Posted on 07/28/2005 1:12:22 PM PDT by savedbygrace
I am having the weirdest computer problems and I need help. I built this computer myself a couple or three years ago, a P4 2.4GHz with 1GB RAM, WindowsXP Service Pack 1 (I won't go to SP2).
Everything was working fine all of yesterday. Last night when I shut down, it was a normal shut down. This morning, after I booted up, Mozilla Thunderbird would not open. It loads fine, as I can see it taking up more than 6,000KB in the Processes tab of Windows Task Manager. It just doesn't open.
I discovered later that when I disable Zone Alarm Pro 5.5, ThunderBird suddenly opens and downloads mail without a problem. I can use Mozilla Firefox 1.0.6 without a problem.
However, Internet Explorer 6 is a major problem. It opens, but doesn't do anything. I don't think it's fully loading. I tried going to Windows Update, which only works in IE, but I can't even get there, so I can't reinstall IE, or get any updates.
I have tried Safe Mode, no help.
I have looked an msconfig, and nothing nefarious is set to load at start up.
I have run a virus scan with Grisoft AVG Professional 7 (the paid version) with the latest definitions. No problems.
I have run a Microsoft AntiVirus scan with the latest defs. No problems.
I have run Cleaner 4.0.1 to scan for trojans. No problems.
Now, it starts to get weird. Thinking Zone Alarm Pro was the problem, I tried to install the latest version, v6. It won't install. It gets ready to install and then just sits there. It's still running, according to Task Manager, so it's not in a state of Not Responding.
So, I then tried to install a different update, WordPerfect 12 SP2. Same thing happened.
There's more: Every time I Shut Down (or Restart), it won't do it. Three or four processes need to be manually stopped (none of these processes are nefarious), then after Log Out, the Saving Settings message just stays on the screen, but it never saves the settings and never shuts down. I've let it run with Saving Settings on screen for as long as 15 minutes.
I googled for that shut down problem, and the only solution Microsoft has is to install SP2. First, I'm not going to do that, and second, I can't access Windows Update so even if I would agree to SP2, I couldn't access the update.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Yea, im not happy with Nortons newer products... My brother bought this... so... thats is what is on it.
Now it gets even worse. I cannot acess System in Control Panel (or through a right-click on My Computer in Start.
Nothing happens.
I think something in the Registry has gotten hosed, but . . .
format C: reinstall... update...
fdisk /mbr
format c:
install XP
Update to sp2 and get remaining updates.
Seriously--get your Windows CD and just re-install everything from scratch--I'd even delete the partition and re-partition the drive, just to be SURE that everything's gone.
Whoa, let's not go nuclear just yet. Even in a worst-case scenario, you're better off with an install-in-place. Did we try rolling the system back with System Restore?
I am unable to access System Restore. Other than the System Restore Wizard, how else can I run it?
I like "going nuclear" :D fixes the problem everytime... Takes
a little time, but the system always runs better afterwards. :D
Can you boot into safe mode at all?
Well, yeah, but let's be safe and assume that there is important data on the drive that needs to be preserved ;)
Nope. When I do that, and click on System Restore, I see the hourglass pop up on my mouse cursor for maybe 5 seconds, then it goes away, and nothing loads. I see a little bit of drive activity (drive activity light on the case) while the hourglass is up, but then it ceases.
Yes, I can boot into Safe Mode. Or, I could boot into Safe Mode earlier today.
Are you still using Zone Alarm?
Can you get at the System Restore from Safe Mode?
I'll try it now. Be back.
Try > control panel >folder options> view tab >& uncheck ..hide protected op sys..
then launch Windows explorer & scroll to c:\system vol..info > rt click > properties > uncheck read only >apply
then check the dates & pick one to dbl click
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