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I'm using XP with SP2, and things have gone very strange. I have no idea what's causing this, and neither does anyone else I've asked about it. *Any* suggestions would be highly appreciated. The problems are:
- When I boot up (normally and in safe mode) there is no taskbar
- I can't copy/paste anything (normally and in safe mode).
- When I boot up normally it tells me that it couldn't start my anti-virus software (McAfee) saying that I may be low on memory.
- I can't start most applications (I click, but nothing happens), even when I've turned off all the non-vital processes.
- I've tried booting from a floppy (boot.ini, ntdetect.com and ntldr -- which I believe are the right files), but I just get the "non-system disk" error.
- I have no viruses or spyware (according to Ad-aware, Trend online scan and SpyBot).
Can anyone tell me what's going on? Would reinstalling Windows help? Formatting the hard drive? Am I the proud owner of a doorstop? Please help!
If you have an XP disk, do a repair on the OS. Choose the repair option the second time it's displayed. Follow the process just like you're going to install it for the first time, but choose the repair option when it comes up. Good Luck. That would be an expensive door stop :)))
When all is said and done
More is said than done..
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have you tried the good old fashioned SFC /scannow ?
put in the xp cd and in the run box type SFC /scannow
go make a cup of coffeei hate computers!
but cant help myself....
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Taskbar Is Missing When You Log On to Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318027
Also try this:
http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/85915.html
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Are you confident in the condition of your RAM chips? Part of your difficulty could be a failed memory module. Make every effort to repair before destroying things, i.e. Format. It is highly unlikely that there has been a change in your file structure and/or partitions which is the reason for formating.
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Would formatting windows help? The answer to that question is Yes with a capital Y. A clean installation of windows will help. When problems start happening that you cant get control over thats the best way out. Of course I say this because I can do a total reinstall of everything in just a bit but someone who doesnt do it often might find it takes awhile to get it back like they want it. Paperweight no.
Girls just wanna have fun! Im out to help them all I can!
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It doesnt sound to me to be a hardware problem and thats why I say a fresh clean install is the way to go.
Girls just wanna have fun! Im out to help them all I can!
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grasshopper I beleive it's called the recovery console.
I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid...
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How to do a system repair.--Boot from the xp cd and go past the recovery console to the install menu. Select repair the existing installation. You won't lose any data except the xp updates. Unless you have a slipstream sp1 cd you will have to d/l sp1 and all subsequent updates. You MUST have at least SP1 installed and the updates for security reasons. Be sure the firewall and A/V is active before going online as you will be susceptible to sasser and msblaster. If you don't want SP2 go to autopatcher.com and d/l SP1 and subsequent updates.
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Thanks so much everyone -- that's the most responses I've had from any of the support forums I've tried. I'll have a go at repairing, and if that doesn't work I'll try formatting/reinstalling.
ClydeB: How would I go about checking my RAM chips?
Fingers crossed. Thanks again.
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So I tried repairing... didn't go so well. I got a bunch of fatal errors in the setup bit, and now when I try and restart it insists on going back to setup. Can't get safe mode. Can't get anything except fatal errors. Any ideas?
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I'm getting
"The signature for Windows XP Home Edition Upgrade is invalid. The error code is 426".
I'd really rather not do a clean install. Especially now -- I thought I'd be able to email myself a bunch of important files if I needed to, but now I can't even do that and I can't copy any files.
But needs must when the devil vomits in your kettle, I guess... But how would I do a clean install if I can't get anything other than setup and fatal errors?
HEEELP!
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No one has come up with a better scheme than substitution and isolation. I'd remove all RAM and reinsert one piece, start and observe. If problem persists, substitute and observe. Hopefully you can isolate anything that is either failing or failed. Substitution in a known good system and observe is another scheme that I use. Tedious and time consuming at best but less expensive that wholesale replacement which is the other option.
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If you replace the hard drive and get the same problem it may be your motherboard (this same thing happened to me). If still under warranty dell or watever the company is will send you a new motherboard. Try replaceing the hard drive with a new 20 gig or sometihng (the idea is that a 20 gig would be cheap and easily found at any bestbuy, circuit city etc. but it can be any size). i hope this helps you :)
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 extremely slow file acces...
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removing ie
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