Computer HELL ! Any and all help appreciated.

[MoonMan]

Hello folks, I need some assistance in trying to "fix" my friends computer since he is an idiot. Reformatting is not an option since there are no Windows disks of any kind within my grasp so what I want to do is bring back the basic functionality (spelling ?) to it. The problem is this thing is so fucked up it is beyond my experience.

A few things that should be known:

- Windows XP Professional
- The START menu is NO WHERE to be found. I have tried looking in the options of the control panel to see if there was some way to turn it back on. This has proved to be a very teedious task.
- Hyper links on web pages using Internet Explorer that open up new pages when clicked (target="_blank") do nothing. Right clicking the link and choosing the option to open it in a new window does nothing. Right clicking and copying the short cut does nothing since it does not copy to the clipboard like it should and thereby does absolutely nothing. Even going to Help -> About Internet Explorer has its quirks since "Version", "Strength", and "Product ID" show nothing and pressing OK to exit that prompt does nothing. I have to press the X.
- MSBlast IS currently installed on this computer but I have already killed off the process for this duration of computer time. Getting rid of the damn thing is just too god damn annoying with no start menu and that is why I want to get that back first.
- Minumizing a window makes a small tab on the Desktop, dunno if that has any relevance but that is what happens with no start menu.

Upon closer inspection I am SURE I will find more wrong with this POS but for right now I am looking for answers on what is stated above. If it seems like a duanting (spelling ?) task to take on.. well it is, and any help provided at all will be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Krell]

Moony, if you can do a ctrl+alt+dlt and get Task manager, you are already ahead of the program.

Use that, and go to File > New Task and browse to Explorer.exe.

With Explorer.exe open, it will be easier to find other programs that you may need.

Also, in the Explorer path, instead of " Local Disk (C:) " type in the url that you need to go to, it works !

Gt your hands on SP1, and install it. This overwrites your OS and sets things back to defaut (most things)

DO these things first, or look for a good Restore Point, Start Program Files, Assec, Systen Tools > System Restore.


.

[MoonMan]

Alright I am not too familiar with XP so I have a few problems.

When I go to windowsupdate.microsoft.com the page is completely blank and will not load. Most every effort to get service pack 1 ends at that page, or Windows momentarely crashes and I have to wait for it to start again (not a total restart, just explorer.exe or a service similar to it).

Trying to get to the system tools is another interesting hurtle. Browsing explorer.exe and heading down the path you instruct which is start -> program files -> accessories -> and there is no system tools ! Did I take a wrong turn ?

Would it be possible to do a system restore or at least open the system tools menu with the command prompt ? Thanks!

[aqlo]

The system tools menu is
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools

Probably on the hard drive these will be like startm~1 and acces~1 and so on

The system restore executable is in your system32 dir, it is rstrui.exe

good luck

PS to search for things from the command prompt use dir /s

Like if your system tools menu has gotten moved or something try going to the root directory
cd \
and then searching for it from there
dir /s sys*.*

[Krell]

Get the SP from here

http://premierdownload.microsoft.com...sp1_en_x86.exe

If you can . . .

Open a command prompt window:

1. type "Net Start" (without the quotation marks) at the command prompt to make sure that the System Restore service is up and running.

- Make sure that System Restore is enabled on the drives that you want System Restore enabled on.
- Try to run System Restore in Safe mode.

You may also reboot and hit F8 to boot from the Last Known Good configuration

[ferrarimodena360]

why dont u try and restore the system to as far back as possible........

since you cant see any start menu

ctrl + alt + del, and run msconfig

[-0-BACKLASH-0-]

I have to ask this:

is the taskbar there...could it just be hidden?

[MoonMan]

Originally posted by Krell
Get the SP from here

http://premierdownload.microsoft.com...sp1_en_x86.exe

If you can . . .

Open a command prompt window:

1. type "Net Start" (without the quotation marks) at the command prompt to make sure that the System Restore service is up and running.

- Make sure that System Restore is enabled on the drives that you want System Restore enabled on.
- Try to run System Restore in Safe mode.

You may also reboot and hit F8 to boot from the Last Known Good configuration

This is what Net Start displayed:

DHCP Client
DNS Client
Event Log
PCTEL Speaker Phone
Plug and Play
Secondary Logon
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
Themes
WebClient
Windows Time

------------------------------------

I downloaded the service pack and tried to install it only to get an error message I seem to recall vaguelly from another thread (not the same, but similar):

Setup could not verify the integrity of the file Update.inf. Make sure the Cryptographic service is running on this computer.

Well that is exactly what I did, I went to administrative tools and then to services and right clicked Cryptographic Services and went to properties. As usual, the computer did nothing so I double clicked it only to get the same results. Then I right clicked it and went to "start" and I recieved an error message:

Could not start the Cryptographic Services service on Local Computer.

Error 1068: The dependency service or group failed to start.

Maybe this is a lost cause short of a reformat but I refuse to give up. I am now going to try and boot in Safe mode and try system restore again, as well as try the last known good configuration thing.

Again thanks, especially to Krell and aqlo.

[Krell]

You see that Secondary Logon ? hmmmmm


Non-Administrator User Is Unable to Start System Restore Utility
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

This article was previously published under Q283252
SYMPTOMS
A non-administrator user that attempts to start the System Restore utility may receive the following error message:


System Restore
You do not have sufficient security privileges to restore your system.
Please contact your site administrator, or logout and log in again as an administrator and try again.

In addition, the System Restore tab, under System Properties, is not present.
CAUSE
This behavior can occur because on Microsoft Windows XP, only users that have administrator accounts can start or configure the System Restore utility. All other user accounts can receive the preceding error message when they attempt to use this utility.
STATUS
This behavior is by design.

[MoonMan]

Yeah I was hoping it wasn't because of that. The problem is there is only 2 accounts when you start Windows up. One which is the persons name has a password, and one does not. My friend didn't tell me the password so I was hoping this is possible with a user account.

Is there a way to bypass the password protection or even find the password on the computer somewhere? I'm sure if it is possible it is tricky and not worth the time but I would still like to find out.

Also, I did press F8 (rapidly) as the computer was starting up but this bastard of a computer (it's an emachine) froze completely and I had to shut it down with the switch. After waiting for the damn emachine logo to pass this time, I started pressing F8 again but Windows didn't flinch and loaded normally (if you can call the current status normal).

Am I missing something ? Thanks for the help. As much as I suppress him into the deepest darkest parts of my being, I feel the newbie inside trying to squirm out and take over.

[Krell]

Lets recap . . . the top ten things that are fucked up about your situation


10) you have no administrative rights

9) you dont know what the password is

8) You have less than basic functionality

7) the PC has the blaster virus

6) even if you can remove the virus, you will still be hosed

5) Even if there "were" Restore Points, you cant get to them

4)you have no other way of repair, including using the Sp1 as a repair

3) everything youve tried thus far is a dead end

2) you have no O/S cd of any kind

. . . . . . . and the # 1 reason why you are totally fucked . . .

1) It's an Emachine !


Just throw that piece of shit away, and tell your friend it had an accident.

[MoonMan]

LOL now that is too funny. Ahh well I can't say I did not try !

I will just acquire a version of XP from an online vender and burn it to a CD with my computer and then install it onto this piece of crap.

Thanks for the help ! Even though I made little progress, I certainly learned quite a bit.

[Krell]

np, anytime.

If youre going to flatten it, consider making a 2nd partition in the setup, as a restore space, and folders with drivers etc etc.

Also the SP1, everything needed to mak ethe next disaster more managable.

[CCSDUDE]

Just so everyone knows...Windows Update is pretty much dead...they shut it down after the attack fear shit from MSblast....

Funny thing is MS switched ALL their servers over to Linux a few days ago...right after MSblast hit the fan...hmmmmm blind faith in MS doesn't even extend to themselves... heh

[MoonMan]

Welp, I did get the computer working correctly again. Skipping all of the bullshit I just installed Windows XP and everything seems to finally be working up to its full potential.

I have another problem though.. When I installed XP I used a well known key, and now I cannot install Service pack 1. Can anyone PM me (if posting the information on the thread is disallowed) with instructions on how I can get around the block and install it ? I'd be much appreciative. :) Thanks.