First, let me apologize in advance as this is going to be pretty long..
Desktop computer currently running Vista Ultimate, was originally built by my ex (no longer available to help), when XP first came out (probably around 2000)... Has Pentium IV chip, 1GB memory, 3 100GB drives (C with OS & all programs, D with downloaded program files, pictures, etc & E for downloading media), also has 500GB USB drive for backups.. Motherboard isn't capable of supporting anything beyond what's currently installed (so no upgrade to better chip or memory)..
First time I had a major problem with it was last fall when it wouldn't do any backups and couldn't even get to System Restore.. Since it is running Ultimate, I did have an older disc image backup and decided to restore with that.. First major problem, Windows Repair didn't recognize any OS on the drive... was able to get past that and re-imaged and then spent several weeks updating programs and recovering back to where it had been.. Also opened everything up and blew it out (it was pretty dusty).. So worked just fine until about 2 weeks ago..
Suddenly started re-booting on its own for no reason.. Didn't matter if I was on the internet, running a program or whatever.. the monitor would go black and the next thing it was booting.. Tried opening it up again, very little dust this time.. Tried System Restore to a point before it started having problems (in case it was software or a downloaded update).. no change... Set the options to not reboot immediately after a crash to check for "stop/error" messages on the "blue screen", but there were none.. Just "blue screen".
So, tried a System Restore back to the oldest Restore point available (approx 2 weeks back) and it seemed to be more stable.. After re-installing the deleted Windows updates, and updating the software (programs like AnyDVD, Malwarebytes, ImgBurn, etc..) I went ahead and created a new full disc image backup (which went without a hitch)..
I then tried to start a new complete daily back-up... it would run for a bit and then error out with "The RPC Server is not available".. So I thought maybe I would try re-imaging back to the image from last fall (since everything seemed to be working fine after that).. Not possible, again Windows repair didn't recognize any kind of operating system on the box and the only image it showed available was the one I had just made.. Tried to do a System Restore back again but the Restore Points were no longer there.. Finally managed to get a complete backup done by restarting it every time it crashed until it finally made it through everything on the C drive that could be backed up...
I have a feeling that something in the OS has gotten so corrupted it can't be fixed without re-formating the C drive and re-loading everything from scratch and that's where I'm having a problem.. I have the original Vista Ultimate OEM pre SP-1 disc (so not a retail disc and Microsoft won't support or allow upgrade to one with SP-1 included).. When the box was running XP Professional, he had Office 2000 Professional and we only bought the Office 2007 "upgrade" version (which means the original software would need to be installed first)... I'm not sure if I have the old Office disc (and I seem to remember major problems with 2000 and Vista).. Most of the other software I do have (either hard copy or on the "downloads" drive) and I do have a list of serial & registration codes.. And if I could keep it from crashing long enough, I could copy all of the documents, the .pst files and other important info to the standalone USB backup drive..
The problem is, if I can't re-install Office 2000, I'd have no way to upgrade it back to Office 2007.. and I have major WORD, EXCEL and of course Outlook files that I can't loose.. (Besides not looking forward to all the time it would take to rebuild from scratch)..
The only other idea I've come across is to try an "upgrade install" (since the old XP repair install isn't available in Vista).. Of course you have to upgrade to new version of the OS than you're currently running.. And there's the problem with that pre SP-1 OEM disc.. The desktop has been running with SP-1 since Microsoft supplied in thru Windows update.. I found a program that lets you create a new Vista install disc "slip-streaming" SP-1 into the original and then burning the new disc.. But from everything I've read, it still won't work because all the Windows updates since SP-1 was released make the current OS on the desktop "newer" than the software on the install disc... The folks that have come across this suggest un-installing SP-1 and then trying the "Upgrade Install", but works for some and not for others.. and don't know if it would repair whatever is causing the re-boot problem.. (which happened almost a dozen times within an hour last night)..
So, hoping for any other ideas or suggestions... I know enough to be dangerous, but basically still a newbie at this... As I mentioned, the desktop was built by my "ex" and he pretty much gave up on it a couple of years ago since anything he would be able to do with it would mean major hardware changes (I think maybe the only thing "salvageable" would have been the case)... And, any time he did work on it, he wouldn't let me anywhere near... so, I've been muddling thru on my own trying to figure things out, but now am basically kind of lost..
