WinXp Brain Dead

[DrRockin]

Hay there, ok here is one problem I dont even know where to start with, Yesterday I had to do a system Restore, I had to restore a couple of different times as Windows kept freezing, Now, it seems that Most everything is missing, but shows up as icons, Like theres no help section, Everytime I restart It doesnt remember that I just installed the last Critical update. I just tried to reinstall Creative Media source, but it crashes, Win Media 9 cant play any of my music. Its almost like the entire drive is gone, and just a picture of it is left. I want to back up all my files and music, but I am wondering if I try and Transfer it to a Drive if it will actually do It. I cant even setup my network to transfer to the other computer. I've been trying to figure this out for a day and half now and I'm at a loss. If anyone can shed a bit of light on this it would be appreciated. ( I didnt know Computers went on strike) lol Thanks

[glc]

I'd slave the drive into the other computer and see if you can copy files off that way - sounds like the OS is really trashed and you will probably wind up reformatting it - you *could* try a repair reinstall without reformatting.

[DrRockin]

ya I think I'm going to have to reinstall, I caught a worm the other day, But will I be able to slave this drive onto a win98 system, Its the only other comp I have access to?

[DrRockin]

lol, I thought system restore was suppoesed to help fix problems (sometimes) not make them worse, lol, anyone got a stick of tnt, that might Shock the system into working, Cant even ask my friends for help, there all on win98 Ack. Just my luck eh.

[mb26]

presumably the drive is formatted as NTFS.. so 98 as it is wont be able to read the files but u can get programs which can allow you to (read/copy them onto other drive atleast).
alternatively u could burn a cd-booting copy of Linux and use that

i'd try doing a repair install of XP first personally.

[DrRockin]

ok, thanks I'll try that, if I repair would I still loose the programs I currently have. Problem is my Backup drive is being used on my mom computer till she can get a new on its on Fat32 and Mine is NTFS but some of the programs I have are worth 2-3 grand. G/F is into digital graphic design, and I have her only copy, ands dumb me hasnt had a chance to back up the program, guess this will teach me.

[bailey]

the repaire should do just fine, and no data will be lost.
except you will need to reinstall all the xp service packs and critical updates.

the programs should be unaffected.

[DrRockin]

Ok, just so I am sure on this I use the repair from the winXp cd right, As for the updates, I have the security cd that Microsodt mailed out. That one works great especially on a win98 system, No taking forever to downlaod the Patch from The net.
I have just reciently upgrade to xp, and still learning the system. Heck of a lot easier than 98 lol, Just have a networking question, but I guess I have top post that in another forum eh. Thanks for your help, Hay any Idea on what caused this? The worm I had was all localized in Temp, and caught by Spybot, Heck even the antivirus never caught it, I even used online scans to find it.

[bailey]

just be sure to use the repair install, and not the repaire console.

do not use the repaire console

[DrRockin]

all right, I was hoping ot get all this poulled off the drive then do a gw scan of the drive But I cant find a copy of gw scan anywhere, I just bought a new board Asus a7N8X E Deluxe and cpu 2500 mobile but I was waiting till I got memory to bring it up, but since all this happened I might as well stuff it all in now hay thanks for all your help, If you happen to know wher eI can find GW Scan let me know, My copy is still back in Edmonton. Thanks again for the help

[DrRockin]

Ok, I think I need a bit more help here, Went to repair, All I could find was after restart, and that was repair console, and that brought me to command prompt. After that I am lost, I havent played in cmd in XP before, and it kinda confused me. its not quite like 98 or the old dos, If you can give me a little guidence it would be appreciated. I guess I have a lot of learning to do when it comes to XP. When I get this all done, looks like its time to do some research. Thanks again Talk to you soon.

[glc]

No. you have to choose Setup, not Repair. When Setup finds the existing XP, then you have the option to repair it.

[bailey]

man I wish ms set that up differantly, everybody does the same thing every time

[DrRockin]

lol, Ok thanks just wanted to make sure, I've spent to much time fixing the "What does this do" syndrome. He he Maybe ms does this to try and weed out the wanna be techs . Oh well its all good. Thanks for the help.

[DrRockin]

Well I think I messsed up, tried to repair, left files intact and it started to do the reinstall, only I got an error message Bad pool checker, then all it will do is do a memory dump. I tried again and it made a windows2 and I can load into that. I have lost most everything on the drive, Actually everything I had on my desktop. Will a file recovery program help me to bring the files back? or is everythig gone forever, I never formated, and now theres 2 windows programs. Just using what I can to see if I can back this all up then I'm gonna have to reinstall. Thaks fopr all the help last night, benn up all night teaching the puter all the colourful words lol

[DrRockin]

Anyone know any good File recovery programs? I think that might work. I hope anyway. What do I have to loose at this point eh

[glc]

Ontrack Easy Recovery - and you need another drive to recover the data to.

[DrRockin]

k i'll have to check that out, guess i'm gonna have to buy a drive then, and i was just trying to find an easy way outa this lol, Never buy a maxtor drive, they just dont last like my western digital does

[glc]

You still have the option to slave the drive into another computer - you may be able to read the files directly without spending any money.