Posted on 04/11/2006 7:40:57 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
When I turn my computer on and the screen appears, all I get is the hourglass (The mouse pointer turns into an hourglass whenever I move it towards the START menu or taskbar) and I'm unable to access my START menu. I usually turn the power off several times before it works again.
I just did a virus and spyware scan and they came back clean. Yes, I have Windows XP (Cue the "Get a Mac!" responses). Please advise.
Well...since techies are around....anyone have any suggestions for a good WEB HOSTING company? I'm looking for one for my biz (to sell hard products, as well as some software....)
thanks.
Another possibility is you have a trojan. The best way to discover the gremlins and get rid of them is visit the website called tomcoyote.com. They have saved me several times, although you do need a computer capable of getting to the internet and www.tomcoyote.com
I'm using http://www.1and1.com
Linux or MS Servers....
I've used them for the last 4 years without any problems
I thought that was the default setting. Oh well, I bow to your expertise. EEE, listen to this guy.
Maybe it's your mouse?
This is not true any more if you do a "repair install".
Boot from the XP CD, do *not* use the Recovery Console, accept the license agreement, and it will find the existing XP installation.
Highlight it (it will be selected if it's the only one - most likely the case) and press "R" instead of Enter to repair it.
This will reload XP, but will preserve all of the files and programs installed.
It works well - I just had to do it a few days ago. I was cleaning up my hard drive and I guess I deleted something I should not have and when I rebooted, I had NO services. (They were still listed in the registry, but the Services applet in the Control Panel was completely blank.)
I did a repair install and it got me back working again. I didn't lose a thing and didn't have to re-install anything except Windows updates.
After doing a repair install, you must run Windows Update multiple times until there are no updates available. Since it reloads XP from the CD, it may undo some updates.
See this site for more specific instructions: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
"I thought that was the default setting. Oh well, I bow to your expertise. EEE, listen to this guy."
Not in XP.... I am by no means an expert but I do have a fair amount of experience and certification in Windows.
You will still be running XP on a wintel box essentially, so its really no different other than you can run OS X too.
How/why will a Mac Mini run XP any better than my Dell (for example)?
Just reformat your hard drive. It's what MS advises.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1609313/posts
I know the issue is probably more than the mouse itself, but the now-boring "get a Mac" responses help nothing. I know it's tough to contain your MacZealotry, but it's probably not the "help" the original poster is looking for.
That was only in response to certain rootkits or certain malware programs. Unless you've already remotely identified the problem as a rootkit or certain malware programs, I wouldn't haphazardly suggest this.
(I've had to deal with more than a few people who were told by XYZ hardware vendor to reformat their drives for no good reason other than to get them off the phone, without warning them that they would lose all their data and have to re-install all their software.)
Just for the heck of it, have you tried booting without the mouse attached? Can you navigate using the keyboard when it screws up? (hitting CTRL+ESC keys should pull up the Start menu, hitting the Windows Logo+E keys should launch Windows Explorer).
I'll admit a bias toward Apple, but have observed that, in general, if you're crunching numeric data or gaming, get a PC. And, if you're dealing with large graphic files, vector art, photography or sound/music, get a Mac. With Apple switching to Intel, that may no longer be valid, or as valid, but I haven't personally had enough experience with the new setup to say. I've got too many to go out and get a new one on a whim. They have to pay for themselves first, lol.
Well, why doesn't anyone do what I did and just get IBM's Warp? I'm still waiting for it to load.
If I were to go for an orphan OS, I'd be running the comically ridiculous Microsoft BOB. Clippie was the only BOB remnant to survive.
Any suggestions for a program to remove the vocal track from an MP3 recording? I've tried one and it doesn't seem to want to work.
OMG, Microsoft named an OS after me?!? Not only have I never heard of it, but my royalty checks haven't been showing up of late.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.