Vista Drivers, Unable to Uninstall.

I have recently set my Windows Vista Ultimate 32.bit software to update on its own.
Probably not a good idea as I am in the middle of a critical phase of software development.
In such a phase, I now stick to the policy that "if it ain't broke don't fix it".

I started to get a BSOD every morning. After allowing windows Vista to update itself.
When I would log in, Vista would detect that the system had just recently crashed and offers to find a resolution to the problem. The resolution indicated that the problem was associated to my motherboard's SATA drivers. My motherboard is an EVGA Nvidia 650i Ultra motherboard.
After 2 more BSOD and seeing the same solution offered, I downloaded the latest drivers for windows Vista 32bit from EVGA's website and installed the drivers.

The next morning, once again, I have a BSOD. But, this time, when I log in, it takes about 15 minutes for my desktop to display. Plus, there are no icons on the Desktop or background windows, just the recycle bin. Additionally, I am greeted with a dialog containing:
"c:\Windows\System32\config\system profile\Desktop refers to a location that is not available..."

I reboot into safe-mode and try to remove the drivers. But, the drivers can't be removed because the Windows Installer Service is not running. I try to start up the Windows Installer Service, but they will not start up in safe-mode.

I reboot to my empty desktop once again and luckily, I can start up the Windows Installer Service from there (as my user is within the administrator group), I also start up the Windows Module Installer Service, just-in-case. I try to perform the removal of the Nvidia Driver Software and it finally starts working.

Finally, I reboot and I am able to login quickly with all of the appropriate elements on the desktop.

What I outline above is a stream-lined version of actual action-cycle that included may reboots and much time on the internet researching a handling for the issue (probably a total of about 6 full hours). I did come across 2 to 3 forum postings that indicated doing somthing with windows services to get the un-install to work. But they items where not quite spot on or associated directly with the symptoms that I was dealing with.

-dsidlo

Blog This!

First, A little about me. I'm a software developer. Been at it for 23years. 25 if I include the 2 years that I spent creating a graphics and interface extension for the C-64 between '83-'84.

My purpose of this Blog is to document solutions computer related problem that I happen to be able to solve. So if it helps anyone else to get their job done, good!

-dsidlo