clean install problem

[linnie]

I reinstalled xp home, yesterday. Since then, I cannot down load anything without getting corrupt file. Also when I put a disc into cd rom, a search window comes up instead of usual window. Please help..thanx.

[GaryRouth]

It's a little late here, I'll have to follow up sometime tomorrow (holiday busy), but here are a few questions and things-to-check to get your troubleshooting started:

1) What led you to reinstall?
2) You mention "clean install" - was the hard drive *completely* wiped first? [all existing partitions deleted and re-created? - followed by a reformat?]
3) Did you re-install using a Windows installation CD, or a Recovery disk?
4) Have there been any virus infections or hardware failures in the past on this computer?
5) Is this a home-built or store-bought computer? If store-bought, what make/model?
6) Is your connection to the Internet behind a firewall?
7) Do you have up-to-date antivirus/antispyware protection on that computer?
8) Do you connect to the Internet via broadband or dialup?
9) When downloading, are you using "download manager" software?
10) If you use the Windows File Protection/System File Checker, does it find corrupt system files? [from the Start/Run box, enter "sfc /scannow" and have your XP disk handy]


Quick fix try: if you only get the file errors when downloading, and you have been using a "download manager" program, try things with the download manager disabled. And visit http://housecall.trendmicro.com to run an online antivirus check, just to make sure you don't have a worm/virus causing odd Search and other odd system behavior.

. . . Gary

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