Ran sfc /scannow in safe mode twice as directed. Did a restart not a hard boot between the two runs. Second time it said it was in the "verification" phase. Nothing happened either time after the command window shut down. Tried to access the entity maintenance section in the control panel and could not. Also tried to run sfc /scannow in regular operation and could not.

Your system files seem to be fine. I will instruct you how to add new users, then delete the old ones.

First, gather all documents and music and pictures, etc -- from each user account via Windows Explorer. Go to Computer >> C: >> Users >> 'account' >> (In here you will see Documents folder, Pictures folder, etc.)

If you do not want the files and pictures, etc. deleted, I suggest to gather up all these and save them to your own documents, then transfer them later when the new accounts are set up. If you plan on making a new account for yourself as well, burn the files to a CD or save to a flash drive.

Go to Start, then Control Panel > Add or Remove user accounts. (Tip: To add new accounts to replace old accounts, make sure the name is slightly different from the old one. Type in a favorite number behind the new account name, so afterwards you can find and delete the old account.)
Then, click on Create New Account. Type the name of the account and set the account type as either Standard or Administrator. Click on Create account. If you wish to create a new password, double-click on the account, and click Create a Password. Finish it up. Now delete the old account.

Repeat this for each account you want to replace.

In my version of Windows Vista the tab is not labeled Add or Remove user accounts. Instead it is labeled "manage another account". I click the link, tell the UAC it is o.k. to proceed, watch the screen flash back and then automatically return to the screen containing the "manage another account" link.

Turn off UAC using Command Prompt

You must run command prompt as administrator. Click the Start button then type CMD in to the search box then right click on CMD and click Run as Administrator. After Continuing it or typing the password, command prompt will open.

Enter the following in to the Command Prompt exactly to Disable UAC:

Code:

%windir%\System32\cmd.exe /k %windir%\System32\reg.exe ADD HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System /v EnableLUA /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

After this, reboot your computer. Then, try the above (user account replace) process again.

Couldn't get CMD to right click with anything other than a box showing unicode selections and right to left and left to right order. Using MSCONFIG I went to the Tools Tab of the Systems Config app and turned the UAC off. I then rebooted. The UAC warning indicator is on in the system tray.

Does the UAC warning say that it is disabled?

If so, that is just a Security Center alert.

Have you tried the user account config. yet, again?

Windows says uac turned off. Navigate to "Add remove user accounts" and double click - nothing happens. There is a minor change - the screen doesn't flash black.

Seems like your administrator account is damaged to where you cannot create or modify user accounts.

I wonder if we could slip by Vista, and activate the VISTA ADMINISTRATOR.

Please click Start and in the Start Search box, enter cmd and right click on Command Prompt in the results pane and click Run as Administrator.

In the window, type the command:
Net user administrator /active:yes


Please reply back and tell me if that worked.

(To see if it worked, log out and see if there is a user called "Administrator" on the logon screen).

It worked. I accessed the account and tried to open the "manage user account" tab. It did not work. Information item: UAC is still off. How do I turn it, the administrator entity, off when we are through with it?

If you want to turn it off, do the same process as above, except use this command: Net user administrator /active:no

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Please do the following to backup your computer: Vista Complete PC Backup (using Vista backup utility is the alternative).

Then, please reinstall (in-place upgrade) Windows Vista. Follow this article, and read this section only: "To reinstall Windows Vista."

All of your data is usually fine when doing a reinstall. However, I gave you backup instructions first to ensure your would not lose any data. Failure to backup your data will result in a possible loss of any documents, pictures, videos, special files, or any other important thing you need to save.

Please tell me whether or not you have completed this task. Thank you!

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More than willing to try but there is a small problem. This laptop did not come with an installation disk. The hard drive is partitioned and the D drive is labeled "Recovery". I've never opened it so I don't know what is on the drive nor do I have a product key. I'd appreciate a little more info if you have it. By the way I can't find any Gateway information on the issue. I may not be looking in the correct place but it is what it is.
Thanks for all the help so far.

Please try to contact the support group of your laptop's manufacturer, and attempt to obtain repair disks. If you are able to obtain them, then I can continue to help you. If you cannot obtain them, there is nothing else that we can do. As I see it, we have tried three repairs, and each of them failed. When system file repair fails, and the system files need fixed, a reinstall is the last resort, and the option left.

thank you for your help. I do appreciate it. signing off.

This topic is now closed and being marked solved.

If you need the topic reopened, PM an administrator or moderator.