I need help ='(

Elite747 · Post by **Elite747** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:37 pm

Ok, so basically my computer is fucked up. I can barely do anything unless it involves using firefox or AIM 5.9 or below. I can't use the new AIM versions, I can't do search, more than half of all my important applications won't work (including my virus protection), and worst of all, when I try to do system restore, http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c80/elite747/sad.jpg that comes up. ='(

I can't format my HDD because theres some very important stuff on my computer that I can't afford to loose. (I can't find my recovery disk anyways)

HOW THE HELL DO I FIX SYSTEM RESTORE?

[cc]z@nd! · Post by **[cc]z@nd!** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:13 pm

i think it might be too far gone already, besides if there was a way to fix it there would still be problems popping up that reinstalling would get rid of.

first, get antivirus software and the latest versions of things like firefox and AIM burned on a cd or something and ready to install. then, take the hard drive out of that computer, put it in another one setting the jumpers to the 'slave' setting, and booting up the computer. move all the files you absolutely need to keep from the doomed hard drive to the other one, then shutdown the pc, take the doomed HDD out, and put it back in the first computer and reinstall from there. you'll have your precious files safe and sound, and a new, untainted OS.

reinstalling should be considered a last effort, but when windows gets screwed like it is there, it'll never be the same unless you reinstall.

shadowkhas · Post by **shadowkhas** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:44 pm

What did you do to screw it up?

Elite747 · Post by **Elite747** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:43 pm

[cc]z@nd! wrote:i think it might be too far gone already, besides if there was a way to fix it there would still be problems popping up that reinstalling would get rid of.

first, get antivirus software and the latest versions of things like firefox and AIM burned on a cd or something and ready to install. then, take the hard drive out of that computer, put it in another one setting the jumpers to the 'slave' setting, and booting up the computer. move all the files you absolutely need to keep from the doomed hard drive to the other one, then shutdown the pc, take the doomed HDD out, and put it back in the first computer and reinstall from there. you'll have your precious files safe and sound, and a new, untainted OS.

reinstalling should be considered a last effort, but when windows gets screwed like it is there, it'll never be the same unless you reinstall.

Ok, now my question is, is it possible to reinstall the OS without the disk that came with my computer? Cus I've been looking for it for a while now, and with moving houses a few months back, everything is all misplaced.

G.I.R. · Post by **G.I.R.** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:45 pm

AFAIK, no. Without a restore disc or a Windows XP installation disc, you're pretty much SOL unless you want to go out and buy a new copy of Windows.

EDIT:

shadowkhas wrote:What did you do to screw it up?

I'll take pornography for $500, Mr. Khas.

Cuda · Post by **Cuda** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:56 pm

G.I.R. wrote:
I'll take pornography for $500, Mr. Khas.

I'll take Packed Pirated programs for $1000.

Just say I got a hunch. Maybe take it to a shop. they'll charge top, and try to sucker you into buying new shit, but keep at it.

ScottyGEE · Post by **ScottyGEE** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:38 pm

I'm sure that your USB drives work...If that's the case you are ok for backing things up, just booting up putting in usb and dragging and dropping needed files.

Ever booted in safe mode? I suggest you try that too, then do a system restore or at least attempt to find the stuff that is screwing you're computer up.

One last thing, I have a screwed up laptop with some annoying little application that attempts to block stuff (attempts), but when you log in, as soon as you can, open up task manager, then start ending some preocesses

MAy sound silly, but still, and look for odd named ones or something...This is something I have to do to get around my little problem, once I've ended the little app's process I am then free of its hold and its blockingness.

That's what I recommend, hope it works out with your $1000 software and your $500 of porn

shadowkhas · Post by **shadowkhas** » Tue May 22, 2007 4:28 am

Task Manager is actually a very handy tool for detecting hijacking processes. Go to View -> Select Columns, and choose Memory Usage Delta. That way, you can see if, whenever you attempt to start a program, if any process jumps in memory usage. That's saved me once.

XBC-Requiem · Post by **XBC-Requiem** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:56 am

Yes, you can install the OS without the disc that came with your PC. Since you have a recovery disc, I'm assuming that you bought a stock PC as opposed to building your own.

Find a buddy that has the same version of Windows (Be it XP Pro, Vista Business, 2000, 98 Plus, etc.). Borrow their disc, and use that to install Windows. When it asks for the serial key, use the key on your PC (Should be a sticker somewhere, it will be white/purple/teal for most). That way, you are using your license, thus making this process perfectly legal.

:)
Problem solved.

I'll go with File Sharing for $300, Trebek.
(Daily Double! Woohoo!)

warlord · Post by **warlord** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:28 am

goto start/run and type in msconfig and look at whats in your start up list and remove those you dont want.

Sgt.Peppers · Post by **Sgt.Peppers** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:38 am

Try rebooting it, then hitting F8 on startup, and when it gives you a list of options, choose "Last Know Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked.)"

At least that's what I'd do if I were in your situation.

Prey · Post by **Prey** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:03 am

I once had an annoying virus too, but i didnt know where it was located.. so i made an app

You can get it HERE
It'll display the filepaths of the current processes, but i never actually got round to making it able to end them as well..

Elite747 · Post by **Elite747** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:40 pm

Cuda wrote:
G.I.R. wrote:
I'll take pornography for $500, Mr. Khas.
I'll take Packed Pirated programs for $1000.

No, and no. I have a life., so I wouldn't do porn. I also have money, so I won't do some illegal crap. Honestly, IDK what happened. It may have been a virus or a trojan. Bassically, something discreet enough to do crap without me knowing about it until its too late.

Alexander · Post by **Alexander** » Tue May 22, 2007 9:46 pm

Elite747 wrote:
Cuda wrote:
G.I.R. wrote:
I'll take pornography for $500, Mr. Khas.
I'll take Packed Pirated programs for $1000.
No, and no. I have a life., so I wouldn't do porn. I also have money, so I won't do some illegal crap. Honestly, IDK what happened. It may have been a virus or a trojan. Bassically, something discreet enough to do crap without me knowing about it until its too late.

Y0 MAaNN I gO5TT MONEeyYZ ANDdD WOMAANn FaLLiNGg 0Utt MaHH ButTT ND I STiLL GEttTEH AppzZ Nd SuM Pr00NN!

Cuda · Post by **Cuda** » Tue May 22, 2007 10:07 pm

Alexander wrote:
Y0 MAaNN I gO5TT MONEeyYZ ANDdD WOMAANn FaLLiNGg 0Utt MaHH ButTT ND I STiLL GEttTEH AppzZ Nd SuM Pr00NN!

QFT.

-Legendary- · Post by **-Legendary-** » Wed May 23, 2007 3:36 am

ScottyGEE · Post by **ScottyGEE** » Wed May 23, 2007 5:05 am

hahahaha hilarious!

Elite, how about a progress report, you've been given a plethora of information, instead of just saying that you're not illegal, how about let us know if we've helped you otherwise we could adivse other methods.

HunterXI · Post by **HunterXI** » Wed May 23, 2007 1:39 pm

Not to be rude, but... have you ever heard of saving the data you "can't afford to lose" on a flash drive? That + a reformat would save you a lot of trouble and time.

Elite747 · Post by **Elite747** » Wed May 23, 2007 8:49 pm

Ok, well I backed up my information on another computer so far, and I'm still having trouble finding my recovery disk. But, my question is that one of my friends has a stock PC with Windows Vista installed on it. Would I be able to use his recovery disk anyways? Will it install Vista on my computer? Will it just not work? What would happen?

By the way, thanks a lot for all of your help. Its been a hard week so far getting all stressed out at my computer and browsing my PC in safe mode looking for a solution. So, uh, thanks.

G.I.R. · Post by **G.I.R.** » Wed May 23, 2007 9:04 pm

If you have Windows XP, do you honestly think using a Vista restore disc will restore your XP? =_=
By the way, it won't install Vista either unless you do a clean install and have a valid activation key. I'm not sure if upgrading requires an activation key or not, nor am I sure if it performs a clean install, though I doubt it.