Installing service pack 1

I have a Dell notebook that was purchased with Vista Business preinstalled.
I was going to try to install Vista Service Pack 1 from my msdn DVD dated May
2008 ( disc 4455 ). The first thing I did was run the setup.exe, which takes
me into a Vista installation. So I cancel out of that, and now my computer
screen has "Test Mode" in the four corners, even though this is a perfectly
legal installation. Also that promptly cleaned out any chance of doing a
System Restore, with the latest restore point now after the date of this
attempted installation. I did browse the dvd for some install of Service
Pack 1, but any other executable that I attempted to run resulted in error
messages about files not found. Any legal way of getting me out of the "test
mode" without resorting to the hacks described on the internets, and getting
the service pack to install from the msdn DVD?

Mark
Mon Jul 07 06:32:12 PDT 2008

If any version of SP1, Test Mode or any other, installed without a
successful System Restore point being created, it pretty much puts you in
the 'need one of those hacks from the Internet' category. Any recovery
option you find is going to include a new registry. The F8 startup menu on a
Dell usually includes several restore options. You are going to be forced to
choose the one most palatable to you.

--
Please use the Communities guidelines when posting.
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Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
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"KPM" <KPM@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D8ADEF03-CD75-4E61-99DC-B252A3C47417@microsoft.com...
> I have a Dell notebook that was purchased with Vista Business
> preinstalled.
> I was going to try to install Vista Service Pack 1 from my msdn DVD dated
> May
> 2008 ( disc 4455 ). The first thing I did was run the setup.exe, which
> takes
> me into a Vista installation. So I cancel out of that, and now my
> computer
> screen has "Test Mode" in the four corners, even though this is a
> perfectly
> legal installation. Also that promptly cleaned out any chance of doing a
> System Restore, with the latest restore point now after the date of this
> attempted installation. I did browse the dvd for some install of Service
> Pack 1, but any other executable that I attempted to run resulted in error
> messages about files not found. Any legal way of getting me out of the
> "test
> mode" without resorting to the hacks described on the internets, and
> getting
> the service pack to install from the msdn DVD?
>
>

Charles
Mon Jul 07 06:33:43 PDT 2008

Tried Windows Update?
"KPM" <KPM@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D8ADEF03-CD75-4E61-99DC-B252A3C47417@microsoft.com...
>I have a Dell notebook that was purchased with Vista Business preinstalled.
> I was going to try to install Vista Service Pack 1 from my msdn DVD dated
> May
> 2008 ( disc 4455 ). The first thing I did was run the setup.exe, which
> takes
> me into a Vista installation. So I cancel out of that, and now my
> computer
> screen has "Test Mode" in the four corners, even though this is a
> perfectly
> legal installation. Also that promptly cleaned out any chance of doing a
> System Restore, with the latest restore point now after the date of this
> attempted installation. I did browse the dvd for some install of Service
> Pack 1, but any other executable that I attempted to run resulted in error
> messages about files not found. Any legal way of getting me out of the
> "test
> mode" without resorting to the hacks described on the internets, and
> getting
> the service pack to install from the msdn DVD?
>
>

Colin
Mon Jul 07 08:18:35 PDT 2008

"KPM" <KPM@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D8ADEF03-CD75-4E61-99DC-B252A3C47417@microsoft.com...
>I have a Dell notebook that was purchased with Vista Business preinstalled.
> I was going to try to install Vista Service Pack 1 from my msdn DVD dated
> May
> 2008 ( disc 4455 ). The first thing I did was run the setup.exe, which
> takes
> me into a Vista installation. So I cancel out of that, and now my
> computer
> screen has "Test Mode" in the four corners, even though this is a
> perfectly
> legal installation. Also that promptly cleaned out any chance of doing a
> System Restore, with the latest restore point now after the date of this
> attempted installation. I did browse the dvd for some install of Service
> Pack 1, but any other executable that I attempted to run resulted in error
> messages about files not found. Any legal way of getting me out of the
> "test
> mode" without resorting to the hacks described on the internets, and
> getting
> the service pack to install from the msdn DVD?
>
>

Restore from an image backup you made prior to starting. Since you are an
experienced MSDN subscriber I'm confident you took this step.