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[PixieHokieVT]

Ok my boyfriends computer is jacked to hell from me installing service pack 2 and Norton anti-virus software...

His computer will not recognize or create an IP address which means he cannot get online

Windows media player will not open

SYSTEM RESTORE will not open

The control panel will not open

He has BRIDGE DLL errors at start up

We want to restore the whole hard drive but his computer was built so it does not a restore/reformat disk...All his work is already backed up...

How do you restore a HDD with no disk???

He has the windows XP OS disk but no restore disk

HELP...

[rjfvillarosa]

Can you please post the make and model of the computer and the system specifications.

[bailey]

boot with the cd and do a repaire install, do not go into the repaire console,
just do the repaire install and it will replace all the system files and not harm any data or settings.
you will need to reinstall all service packs and any upgrade patches you had.

[PixieHokieVT]

The computer is built so it does not have a make and model number...

20 gigs of memory
64 RAM
SOYO motherboard
DAVICOM ethernet card


Thats all I can tell you

[PixieHokieVT]

Do you boot from CD in BIOS setup or at the CMOS setup???

[rjfvillarosa]

Go with what Bailey is saying, go into the bios and change the boot sequence so that it boots from the cdrom first, put the XP in the CD and just restart the machine.

[PixieHokieVT]

Trying it now hope it works !!!

[rjfvillarosa]

How did you do the SP2 install? by download or from the CD?

[pam123]

Take a deep breath.
Since everything he needs is backed up you can just reformat and reinstall XP since he has the XP cd.
The problem with a restore disk is that all you can do is wipe XP and reinstall it.
The Windows cd allows you to do repair installs, either from the console or complete repairs from a later step as well as the usual nuke and pave.
For the record it sounds like you installed over a lot of malware so you're stuck with the reformat option this time.
So go into the bios, pressing Delete at start up is the usual way to get there, and set the cd-rom to first in the boot order, the boot order will be in Advanced BIOS Features. Remember that you navigate with the keyboard alone when in the bios and you have to save before you exit.
Restart the computer with the XP cd in the drive and follow the directions.
Delete all partitions and start from scratch.
Before you start get all the driver disks he has for his computer so you can reinstall the motherboard drivers and so on. If he has a raid or sata drive you will need the floppy for that as well.
Just remember to install sp2 before you try going on line to get any updates he may need or you'll end up where you started in about 10 minutes without a firewall.
If you need any more info post back and anyone here will walk you through it.

[PixieHokieVT]

So far everything is going as planned...I dont feel comfortable reformating the motherboard because I am telling him everything to do via cell phone and i dont want him messing with it

Any changes in the directions you provided me with?

Service pak 2 was installed via internet...

[rjfvillarosa]

Originally Posted by PixieHokieVT So far everything is going as planned...I dont feel comfortable reformating the motherboard

You are not reformating the motherboard you are formating the hard drive. IF YOU WANT TO. But it may not be needed. What Pam is saying is quite correct you may have malware on the machine that screwed the SP2 install, but try the repair install first. The most important thing to do is put SP2 on before anything else, it seems to run a lot better if installed before any other software including hardware drivers.

[PixieHokieVT]

oops I mean reinstall the motherboard sorry...

The computer restarted and has rebooted successfully...We have to wait approx. 39 minutes to see if everything is working properly...

[rjfvillarosa]

Pixie... calm down it will all be OK you have already said that all of his information and files are backed up so no worries.

[PixieHokieVT]

Yeah I need to calm down I just feel so bad for installing serv pak 2 and antivirus software...He cant finish his homework because of me

[rjfvillarosa]

How did you install SP2, via download or from the CD?

[PixieHokieVT]

Download...Where can i get a cd?

[rjfvillarosa]

You can get the CD free from microsoft, just fill in your details on the microsoft site and they will post one to you. It is a much better way of installing. It allows you to do a hard drive format and reinstall XP then SP2 without having to go online.
Follow this link.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...s/default.mspx

[pam123]

Breathe deeply.
Am I right, from your description, that he booted the computer from the XP cd without having to enter the bios ( meaning his cd-rom drive had already been first in the boot order ) ?

[PixieHokieVT]

We went into BIOS set up and booted from CD ROM and all the stuff you described came up (partitions and such) I did everything you said and the computer said it needed to restart...We restarted and it says it will be finished installing in about 33 minutes.


Where can you get the sevice pack 2 disk I dont want to download it again off line

What happens if you delete all partitions does this uninstall the motherboard because I dont think we have a disk for it?

[rjfvillarosa]

Follow this link for the SP2 CD.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/d...s/default.mspx
If you know what motherboard it is you can get the drivers for it from www.thedriverguide.com if you reinstall windows and it is a reasonably new board you will need to get the drivers, if it is an older board then windows may have the drivers already for it, which ever way the windows generic drivers will keep the board working untill you can get the correct drivers.
I just had a look at your earlier post and you say it's a SOYO board, the main thing you will need for a SOYO is the VIA 4 in 1 package for the VIA chipset. A lot of people don't like the 4 in 1 pack but I have never had any problems with it and like I say install any updates/drivers after SP2 has been installed.
In the mean time keep the machine off the internet untill SP2 has been installed.

[pam123]

Originally Posted by PixieHokieVT We went into BIOS set up and booted from CD ROM and all the stuff you described came up (partitions and such) I did everything you said and the computer said it needed to restart...We restarted and it says it will be finished installing in about 33 minutes. Where can you get the sevice pack 2 disk I dont want to download it again off line What happens if you delete all partitions does this uninstall the motherboard because I dont think we have a disk for it?

You're on your way and the sp2 cd arrives in the mail in around 3-4 days.
Before your boyfriend goes on-line be sure to enable the basic firewall in XP for his protection.
You open the Start menu, right click on My Network Places and choose Properties.
Right click on the connectioin you want to protect, and choose Properties.
If it's a dial up right click on that icon or choose the network icon if it's that one, and so on.
Click the Advanced tab and activate the firewall.
When it's up and running you can set up his internet connection and then he can download any drivers he needs for him comp as well as order the sp2 cd.

edit: have him pull out all the CDs that came with his build.
He many need/want to upgrade later ( and he should before you try again with the sp2 install ) but they will get him up and running for now so he can finish his homework.

[PixieHokieVT]

Ok everything is in working order internet is up and running (not using yet, just tested connection) Reinstalling Office, adobe and other programs...Thank all of you for your help...I really appreciate it...

[rjfvillarosa]

Glad it worked out OK.

[pam123]

Glad everything's okay.

[BARNEY]

Next time try safe mode by pressing F8 as you boot, pick safe mode and XP restore should work. You would go to the point before Norton and SP2. Future reference.