Stupid question time
When I manually delete a folder/files in XPsp2 wouldnt I have to delete it in the registry or is that a minor issue?
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Stupid question time
When I manually delete a folder/files in XPsp2 wouldnt I have to delete it in the registry or is that a minor issue?
Not normally a huge issue, unless it's malware that you're trying to manually delete.
In any case, there is 'registry clean-up' software available that works quite well. Try http://www.3bsoftware.com .
O
If you have to manually delete stuff it is usually best to do it in "safe mode" as that way it probably hasn't been loaded into memory and won't get written back.
Registry cleaning tools also work better in safe mode for the same reason. ;)
Also disable system restore, that way when deleted it doesn't get restored from a system restore point etc. ;)
t34bag5 and nihil are right on point. Safe mode and disabling System Restore (if I'm not mistaken, you have to do a full normal reboot after clearing System Restore to erase the Restore points) are must do's when dealing with malware. Good catch, guys .
Why are you asking in the first place, Cider? Having some problems?
O
Unfortunately yes. Its all in my other post I will figure out how to link it now. However to cut a long story short I am having trouble installing everything from windows updates to directX to games etc. Also with uninstalling certain programs that it why I asked about clearing the registry.
I am using Panda Internet security 2008 with spyware remover which hasn't picked up anything. I have done online scans and everything I can think of but still cant seem to fix the problem.
However my computer runs fine. System restore is already off.
Cant think of any other information I can give you.
Thank you for the replies.
I'm sure Nihil is sick of this South African :)
hi Cider,Quote:
Originally Posted by Cider
did you recently re-install windows?
the reason i am asking this is because i did a fresh installation on a friends laptop.(took out the Hhd, connected it using 2.5'' Hhd casing formatted it and placed it back. after all that, did a fresh installation of windows xp.)
After the whole thing was over, it just wont update. i did a google search for Service pack 2. downloaded and installed it. windows update has been running fine since.
the microsoft update website also offers an automated assistance. all you have to do is click the link and watch it do everything (from setting up the trusted sites in the "internet options" to cleaning up the registry afterwards)
No I haven't formatted my HDD in over a year this is why I think I must. Do you think I Should just reinstall Service pack 2?
Nihil If you could please link that other post of mine I would appreciate it to put everyone into perspective.
Thank you
Hi Cider,
I think that this is the one:
http://antionline.com/showthread.php?t=276219
:)
Yes that is the post. Thanks Nihil.
One more thing. I set my page file on my C: drive , windows directory to the desired amount however after a restart or reboot it tells me there is no pagefile. So in other words it keeps resetting it to no pagefile. Any thoughts.
Thanks.
Hmmmm,
1. What happens if you let Windows manage it?
2. After you entered your values you did remember to click the "set" button didn't you?
Yes I have done both of those :(
Well if you let Windows manage the pagefile and it tells you there isn't one, It sounds as if it is corrupted.
Two things to try:
1. go into "performance Options" and set minimum and maximum to zero then reboot.
2. Set the pagefile to clear on shutdown:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314834
If that doesn't work and given your other problems I think that a format and reinstall is the next logical move. :(
you could try "tune up utilities"
will be able to get it at http://www.tune-up.com/
you get a 30 day full program trial. see if it fixes this.
if it works and you like it...........after 30 days just uninstall and install again.
May be grasping at straws here, but have you run a full Scandisk? Thinking along the lines that your HDD may have physical corruption and may be unusable. If that is indeed the case, the same problems will continue to resurface. The upside is you get to buy a newer, faster, bigger HDD, the downside is that you have to start over from scratch (not a good idea to image a swamped OS).
Good luck.
O
Tune up utilities is one of the programs which refuse to delete.
I bought Registry repair Pro just to clean up my registry. IT has however the problems still persist.
Thank you for all your help. If you think of anything more please just post it here.
Otherwise I think a reformat and new HDD is in the lines.
Save your licensing info from 3B for the Registry Repair Pro, first and foremost, it is still usable when you reload.
It seems that biting the bullet and picking up a new HDD is the best course of action in your case, Cider. It sucks to have to start fresh, but it's how I've learned how things work and what to watch out for. I've done it many times in the past 10-12 years.
Not sure how things work there in S.A., but I picked up a 160GB HDD here in the states for $75 USD. More than enough space for the casual user.
There is always a time when it's easier to just hit the metaphorical "reset" button and start fresh instead of fighting problems until you're blue in the face while getting nowhere with it.
Good luck.
O
a new hhd is not required.
as you said you already had the system working since over a year now, till recently it stopped updating/installing/removing programs.
how far back did it stop doing all that?
maybe some program changed a couple of settings. p2p programs and torrent clients have been known to change settings, specially the ports used to connect to internet with.
options:-
1) you can use the option to "repair windows" from the bootup xp cd. that way your files will not be deleted. After running the scan disk as recommended by Ouroboros
2) just go for a clean installation. that way before windows are installed, the setup "checks" the disk and re-allocates bad sectors (if any)
3) get into safe mode as recommended by nihiland t34b4g5 and start removing everything till you just have the windows (disconnected from the internet, obviously)
restart and see if the problem arises again.
if it does then format and reinstall windows
if it doesnt then its probably one of the programs.
just another thing.....have you ever got one of those blue screens which says something like "some error has happened and windows were shutdown to protect blahblah blah" kinds
Hi Cider,
I am not sure about the HDD, but it certainly seems like you have some corruption of your Windows installation.
If Windows cannot recognise the page file, that can cause all sorts of problems, which could be pretty unpredictable.
What make of HDD is it? I would certainly go to the manufacturer's website and get their diagnostics tools. See if they find any physical problems with the drive. If they do then it is time to get a new one pronto. You will need to run the in depth scan.
As for the page file, try the two suggestions I gave you earlier. If that doesn't work then create a small partition of say 3Gb. Go into control panel and set the path for the pagefile to point to this partition, then reboot.
That should force the system to build a totally new pagefile that should be recognised.
:)
I will do everything suggested.
Nihil: I went to maxtors site and downloaded their diagnostic utility as you suggested however the problem of installing is still the same.
I have attached a screenshot of the error I get while trying to install.
Thanks.
Wierd isnt it :)
Sorry about the attachment quality, was in a rush.
Hi,
You need to get SeaTools for DOS and create a bootable disk ;) Otherwise you will have to load it onto another Windows machine and attach the drive as a slave.
Hi,
I ran the scan and everything seemed to pass. I will run safemode and start removing programs which I feel would be harmful.
I have a feeling it is utorrent or something to do with permissions.
Is it possible to reinstall the "windows installer?"
Just do a windows Repair, it will delete the needed files to use windows then re-install with the default setup. You will then just need to re-install windows updates service packs etc.
Give that a try, if it still doesn't want to play, then back up everything that you need and call it a day and format and re-install windows. :mad:
OK Cider, it looks like the HDD is physically OK. The reason I wanted to go that way was that there is nothing worse than trying to fix a system only to find that the HDD has crapped out on you.............. I know............ been there, done that :dunce:
Unfortunately, all we have done is seemingly establish the HDD integrity, so that means we still have some sort of corrupted Windows installation.
Have you managed to sort out the page file yet? if we can't get that sorted I doubt if we can ever fix Windows. In Win 2000 onwards you have to have a page file, even if it is the minimum, and it must not be corrupted. I have already posted some ideas on how to fix it.
If you can get past that point then run chkdsk and then defragment. I know that we have tested the physical disk integrity with the Seagate tool, but chkdsk also checks the Windows system and file integrity.
After that I guess the next last two resorts are a Windows repair and a fresh install, as t34b4g5 suggested.
teabags, I have been holding back from that route because Cider is in SA, and they have really crappy broadband deals out there, with stupid capping levels of like 5Gig a month or worse. Loading all the 'doze updates would be rather depletive?
Good luck to you mate :drink:elkgrin
Before doing a complete re-install, and in case someone else mentioned it, try doing a scannow.
http://www.compphix.com/windowsfileprotection.htmlQuote:
SFC /SCANNOW-WINDOWS FILE PROTECTION
Windows XP has the ability to protect itself from system instability caused by the overwriting important system files. This is a problem with Windows 95 and Windows 98. With the introduction of Windows Millennium Edition, Microsoft made a strong effort to stop this from happening. Now, in Windows XP, there is a much better protection of these important files. This system is called Windows File Protection
Windows File Protection is always enabled and allows Windows digitally signed files to replace existing files safely. If you introduce a file replacement in any other way, Windows File protection will overwrite your file!
An important part of Windows File Protection is the command line utility: System File Checker (sfc.exe) This is a great tool for troubleshooting Windows XP problems.
USING SFC /SCANNOW
The main reason for using this utility is when you suspect there may be a problem with a Windows XP system file. Perhaps you get a dialog box appear informing you of a problem with a .dll file, or your program will just not load! It is therefore worth checking to see if there are any corrupt system files using scannow sfc.
To do this simply go to the Run box on the Start Menu and type in: sfc /scannow
This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and make sure of their correctness, replacing any files that it finds with a problem.
A bos should appear to give an indication of how long the process is taking.
If all goes as it should, any corrupt, missing or incorrect files would be replaced by this process. However, as with most actions in this world, things can go wrong and the following should help!
The most frequent complaint with scannow /sfc is that a dialog box appears asking you to insert your Windows XP CD-ROM to continue.
Why does this happen?
There are several settings in your computer's registry that are checked when you run scannow /sfc.
As stated before, the Windows File Protection constantly monitors for any changes to the main system files. These are usually stored in:C:WINDOWSSystem32Dllcache (C: in most cases is the root drive)
The dllcache folder is extremely important so Windows XP hides it from you! To view it go to:There is normally no need for the original XP CD to be inserted as your computer has a copy it can get hold of in this cache.
- My Computer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> View -> "uncheck" Hide protected operating system files.
But, if the Dllcache folder, or part of it, has become corrupted for some reason then you will be prompted for the XP CD - so your computer can get a clean copy!
However, not ALL installations of Windows XP have ALL the system files cached into this folder! You may only have around 25-50MB of files in this folder under Windows XP depending on the settings in the registry.
HOW TO WORK AROUND THIS
As well as having a cache of all the system files on your PC, you should have the I386 folder from the XP CD installed on your hard drive. After doing this, it is quite simple to modify the registry to tell it the source path for these files.
This prevents 99% of requests for the the XP CD with Windows File Protection and the I386 folder also contains many other files that are sometimes needed by the operating system and this stops those requests for the XP CD,as well.
HOW TO PUT I386 ON YOUR ROOT DRIVE:
Step 1
You will need to get your XP CD and locate the folder called: I386
This is a major folder and should be one of the first you see, now copy this onto your hard drive into the system root. For most of you that is going to be C: so you should end up with a folder that looks like: C:I386
Step 2
Your computer needs to know that you now have the necessary files on your PC. This is done by editing the registry. Here's how: (type regedit in the Run box on the start menu)
By navigating to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionSetup
You will see various entries here on the right hand side.
The one we want is called: SourcePath
It probably has an entry pointing to your CD-ROM drive,(usually D:) and that is why it is asking for the XP CD. All we need to do is change it to: C: Now, double click the SourcePatch setting and a new box will pop up allowing you to make the change to the drive letter of your root drive, probably C:
Now restart your computer and try sfc /scannow again!
Luck
Hi dalek.
I ran the tool , went to make some coffee, came back and nothing was on the screen. I did however seen it "scanning", so I assume the tool did replace the corrupted the files. I will check the page file later today and let you know if it works.
Thank you for the research.
EDIT: OK I have tried everyones' ideas and to no avail. Thank you all for your ideas. Gave me great insight into XP :P
Ill have to format ...
Thanks.