dell also tried without results. I tried to ask for support from the Microsoft site, but it rejects me because my product ID is not recognized now by Microsoft (It tells me that my product code is not valid in the country I have selected). I have the original Windows vista CD that was mailed to me when the laptop was purchased from Dell. The key in the back of the envelope is rejected, then with Microsoft Support help I was able to install SP1 and SP2 last year and in my system the product ID appears as a different number also, not recognized by Microsoft. On the bottom of the laptop there is a multicolored label that reads Microsoft Windows Vista Business xxxxx-xxx-xxx-xxx Product Key:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX Certificate of Athenticity: XXX-XXXXX My issues: "Windows explorer has stopped working" "Windows explorer is restarting" The computer connects to internet only when connected via a cable, but the wireless does not connect anymore. The laptop identifies that wireless networks are available, but when I click "connect to a network", it tells me "Windows explorer has stopped working" "Windows explorer is restarting". The same problem happens with two updates that have consistently failed to install 1) Windoes IE 9 for Windows Vista and 2)Windows malicious software removal tool (KB890830). All the other updates install as long as I do it manually one by one. If I try to connect wireless from the start menu / connect to / then the computer stops and an error message "Windows host process (Rundll32) has stopped working" comes up. As a last resort I tried to do a windows repair installation but was unable to do so because I already have the SP1 and SP2 installed. I cannot do a clean install because I have some software licenses for translation (Wordfast classic and Pro) that I would loose and would have to repurchase the program, so I need help fixing the computer without wiping out my programs. Could I have a CD with Vista with SP2 to try and repair the windows files? Is there another way to fix the problem? This is very important for me because I cannot use the computer in any location other than my house by the router, so I am without the portability of the laptop. I have run AVG, Avast, Malwarebytes, Spybot search and destroy, Lavasoft Adaware. Nothing has been detected. Combofix run. Disk cleanup and defragmentation done. On the sfc /scannow it tells me there are files that could not be fixed. PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN!! And I am so puzzled by Microsoft's automatic pop-up in the site stating that my product is not entitled to support here in the US!! I do not know which forum this issue really belongs to. My e-mail is: patriciapedrazamar@gmail.com

Go to the run command type sfc /scannow this should repair any corruption in the window system files.

Go to the run command type sfc /scannow this should repair any corruption in the window system files.

Darius, unfortunately I have tried your suggestion 3 times. The final report states that there are some corrupted files that could not be repaired. This is why I tried the repair installation but I only have the original CD from the factory and the SP1 and SP2 came as download updates. I cannot repair the installation of SP2 with the CD of a previous version.

Darius, unfortunately I have tried your suggestion 3 times. The final report states that there are some corrupted files that could not be repaired. This is why I tried the repair installation but I only have the original CD from the factory and the SP1 and SP2 came as download updates. I cannot repair the installation of SP2 with the CD of a previous version.

For you to do a repair you can slipstream SP2 into a new DVD containing the install files.

For you to do a repair you can slipstream SP2 into a new DVD containing the install files.

OK, how do I do that? If you can guide me I'll do it. Patricia

OK, how do I do that? If you can guide me I'll do it. Patricia

Running Vista it is more difficult to slipstream a SP. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/230249-sliptream-vista-sp2.html

Running Vista it is more difficult to slipstream a SP. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/230249-sliptream-vista-sp2.html

First, you may take the following steps to troubleshoot this issue: 1. Please reboot the computer in Clean Boot to check the result. 2. Run antivirus program and perform a full scanning in Safe Mode. 3. Run ShellExView ------------------------------------ 1). Download ShellExView v1.41 from the following link http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.zip Please Note: The third-party product discussed here is manufactured by a company that is independent of Microsoft. We make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability. 2). Right-click the "shexview.zip" file, select "Extract All", the Extraction Wizard will prompt. 3). Click Next, input "C:\ShellExView" (without the quotation marks) in the "Files will be extracted to this directory" textbox. 4). Click Next and click Finnish. 5). Open the "C:\ShellExView" folder and double-click the "shexview.exe" file. It will scan the registry for all the shell extensions. 6). Select all the non-Microsoft extensions in pink by press "Ctrl" in the keyboard. 7). Click the "Disable Selected Items" on the toolbar and click Yes. 8). Restart your computer and check if the issue is resolved. Regarding the product key validation issue, please run the MGA Diagnostic Tool to troubleshoot this issue: 1. Please open Internet Explorer and visit the following link to download the MGA Diagnostic Tool: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52012 2. Save the "MGADiag.exe" file to the "Desktop", and then double click on the file to run the tool. 3. Click the “Continue” button. 4. Under the “Windows” tab, click the "Resolve" button if it is highlighted. 5. Restart the computer and visit the following website to validate Windows again. http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.aspx?displaylang=en Additionally, it is recommended to contact our Windows Genuine Advantage support for the email support via the following link, which is free of charge and more securer for some personally information during the validation: https://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?gprid=9860&st=1&wfxredirect=1&sd=gnSabrina TechNet Community Support

Hello Sabrina, Thank you for the detailed instructions. 1. Clean Boot done, the problem still remains. Windows explorer stops working as soon as any of the two updates start or as I try to connect to wireless internet. 2. Avast full computer Scan run in Safe Mode. No files infected. 3. ShellEx view cannot be done. I download the files. When I try to extract them, windows explorer stops and restart. Tried several times and could not do it. Rebooted in safe mode with networking and tried to download and run ShellEx view again and the same problem happened. Regarding MGADiag.exe the Program runs, validates that Windows is Genuine, Validation code 0, If you want I can print the screen for you. However, it does not let me "Resolve" (it is in gray). However I went to the two sites for validation and now it tells me I can request support. I still need to resolve the windows explorer and lack of wireless issue. I already placed the request on Microsoft support, but at the end of submission, the diagnostics tool stopped working... Incident # SRX1167876429, hopefully they find it. Thank you, Patricia

Dear Sabrina I wonder if you can help me. After the support team began working with me, Incident # SRX1167876429, they mailed me a CD to do an inplace upgrade; in the meantime the case was "temporarily closed". I followed the directions from the support tech assigned to me and received an error message, tried to reopen the case with no success. Initially my e-mails went unanswered, then they began to bounce back with a message stating that it was not a valid e-mail in the system (I'm guessing he got fired). Tried to contact his manager and never got an answer. Decided to try by phone then, because at this point the validation code got erased from my computer when I initiated the inplace upgrade, which stalled when the error message came, so Microsoft does not recognize it. After a whole afternoon on the phone, bounced around to 4 different people, the last one asked to please hold and left me there for 2.5 hours listening to the MS phone system music. Tried to open a new case and as I was working on a different computer because mine is not working, requesting to reopen my case. I got a response from a lady with a new case number SRX1169556353ID that states: ______________ On Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 8:45 PM, Microsoft Online Customer Service <00000.MSUP.NA.00.EN.SIT.HYD.CS.OAS.TRI.00.WB@css.one.microsoft.com> wrote: Hello Patricia, Thank you for contacting Microsoft Customer Service. I have processed your request. A Support Professional will contact you via e-mail within 24 hours to assist with troubleshooting your issue. Note: If you are using a Spam blocker, please make sure you can receive e-mail messages from *.microsoft.com. If you do not see the response from a Support Professional within the next 24 hours, please check your junk mail folder for an e-mail containing your case number, which is listed in the subject line of this e-mail. If you have any questions regarding this service request or need to update the service request notes, please reply to this e-mail with your case number in the subject line. Thank you, XXXX On Jan 19, I wrote again replying to this message trying to find out who and when will the support be given: "Dear XXXXX, to date, no one has contacted me. Is there a way to follow up on my case and get it rolling again? Thank you for your help. A. Patricia Pedraza" No one is taking my case. I do not know why the refusal to help me. Can you direct this case to the right people or can you tell me how can I reach someone inside MS that will put an end to this bouncing around? I was given a case number on Dec 22, 2011 and I am still struggling to get some help from MS. Thank you in advance for any help you may give me. A. Patricia Pedraza

Dear Sabrina I wonder if you can help me. After the support team began working with me, Incident # SRX1167876429, they mailed me a CD to do an inplace upgrade; in the meantime the case was "temporarily closed". I followed the directions from the support tech assigned to me and received an error message, tried to reopen the case with no success. Initially my e-mails went unanswered, then they began to bounce back with a message stating that it was not a valid e-mail in the system (I'm guessing he got fired). Tried to contact his manager and never got an answer. Decided to try by phone then, because at this point the validation code got erased from my computer when I initiated the inplace upgrade, which stalled when the error message came, so Microsoft does not recognize it. After a whole afternoon on the phone, bounced around to 4 different people, the last one asked to please hold and left me there for 2.5 hours listening to the MS phone system music. Tried to open a new case and as I was working on a different computer because mine is not working, requesting to reopen my case. I got a response from a lady with a new case number SRX1169556353ID that states: ______________ On Mon, Jan 16, 2012 at 8:45 PM, Microsoft Online Customer Service <00000.MSUP.NA.00.EN.SIT.HYD.CS.OAS.TRI.00.WB@css.one.microsoft.com> wrote: Hello Patricia, Thank you for contacting Microsoft Customer Service. I have processed your request. A Support Professional will contact you via e-mail within 24 hours to assist with troubleshooting your issue. Note: If you are using a Spam blocker, please make sure you can receive e-mail messages from *.microsoft.com. If you do not see the response from a Support Professional within the next 24 hours, please check your junk mail folder for an e-mail containing your case number, which is listed in the subject line of this e-mail. If you have any questions regarding this service request or need to update the service request notes, please reply to this e-mail with your case number in the subject line. Thank you, XXXX On Jan 19, I wrote again replying to this message trying to find out who and when will the support be given: "Dear XXXXX, to date, no one has contacted me. Is there a way to follow up on my case and get it rolling again? Thank you for your help. A. Patricia Pedraza" No one is taking my case. I do not know why the refusal to help me. Can you direct this case to the right people or can you tell me how can I reach someone inside MS that will put an end to this bouncing around? I was given a case number on Dec 22, 2011 and I am still struggling to get some help from MS. Thank you in advance for any help you may give me. A. Patricia Pedraza

With help from the forum I was able to resolve the error message telling me to uninstall Powershell to be able to do the in-place upgrade. The computer is now connecting to wireless internet and seem to be working fine. Thanks, A. Patricia Pedraza