help! Serious problem loading windows

[GarfieldLeChat]

also I got the CD from my friend, it has win0xp on the cover, inside it has a file just marked I386 and inside that it has lots of files

I clicked on properties and it's attributes are read only

it was created in nov 2002

5,391 files

316mb

not looking like XP is it?
is there any way I can tell?

no it's the system files with the unpackers in their compressed state, it's not terribly useful in the event of something like this however unless you have the skills to unpack and over write the system files (which would ordinarily be done by the installer) unless you are familar with commandline however this might be a difficult process.

(tho fair play it's precisely what you'd need if you were a techie nerd to repair the system if you are a civilian however it's as much use as a choclate teapot.)

 

[GarfieldLeChat]

A liveCD will not itself fix your PC, no.

What it will it will give you all the software you need to carry on with your work, for free, just by booting your system from the liveCD.

dude if a uiser hasn't got the skills to sort the problem in doze then telling them to run a new OS and learn a new way of doing things is only going to further confuse and take out of the comfort zone.

when a user is already feeling pretty much like they no longer understand why their pc is doing something, telling them a technicaly correct thing which launches them down a different track (and in this case is a work around which isn't going to sort the problem out) isn't helping them it's adding to their sense of confusion.

equally to really learn nix you need a working connection to google so you can look things up and a working machine not one on the stage of implosion.

I know you know most people with some techie knowledge or in IT know that a live cd can be an arse saver in a bind, but it's the techie equvierlent of shouting louder in english in a forgine contry to make yourself understood.

It's not helpful to civilans it really isn't however 'correct' the solution might be.

one day (please soon) people will move to nix and it'll be the commonplace OS but it isn't now. early adopters who have found they have gotten used to and indeed now become skilled in the system and are pleased to be free of the M$ way of doing things because ultimately it's not helpful, understandably want others to free themselves from the shackles of M$. some how they forget the level up they needed to do in terms of learning a new system and way of doing things.

My suggestion would be to start a thread which could be sticked telling people step by step how use a live cd to recover files/repair windows/have a stand by OS etc. All of which would be helpful. telling someone in this situation however to use one isn't helpful.

you know the old gauge the level of support the user will need and then addressing things at that level rather than doing 'standardised' onesize fits all advice which doesn't take account of the users experince or confidence levels.

innit blud

 

[wreckhead]

I agree that a livecd is only going to complicate things in this case.

I've never come across a Windows XP CD which had the repair option removed. LLB: did you have any luck acquiring an XP Home OEM CD? You have the Product Key so that CD is the missing link here. Having said that if you can do your work in safe mode and your deadline is Thursday, if I were you I'd be inclined to wait until the weekend before attempting any repair just in case something goes horribly wrong. I feel your frustration because I have copies of all XP/Vista CDs for when I have to repair PCs in exactly the same predicament as yours, not that that helps you right now sorry!

 

[bmd]

The cd doesn't have the repair option removed, it's only there if the files are available via your XP install, iow they're on your pc, or not as the case may be. I'm not sure how that happens but whenever I've had to do a repair I'm always holding my breath until the repair option shows.

Your options now LLB are to try to roll back XP to a previous restore point, attempt to remove the files whilst in safe mode or access the drive as seperate to the OS, so either take it out and put it in another machine or put another drive into that pc, install an OS on it and then browse to the drive with the files on. I haven't read the entire thread so I may be repeating what someone's said already.

 

[Louloubelle]

The cd doesn't have the repair option removed, it's only there if the files are available via your XP install, iow they're on your pc, or not as the case may be. I'm not sure how that happens but whenever I've had to do a repair I'm always holding my breath until the repair option shows.

Thanks

I'm sorry but I just don't understand this bit

Your options now LLB are to try to roll back XP to a previous restore point,

I restored to a point before it all went wrong but still have a problem. is it worth tryint to restore to an even earlier point?

attempt to remove the files whilst in safe mode

I did remove some files that had a yellow question mark on them

The computer then loaded fine, but subsequently detected new hardware and the wizard found the drivers and installed them, then I got back into a loop where I would only load windows in safe mode.

I checked in the device manager and the yellow question marks have gone (apologies for non techie speak )

or access the drive as seperate to the OS, so either take it out and put it in another machine or put another drive into that pc, install an OS on it and then browse to the drive with the files on. I haven't read the entire thread so I may be repeating what someone's said already.

This last option is going to be too time consuming for what I need to get done by tomorrow

My main problem for tomorrow is that i need to edit a load of photos and can't access photoshop. All I need to do it to obscure certain parts of the photos. is there a program I can access in safe mode that will allow me to do this?

You have all been so helpful and I really appreciate it, I just feel like a total failure for my non-geek credentials

 

[bmd]

Thanks

I'm sorry but I just don't understand this bit



I restored to a point before it all went wrong but still have a problem. is it worth tryint to restore to an even earlier point?

The thing about restoring Windows is that it will forget everything that's installed after the restore point and if the restore point was a while ago you could find that you're having to faff about more than if you just did a clean install of XP (booted from the cd and reinstalled everything). You could try it if you just want to do this work and then reinstall everything after you've got it done.

I did remove some files that had a yellow question mark on them

The computer then loaded fine, but subsequently detected new hardware and the wizard found the drivers and installed them, then I got back into a loop where I would only load windows in safe mode.

I checked in the device manager and the yellow question marks have gone (apologies for non techie speak )

This last option is going to be too time consuming for what I need to get done by tomorrow

My main problem for tomorrow is that i need to edit a load of photos and can't access photoshop. All I need to do it to obscure certain parts of the photos. is there a program I can access in safe mode that will allow me to do this?

You have all been so helpful and I really appreciate it, I just feel like a total failure for my non-geek credentials

If the restore doesn't work then your best bet is to take the image files off the pc and then reinstall XP and Photoshop and take it from there. How about burning the image files to DVD in order to get them off your pc? I've never really done much with safe mode except repair stuff so I'm not sure if your burner (I'm assuming you have one?) software will work under safe mode. Or if you have enough USB sticks you'd be better off using them.

If you are going to reinstall then you'll need the motherboard drivers and ones for your graphics card. If you use Belarc Advisor you can find out what motherboard you have and then Google for '*mb name* drivers'. Download them, save them with your image files, reboot from the cd, install XP, install Photoshop, do your thing with the images and that's that.

All that will take 3 or 4 hours at a rough estimate.

 

[Louloubelle]

phew!

I restored to a point in early april and nit is now loading OK, still no sound device showing though, although this is far from the most important thing it would be great if I could sort that out in time for the meeting as there are some sound files that I would like to present if possible

the main thing is that I can get the images working which is essential for tomorrow

You lot are absolutely lovely thanks so much

and if anyone has the will to help me restore sound I will be really grateful

xxxx

ps

right now I'm running a virus check with AVG free, after which I'll install kaspersky, run that and then run various other checks while I'm working on my presentation

 

[bmd]

That's great news.

If you run Belarc Advisor on your computer it will tell you what motherboard you have and then we'll know which drivers it uses. I'm guessing it's using onboard sound and that it's not working cos the drivers aren't loaded.

 

[Louloubelle]

That's great news.

If you run Belarc Advisor on your computer it will tell you what motherboard you have and then we'll know which drivers it uses. I'm guessing it's using onboard sound and that it's not working cos the drivers aren't loaded.

Thanks so much I'll do that

fwiw even agv free has picked up 2 trojan horses so far *gulp*