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?
Let me be the first Are you logged on?
Sorry, not sure of your problem... But I have had lots of problems with zone alarm in the past...
What do you use for a firewall instead? Or are you still using Zone Alarm?
And why won't you install SP2?
I would reinstall if you give everything a shot and nothing happens... Download SP2 and slipstream it onto a disk... look for directions on the net you will find it. "slipstream XP"
What is your problem with SP2. It patches some major holes, sounds like you got some sort of spyware, download Spybot S&D (google to find it) and run that see what it comes up with, then if that removes the spyware download SP2 along with the latest updates. It is absolutely critical to update an O/S when updates are available the updates normally are to close holes that malware writers have been using.
NIS(Norton Internet Security) su**s but less problems..
Sorry to hear of your problem and I'm even more sorry to say I probably can't be of any help. Did you install any new programs or change any settings yesterday? Even if you didn't, it may be worth a try to do a system restore.
Get yourself a less weird computer, and it should work fine. :)
Seriously, though, it sounds like a corrupted explorer.exe file or a event interrupt corruption of some sort. Have you tried (are you able to) re-install the whole thing from scratch?
Just tried that. Won't work. Say it needs to install an app so Housecall can run. I downloaded the app and tried to install it. Installer is Not Responding.
Earlier, I downloaded and installed Hijackthis. Ran it and nothing nefarious showed up.
This is getting more weird. Now I can't even access System Restore. Nothing happens when I click to start the wizard.
I've never needed to do a System Restore before, so I'm not sure how else to run it, other than using the wizard.
Three years???
run this command:
FORMAT C:
Reinstall windows xp
Apply service packs.
I've never needed to use System Restore. I found there's a System Restore Wizard, but it won't start up when I click to start it.
How else can I access it to run it?
No, I've reinstalled WinXP since then, probably just a few months ago, IIRC. I built the computer a couple or three years ago.
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