Strange Computer Problems

[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?

[backtothestreets]

If System Restore wasn't set it is too late to use that alternative to get back to a prior date.

You can try to identify and isolate the program causing the problem by shutting down individual processes you cannot identify.

Use the ALT - Control - Delete keys to open your Task Manager. You should have a tab titled Processes. Some, if not most should be recognizable as to what program they are associated with. If it is a non-crucial program, like wmplayer.exe, shut it down, and see if your operation improves or stays the same. Keep repeating this until you have identified which program is causing your problems.

While you're in the Task Manager, and before stopping any processes, click on the performance tab to see what percentage of your computing power is in use. It sounds like a very active program may be running.

[AlBondigas]

if all else fails...........

Re-Installing Windows-XP
If you need to reinstall Windows-XP and want to keep all your current installed applications and settings:
1. Start Windows-XP
2. Find the location of your source files (a folder called "I386" , May Be on Your Install CD or a folder on your HD)
3. Run WINNT32 /unattend ,,, For example,
D:\I386\winnt32 /unattend (type this command into the RUN box, then press ENTER)
I've often needed to do this to repair something that had gotten corrupted and I didn't want to do a clean install.

That routine is from "Lockergnome" site..

[6ppc]

What he said.

[savedbygrace]

OK, I'm back. I booted into Safe Mode and ran System Restore. First time, I went back to yesterday at noon. Rebooted, and the desktop wouldn't open with the Start menu and the taskbar showing, and no desktop icons would display. CNTL-ALT-DEL showed that a number of processes were running, but all I saw was the desktop's background, so I couldn't access anything.

So, I boted to Safe Mode again, and ran System Restore. I went back to 7/26/05. On reboot, the situation was the same as after the 1st System Restore.

So, I booted into Safe Mode again. This time, I ran msconfig as someone suggested in a FReepmail, and disabled all the Startup Items. Normal reboot and everything came up fine. However, I still have the same Shut Down problem, Zone Alarm Pro still keeps Thunderbird from opening, even though ZAP is set correctly to allow that, and I cannot open Internet Explorer, so I can't access Windows Update.

IOW, nothing has been resolved by using System Restore.

I am very close to an Install-in-place, as general_re suggested. I first need to peek at the back of the case and read my WinXP SN off the label. That isn't easy to do, physically, with the location of the case.

[general_re]

Well, we tried - install-in-place is the next logical step. This page will give you a general idea of the procedure. Two things to remember: One, the system will be fresh and shiny new at the end of this, meaning it will have no security updates or patches whatsoever. I strongly suggest you disconnect from the net while performing this procedure, and do not reconnect until you have reinstalled Windows and reinstalled the firewall.

[general_re]

Oops, hit the wrong button ;)

Two, this means your first act, before you do anything else, will be to install the firewall, then get back online, and immediately go to Windows Update to get the proper patches.

Three - okay, I lied ;) - all your data should be preserved by this procedure. All of the program files will be too, but they'll be useless - the registry will have been wiped and rewritten during the install, so Windows won't know they exist or how to use them. This means all your software will need to be reinstalled. Sigh. It's tedious, but you should come out with a whole new machine. Think of it as radical plastic surgery ;)

[AlBondigas]

Do you have an uninstall file in Internet Explorer folder ? (roll back to earlier version)
or an install file (reinstall IE)

[backtothestreets]

Hi there! System Restore is only useful if it is configured before problems are encountered. If you use it now, it will restore whatever problems you were encountering when you configured it.

It sounds like you are close to doing a reinstall of Windows. If you do, remember to configure your System Restore so it will be there if you encounter problems a couple, or three years from now.

[savedbygrace]

Neither one.

[AlBondigas]

If you're concerned W/ getting the product key, do a google on "keyfinder.exe" it's about 260kb

There's an alt method HERE

[savedbygrace]

I had System Restore enabled, and when I used it in Safe Mode, there were Restore Points for yesterday and the day before. Doesn't that indicater that it was configured, or did I need to do something else in addition?

[AlBondigas]

I'd try the steps in post 42 before a fresh install...FWIW

[savedbygrace]

I will.

I really thought I'd told the installer to save those files to the hard drive the last time I installed it. But I can't find them anywhere.

I see:

C:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386

That's not it, is it?

If not, I can find the install CD on the shelf, and use that.

[savedbygrace]

Thanks. I used KeyFinder to extract the key, just in case.

[savedbygrace]

Thank you, general. I think I'll try Al's suggestion in #42 first.

This is very bad timing. Today is our anniversary. 32 years.

I might not get the reinstall done until tomorrow.

[AlBondigas]

Also, read the link so you don't have to call M$ for activation

[general_re]

It's basically two different methods of getting the same result - essentially, that's an install in place as well, and everything I told you up above will still apply, sad to say. Anyway, best of luck, and check in if you have any problems.

[savedbygrace]

Yes, thank you. I've done that, and am ready for when I reinstall.

As I posted above, today is our anniversary, 32 years, so I might not reinstall until tomorrow. Fontunately, the computer is usable, just bent.

Thank you for helping.

[hattend]

I had to get rid of Zone Alarm because it was hosing up a lot of things on my computer.

[backtothestreets]

You had mentioned the System Restore Wizard opened when you first tried accessing System Restore. That's an indication it had been used on your system before. I haven't a clue why it showed the last two days when you did use it. If it had been in ongoing use, you could have even selected a date a week, a month, or months back to restore too.

Once you get your computer performing correctly, establish a restore point, and check your configuration so it automatically creates restore points. I've got mine set to do this every other day.