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May I have some help with a weird problem in Win XP Home SP2?
I'm running this OS on a Presario 2100 and it's my "usual" internet computer. I have avast (free) on it along with some anti-spyware and anti-malware s/w. The internet is via an Asus WiLan card. It was working fine yesterday a.m. I shut it down, went to lunch, then after starting it wouldn't run the Asus card and so no internet. Odd... The usual checks turned up nothing so I thought it was a possible registry glitch. Tried to open system restore (via system tools) but it wouldn't open. So okay, In went to shut down and restart in safe mode and it wouldn't do a full shutdown. Cleared all desktop icones then just sat there. So I used reset, then restarted in safe mode and managed to egt into sys restore. There was only one rollback point available. Northing before this month. There should be a load of restore points but couldn't access previous months. So I restored to the only one it gave me. Shut down and auto-restart. Still the same trouble. Oaky, back to safe mode. Tried getting into them via Iobit's "Advanced System Care". Accessed the list of rollback points and chose one from last month. Then rebooted again. Still same problem.
Desperation now... I used a Ubuntu disk (kosmic koala) to boot up into the Ubuntu OS then used that to get into the SVI folder's RP74 folder and got copies of the files in the snapshot folder there, that can be used to sometimes fix the dreaded blue screen problem. Made a copy of the same files in the config folder in System 32 and put them in a temp, deleted those files from config and pasted in the snapshot versions (which date from May 12 if I recall). Shut down Ubuntu and restated in normal win mode. Still no dice!
Some of the sw is running. I can click on eg "My computer" in normal mode -- and even the normal start menu and -- access many sw files, but *some* won't open, like eg avast or the Iobit I mentioned above. But I can access that Iobit sw in safe mode.
I checked the "tree" for the C drive and the Asus folder is there and marked with a plus sign, so it's not like it's vanished or anything.
I am absolutely stumped. If anyone has heard of this porblem then please help out. It's an old laptop but I still would like to use it. And no, I don't have an XP install disk. They never supplied one when I bought it.
Apologies for such a load of detail -- and for the typos. I'm having to write on a laptop that I'm not used to, and I wanted to give you the best info I could. Thanks!
@Abe: thank you for your input. I was thinking it might be a virus, worm or something. Most annoying. I have my anti-virus up to date and ditto my anti-mal, anti-spyware as well. But how can I reinstall the OS without a disk? *Is* there a way? (I'm clearly not a geek! ;) )
4 Answers
- SamLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Sounds like you have a malware.
On a computer with INTERNET access, do a search VIPRE RESCUE and follow instructions. If it is a malware it will fix the problem.
When fixed, remove Avast, which is okay, but there is one better, and also free. Remove all the anti spyware software you have, you won't need them anymore, and they are just clutter. Obviously, what you have didn't work, if you have a malware of any kind.
After removal, do a search for MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS. download and run it.
Most of all, be careful where you go on the Internet. Don't go everywhere and download everything.
First unplug all Peripherals, camera's, printer's, memory cards, PC cards, etc. After system is fixed, reintroduce them one at a time..
Source(s): Vipre Rescue: http://live.sunbeltsoftware.com/ Microsoft SE: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/ - 1 decade ago
Don't apologize for the amount of detail. It is a Computer Technician's dream to have most customers like you. Most people leave out very important details that could speed up the diagnosis process. Anyway Here are my thoughts:
From the sound of things you have gone through all of the correct ways to try and fix the problem. And with the software files not opening is very strange, I would think that you may have some type of spyware or malware keeping you from running those programs and possibly disabling your wireless card as well. I would try running the program listed in the hyperlink below to possibly disable the threat that is running and then run all of your anti-virus/spyware/malware/adware programs to try and detect it.
What I would do next (if not a virus/spyware/malware/adware) is try a different type of Linux boot disk and see if it recognizes the card. If that doesn't do it (the card itself may not be linux compatible) I would then try downloading updates (either by direct LAN or by downloading Service Pack 3 via jump drive or download an ISO install disk). There might be a windows update that could possibly fix the problem you are having. (I also believe that Microsoft has stopped or is soon to stop support of windows sp2) If all of those options do not work for you I would have to say that the only solution left is that the Wireless Card has gone bad.
I have seen this many times with multiple different types of hardware. Many times when a computer's hardware goes bad and stops working, the computer can still recognize that it is still there and gives power to the component to make it seem like it is working when it really isn't. This is very common in optical drives. So I'm sorry to be one to bring bad news but it looks like you may be without wireless capability with that laptop unless you buy an external adapter.
Source(s): Computer Technician for 10+ years Own my computer services business http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/rkill... - Acid ZebraLv 71 decade ago
Not network could be a lot of things, but coupled with your AV software refusing to load it screams virus/spyware/malware.
So, safe mode and an offline scanner like sysclean
http://www.freecomputerconsultant.com/sysclean.htm...
or combofix
Or (my recommended solution) save all user data, format, reinstall OS.
Source(s): "I don't have an XP install disk. They never supplied one when I bought it." But did you get an OEM key? If so you might borrow a CD from a friend. - ?Lv 44 years ago
you're able to o.k. have a hardware difficulty. Your proper wager is to open the pc and do away with all pointless hardware like soundcards, greater drives (exceptthe ones you certainly could placed in homestead windows) and the different greater enjoying cards which comprise community enjoying cards or modems. attempt installation back and notice if it keeps any further. If it completes, you could attempt including the enjoying cards decrease back in one at a time and attempt powering up the pc and notice if windopws acknowledges them or has any subject concerns getting them to artwork. reliable good fortune!
