Vista SP1 RC1 Update Scare

Today I decided to upgrade my Vista Ultimate to Service Pack 1, Release Candidate 1. After spending a few hours downloading the required files, it soon started install. When Windows Update reports to have successfully installed the update and promoted me to restart, I did so immediately. Doing what Windows always do, it takes its time “configuring” the updates.

After almost an hour, it still says it is at 97% while configuring update 1 of 3. I forcefully powered off my computer and restarted it, since I knew it was getting nowhere. When it restarted, I chose to start Vista normally (as I often do after an improper shutdown). Low and behold, my Vista was broken. My system complains of a bad or missing acpi.sys. This was bad news. I don’t have my Vista DVD with me, and don’t particularly feel like spending a few hours to download it from MSDN.

So I decided to restart my computer (as one would do), and tried again. Same result. The next best thing to try would be either last known good configuration, or safe mode, and see if a miracle would happen. I chose to start my Vista in last known good configuration, because it was a little less intrusive to my windows startup.

To my surprise, it actually allowed me to continue to start my computer as if the update had not been configured yet. Could it be that Vista restored the old acpi.sys, so that I could start my computer? I don’t really know, and I’m just glad that I was able to boot my computer into Vista, and it would automatically configure the SP1 update before I log in.

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categories Microsoft, Software | | datetime 14 Dec 2007 02:53

  • radiok

    Oddly enough, I had the exact same problem… Last Known good didn’t work for me, glad it worked for you though. It’s not all bad though, I’ve been wanting to install an x64 version for some time now, so no time like the present. I’m just glad to see I am not alone. I wonder if there’s anything we had in common.

  • http://www.edmundtse.com Edmund Tse

    I am using x86 version of vista, not x64. I don’t suppose there would be too much of a difference in the installation process.

    Have you installed SP1 RC1 successfully yet?

  • Gary

    I had installed the first SP1 RC and that was fine. I wanted to install the SP1 RC1 Refresh, so I uninstalled the SP1, waited a day, then performed the install of the Refresh via Windows Update. It failed the first try. The second time it looked like it took. After the second reboot, I got the acpi.sys missing file error. I booted to the DVD and ran a repair, restarted same deal, acpi.sys missing. I booted again from the DVD and did a repair again and then it finally allowed me to boot. I am running Business Edition. And it looks like the SP1 RC1 Refresh did not take. So I am not sure what it did for several hours other than make my laptop not boot. . . . . .

  • glenn

    I encountered the same problem.. hopefully this will be resolved by the time it is Alpha version…
    This OS reminds me of the Millennium crap… we should get a big discount on the next OS just for putting up with this again..

  • 939

    Same happened with the RTM SP1 today.
    What a lousy way to deceive (paying) customers.
    How can MS think to bring the corporate world to adopt Vista?
    Anyways this helped a lot: http://blog.rogercavanagh.com/blog/_archives/2008/2/16/3526136.html

  • miltont

    Tried SP1 last night. Woke up this morning with acpi.sys error. Tried repairing and that didn’t work I had made a complete backup of c: on my d: just a few days ago. Was able to restore from that. Really surprised by this error. Just adding to my list of disappointments with Vista

  • Janov Pelorat

    I’ve also tried to upgrade to SP1. I have Ultimate forboth my stationary and my laptop. I succeeded to upgrade on my laptop. Strangely enough I get the acpi.sys missing error when I try to upgrade on my stationaty computer. I didn’t do anything different on my laptop upgrade so I can’t imagine how I can succeed updating my stationary one.

  • Santiago

    i had a problem almost the same as you…but mine didnt get better.
    i have an olidata laptop…and i tried to install the Windows Vista SP1, everythin was goin ok, until the restart step came up…it appears some acpi.sys…im tryin to restore it to a last configuration, but it still shows the acpi.sys is missing or is damaged…i dont know what to do…please help me…by the way, i dont have the Windows Vista cd, or dvd…i bought the laptop with vista included…
    please help me,it is very important for me

  • http://www.edmundtse.com Edmund Tse

    Do you have a recovery DVD from the laptop manufacturer? Most laptops come with a set of recovery DVDs (or a way for you to burn your own set of recovery DVDs) so that you can put the laptop back into factory default state.

    I’m afraid you really can’t do much without the recovery DVD or the Vista DVD.

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