Topic: Compaq evo strange problem...

[DJ]

Hi All,

Here's a strange problem for you.

A friend has a Compaq Evo desktop machine running WinXP. One hard drive with only one partition.

Sometimes they can't get access to My Computer or My Docuements folder or Dial Up connections.  They still can get load programs such as MSWord etc, but can't open any documents.

They computer just hangs, can't do ctrl + alt + del and have to switch the PC off.

They have run System Restore to restore the PC to a month back or so - but it just occurs the next day again, and they have to run system restore again.

They say they haven't installed any new software recenlty and it has only started happening in the last two weeks or so.

I've asked them to update and check for viruses, spyware etc but any other ideas would be great - before we go for a full restore!

Cheers

DJ1UK

[Adept]

What worries me about this, DJ, is that the system restore works for a bit and then the problem comes back

You might want to have a look at the Event log (Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Event Viewer). Any red items in the System or Application logs may shed some light on what the problem might be.

[DJ]

Thanks for the reply.

Sadly the friend and PC aren't near me so I'll get in touch and get them to send me the System log.

I'll let you know how things go!

DJ1UK

[Sandra]

Sounds as if its not accepting the user as being logged on correctly with access to those folders or allowed to connect.
Have you tried logging off and back on as an admin or different user when that happens DJ  

[DJ]

Cheers Sandra,

I'll pass the ideas on. I'm going to have a 'remote' look at it tomorrow night.

Bit off topic - but I was going to use MSN Messanger or Windows Remote Desktop, but I've heard a lot about Trillian, does anyone have an opinion on these types of software?

Thanks again

DJ1UK

[Clive]

I think Simon is the expert on Trillian DJ.

[Sandra]

I only know of 3 people who have stuck with trilian after trying it for more than a few days and one of those got fed up with it and stopped using it recently.
I wasnt keen when I installed it and never even got around to setting it up as it didnt do what I thought it did as I thought it somehow linked other messenger accounts without having to sign up to them all before it would work ( well I was a bit more naive at the time and thought that PCs were capable of almost anything,plus I had just watched an episode of Startrek and theirs always do everything they want them to do   )
The remote thing does sound interesting but I havent tried that yet,I think Gemini was mentioning something about using that or PC anywhere to gain access to another PC remotely,Adept recommended one over the other but I think that was for security issues rather than for ease of use,if I can find the thread before either of them replies I will post a link to it  

[Simon]

Hi DJ,

I've been using Trillian for a few months now, and I think it's great!  If you have contacts in different mediums, i.e. MSN, Yahoo, ICQ, etc, you can view then all in one window, and have conversations with all the different Messenger clients, just using Trillian (you cannot cross talk with different mediums).  This obviously saves having several different messenger programs on the go, if you have contacts over multiple mediums.

I also like it because I find the layout a lot neater than with MSN / Windows messengers, and you can rename your contacts, so that the person's name, rather than the complete e-mail address, appears.  It's highly configurable, and although Trillian doesn't do everything messenger does, it does everything you need in a basic messenger service.  It's also free and contains no ads or spyware.

One thing I must mention is that there is a problem with file transfers if you are running Norton Firewall.  You can receive but not send.  I use Sygate Firewall, and it works fine with that.

Try it - you might like it!  www.trillian.cc  

[lobo]

@DJ1UK
The PC is showing symptoms of damaged or deleted system files, one reason for this could be faulty memory, when windows is running it uses files copied into memory and when a program is closed it writes the files back to the hard drive if the files held in memory are corrupted they will be written back to the drive corrupted, another reason could be bad sectors developing on the hard drive. The best way would be to format and reinstall XP then go from there.

Brian

[DJ]

Ok an update...

Had a look tonight (through MSN, no time to try Trillian), lots of errors in the event log as follows:

Service Control Errors ID 7011 / 7022 / 7001 / 7026
DCOM Errors ID 10005

Had a few warnings of registry check digit corruption (??) how to you restore a faulty registy.

Also when they do system restore - it deletes a lot of personal files - didn't think it was meant to do that!!

Got them to run a full up to date anti virus check at the moment - will post back any progress.

Sounds to me either a virus, corrupt registry or corrupt windows files (as lobo states). A full format looks like the prefered option  

DJ1UK

[lobo]

@DJ1UK

scanreg/fix should do the trick, but that is only when there is a good copy of the registry in the boot sector in your case it looks as if all the copies are damaged.

You can possibly reinstall XP over the top of the original installation but you would still be better with a clean install.

Brian

[DJ]

Is this the same as running scandisk on the C:\ drive ?

I remember scanreg when it was Win98 but what about WinXP?

Thanks

DJ1UK

PS - Where do you get your great graphic icon from lobo?  

[Adept]

I agree with lobo. It sounds like it may be a lost cause DJ

Probably best to backup whatever data files are important and do a clean install of XP.

[DJ]

Thanks everyone for your help.

I'll send them an email and give them the bad news  :-[

DJ1UK

[lobo]

@DJ1UK
Before you do any thing else you can try this,

1.Click Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Information, Tools, File Signature Verification

XP signs its critical system files digitally so it can check for any changes in them, run this program, insert your XP CD and it will replace any system files that have been changed

Brian