Help with an older XP computer

[redish16]

We had a storm blow thru last night and now am having problems with an XP service pack 3 computer.

Whenever windows comes up, the desktop does not show up, its just a blank green screen. I can CTRL+ALT+TAB and bring up the task manager. Even in Safe mode, there is nothing on the screen.

Now thru task manager, I can look at all the files on the computer and do them, like internet explorer. When I go to windows update, it won't load.

Also under Task manager, I only see about 31 processes running. I am thinking I am missing some windows files.

Any help?

Also, my uncle was here so I don't know what he did to the computer either.

Any and ll help would be appreciated.

[Mad5cout]

We had a storm blow thru last night and now am having problems with an XP service pack 3 computer.

Whenever windows comes up, the desktop does not show up, its just a blank green screen. I can CTRL+ALT+TAB and bring up the task manager. Even in Safe mode, there is nothing on the screen.

Now thru task manager, I can look at all the files on the computer and do them, like internet explorer. When I go to windows update, it won't load.

Also under Task manager, I only see about 31 processes running. I am thinking I am missing some windows files.

Any help?

Also, my uncle was here so I don't know what he did to the computer either.

Any and ll help would be appreciated.

I would start with a fresh windows install. Do you have the install disks? Can you bring up any of the diagnostic menus before windows opens? If the fresh windows install doesn't work and you can get to those menus, you could have it check your hardware - although if the hardware were screwed I would think it simply wouldn't show anything on the screen.

[redish16]

I don't want to do a fresh install because of data that I would lose in the process.

Its not my stuff but the parents stuff that isn't saved anywhere else.

Plus, at the moment I can't find the disks.

[redish16]

running chkdsk /r now

[Mad5cout]

If you do a fresh install of windows without reformatting your HD, your documents will not be lost. I had to do that just a few months ago. Even all my program files were still there. Now that said, none of my icons were still there, they had been unmounted from the start menu and were no longer populating on my programs list in Control Panel (though i could open and use any of them). I also had to dig into i believe the documents and settings folder to find my old "My documents" folder. I transfered all the files to the new documents folder and deleted and reinstalled all of my programs. I also had to reinstall all of my drivers. BUT my files were all still there. I went out the next week and bought an external HD to back up my stuff and when I get around to it I'll do a complete reformat to clean up any of the residue from this entire process. A big pain in the butt, I know, but it might be the only way.

Also, something to consider, is that when you go through the install process, it does allow you the option of simply repairing your current install instead of doing the whole OS again. I tried this when I had problems and it didn't work for me but that might also be something you could try. Although, i suspect your files will be secure that way too, i have not done that process and can't say for 100% certainty.

Maybe some of the other tech heads have some magic and trickery that I don't know of that will work for you...

[LordBeer]

I'd recommend trying a repair install before doing a fresh windows install.

[redish16]

How do you do a repair?

The only disk I have is XP SP1. the computer is SP3. I don't see an option of the disk to repair. Only to install components and install xp. When I try to install xp it says the cd version is older than the computer and data will be lost.

[Mad5cout]

How do you do a repair?

The only disk I have is XP SP1. the computer is SP3. I don't see an option of the disk to repair. Only to install components and install xp. When I try to install xp it says the cd version is older than the computer and data will be lost.

At this point I am going to defer to someone with more experience on this because I have only done this once and I was only running SP2 and used a SP2 disk.

[redish16]

Thanks anyway

[Mad5cout]

Some more information:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Same with graphics:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/support/nostart.mspx#6


http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm


one more:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-reinstall-windows-without-losing-your-data/

uh oh....
http://support.cybertronpc.com/index.php/How_do_I_reinstall_Windows_without_losing_my_files %3F

It seems from the last one that not having the up to date disk might be a problem. I wonder if MS would send you a SP3 disk if you gave them a liscense number or something.

The only other thing that is flying around in my head is to somehow plug that HD into your other computer as a secondary drive, grab all the crap off of it and then plug it back into the other machine, reformat and reinstall. Not sure how possible that is though.

[Mad5cout]

SOLUTIONS!!!!

You could create a boot disk to get things off the HD before a fresh install:

http://www.ehow.com/video_4992224_make-windows-xp-boot-disk.html

OR:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2325399,00.asp

[Donavon]

do you have another computer with a CD burner? You could make a xp disk with sp3 slipstreamed into it.

read here for info about slipstreaming a service pack
- http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp3_cd.htm

[Mad5cout]

do you have another computer with a CD burner? You could make a xp disk with sp3 slipstreamed into it.

read here for info about slipstreaming a service pack
- http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp3_cd.htm

yeah that is what my pcmag link is about. Get another comp with SP3 on it and you are golden.

[redish16]

Other comp is running Vista

[JustMeBF2]

If the data on the PC is important the first thing I would do I boot to a live linux cd.
I Prefer ubuntu 8.04 32 bit version.
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download
Download the iso use paid4 or free img burn http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download
To burn to cd.
Attach external hard drive or usb stick to the old pc.
If the PC isn't set to try cdrom first on boot tap F12 for boot options or if it is really old go into bios and change boot order for CDrom first.
Boot to CD.
Do NOT choose "install" choose "try without making any change to my computer".
You will boot to live linux.
Copy important files to external device.

Then try a repair install if it FAILS or you have to do a fresh install you already have all important info saved.

A SP1 xp disc should be fine, you would just have to redownload and install SP2 and SP3.

Note: This is exactly what I would do if that pc was brought to my shop for repair.

[Dereks_06]

Have you tried launching explorer.exe through the task manager? Also through the task manager try running the command, "sfc /scannow" by going to new task and typing it in there.

And try running repair programs through the task manager, such as registry repair programs and Windoctor.

[Gruthar]

Derek is on the right track. When the desktop doesn't show up, that usually indicates that either explorer is not starting or it's locked up. You may be able to get your desktop by starting or restarting the explorer process via the Task Manager, though that's only a temporary solution. The actual problem could be the result of malware, or it could be software corruption (particularly if the machine was suddenly shut down due to the snow storm.) If it's not a virus, chkdsk didn't work and the system file checker (SFC) doesn't remedy the situation, then the easiest thing to do is just a repair install.

I don't have much faith in registry repair/'optimization' utilities, but you're welcome to give them a shot. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try wiping/restoring the registry before you do the repair install. All that entails is copying the contents of the Windows/repair folder over to the Windows/System32/config folder. If you do go that route, I would start with the system and software registry files, and see if that makes a difference.

Whether you do that or a repair install, your files will not be lost, but you will need to reinstall all the programs to get them to work properly.

[Donavon]

yeah that is what my pcmag link is about. Get another comp with SP3 on it and you are golden.


Other comp is running Vista

Just to clarify, you don't need to be on a XP (let alone a sp3) PC to make a slipstreamed CD.

Just need:
1) an XP install CD, does not matter what sp, if any
2) a computer with a cd burner & software
3) an internet connection to download the sp3 executable from MS.

Then follow the instructions from here: http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp3_cd.htm
(one note, if you only have Nero Express, or some other stripped down burning software, you might not be able to burn the disc correctly. You need to be able to make a bootable CD, set the boot image and number of load sectors, in my experience nero express does not let you do this, thus the CD won't boot. The full version of nero is fine, that's what I use, and the full version of roxio should be fine, is what I used to use.)

The reason I would suggest making a slipstreamed CD, is that you can then try to do a repair from the disc, it would now be the same version so shouldn't give you an error about being older.

However, I think JustMeBF2 probably has the best suggestion, use a linux boot disk, salvage the required info, and then do a wipe and reload. If the pc is really messed up, a repair might not fix it completely. It might let you boot it, it might run 'ok', but it is likely there will always be.... issues. Because, why did it fail? You said your not sure earlier, could be adware/spyware, could be a virus, and doing a repair won't remove that, so the issue might just keep coming up, over, and over.....

Whatever you decide, good luck.

[Mad5cout]

Thanks for clering that up Donavon.

[Gruthar]

Hell, if you want to make a slipstreamed disc, just use nLite. It makes it ridiculously easy. No burning software needed:

http://www.nliteos.com/download.html

[LordBeer]

I'm still think a repair install is the way to go. I dont see much need to fuss over a slipstreamed XP disk. Just use the disk you got and you can patch it later.

Here is a little link with some help on doing a repair install.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[JustMeBF2]

J
However, I think JustMeBF2 probably has the best suggestion, use a linux boot disk, salvage the required info, and then do a wipe and reload. If the pc is really messed up, a repair might not fix it completely. It might let you boot it, it might run 'ok', but it is likely there will always be.... issues. Because, why did it fail? You said your not sure earlier, could be adware/spyware, could be a virus, and doing a repair won't remove that, so the issue might just keep coming up, over, and over.....

Whatever you decide, good luck.
:woot::woot: