Hello Oakes,
The core to your particular issue centers on the line in your Diagnostic Report, that reads:
File Scan Data-->
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\dbghelp.dll[6.0.6000.16386]
File Mismatch: C:\Windows\system32\linkinfo.dll[6.0.6000.16386]
This line means that these critical system files have either:
a) Been tampered/modified/become corrupt to the point that its Signature Hash no longer matches the Signature Hash listed in Vista's System Catalog.
Or
b) Been updated but the file's Signature Hash was not updated, in Vista's System Catalog to reflect the updated file's new Signature Hash.
Vista compares a Critical System file's Signature Hash with the Signature Hash listed in its System Catalog to determine if that Critical System file has been tampered with. When this happens, depending on the file that has been tampered, Vista may show as Genuine or Non-Genuine, but either way, Vista won't Validate correctly and may also exhibit other strange behavior.
To resolve your issue, we need to replace or repair the file so it's Signature Hash matches what is listed in Vista System Catalog. I can provide a couple of suggestions to do this:
A) Install Service Pack 1 for Vista (found at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b0c7136d-5ebb-413b-89c9-cb3d06d12674&DisplayLang=en). These files may be included in the SP1 install and if so, SP1 will overwrite the bad files with a Known-Good copy.
(Note: this is the simpler way to resolve, but be aware that I have not received confirmation that these files are, in fact, included in SP1. So if this option does not resolve the issue, please see option B).
B) Repair Windows using System Restore:
1) Reboot Vista into Safe Mode
2) Go to Control Panel
3) On the left hand side of the Control Panel window, Click on "Classic View"
4) Double-click "Backup and Restore Center"
5) On the left hand side of the window, click "Repair Windows using system restore"
6) Select "Choose Different Restore Point", Put a check in the box that says "Show restore points older than 5 days", select the restore point that corresponds to the date Before you first noticed the issue.
7) Click the "Next" button.
8) Reboot back into Normal mode
9) Vista should no longer be in Reduced Functionality mode
If neither of these solutions resolves your issue, the last resort, that I can provide, is to reinstall Vista. But before you do that, create a (no cost) support request at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=52029 and see if they can provide any alternatives.
Thank you,
Darin Smith
WGA Forum Manager
Attention Forum All Users: Please Do Not post your issue in someone else's Thread...Create your own.
