computer question any input will be helpful

[Michelle]

okay i have a question...
my girlfriend went to exit out of her browser and it would not let her so she tried the ctrl alt delete thing and nothing so she shut it down by the button, when she went to turn it back on the desktop came up and no icons and then she shut it down (tried the ctrl alt delete first) then shut it down and now when she tries to turn it on it flashes on her desktop... she is a single mom with two boys and just doesn't have the money to take it in but I thought i would try and see if I could get any thoughts on this...

thanks
michelle

[Sandman]

It sounds like it could be a virus. If she can get an internet connection working she can try...

BitDefender Online Scanner (http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html) is a free on-demand scanner available on BitDefender's website that incorporates BitDefender scanning engines to detect and disinfect viruses and spyware files.

BitDefender Online Scanner is based on the same technology as BitDefender Antivirus 2008 which is considered one of the most reliable antivirus solutions worldwide according to independent organizations like Virus Bulletin, AV Test, AV Comparatives, etc.

http://www.bitdefender.com/

She may be able to get a start menu by using the windows key on the keyboard. Also, does she get options when she right mouse clicks on the desktop?

Oakhurst Computers (www.oakhurstcomputers.com) can diagnose the issue for $45. That would also go towards repair costs. It sounds like this repair may cost $45-$60 all together at our store. With that she would get a full cleanup on the computer.

[Michelle]

She can't get to anything she said.... I asked if she could at least get to the start menu she said no..
I will let her know what you said...I don't know if she has the money right now to do it but when she does I will tell her to go to you guys and I will tell her to tell you guys I sent her...
thanks for your input Matt...

Michelle

[MtnEagle]

Try booting into Safe Mode with the F8 key at startup.

Then run scandisk first to correct possible errors on the disk such as open files that weren't closed when she reset the machine.

You may have to do this a couple times depending on the level of problems (if any) on the hard disk.

Once you get past this, try booting into windows normally and see if it works ok then.

;)

If you can get any sort of normal boot then try getting on the internet and doing what Mat said at the website.

You won't be able to use networking in safe mode just so you know.

[Nascar8Fan]

I am stuck on a problem on my work computer. It won't load past the win xp page. How do I boot to DOS so I can run a scandisk or chkdsk? My memory has gone blank on how to do it! :confused:

[BGW]

I am stuck on a problem on my work computer. It won't load past the win xp page. How do I boot to DOS so I can run a scandisk or chkdsk? My memory has gone blank on how to do it! :confused:

I was going to say the same thing Eagle said--it mght work for you too.

PS: glad to see you back online! Hope you and the family are doing ok.

[only1alphafemale]

Use the F8 key, when you reboot the computer, I believe? That should give you your start up options ~ :grin:

[Nascar8Fan]

I tried that option but it doesn't give me the MSDOS option. Thanks BGW, nice to be back.

[only1alphafemale]

I tried that option but it doesn't give me the MSDOS option. Thanks BGW, nice to be back.

It didnt give you the command prompt option? :confused: Hmmm....What windows format are you running?

Other than using the BOOT.INI file, thats the only way I know, (besides a DOS bood up disk ) ~ Sorry ! :(

[Nascar8Fan]

I am using XP. I don't know why I am not getting the command prompt option, its weird!!

It didnt give you the command prompt option? :confused: Hmmm....What windows format are you running?

Other than using the BOOT.INI file, thats the only way I know, (besides a DOS bood up disk ) ~ Sorry ! :(

[MtnEagle]

XP is a lot like Windows NT before. There really isn't a DOS boot for NT style OS's.

The best you can do is boot to a SAFE mode Command Line Interface (CLI/DOS Shell), which will still be a window in NT/XP.

I use XP on my best machine, but have never had to boot to a Recovery mode or anything so I'm not going to be too much help on that one.

[only1alphafemale]

From the run command box, you can type in cmd.exe and run a command prompt from there..... ? maybe that will help?

[MtnEagle]

From the run command box, you can type in cmd.exe and run a command prompt from there..... ? maybe that will help?

:)

Yeah, but you have to be able to get to that Run Command menu option, and this is where the problem is. We need a DOS like shell access to the drive before the XP GUI kicks in.

[Nascar8Fan]

:yes::yes:

:)

Yeah, but you have to be able to get to that Run Command menu option, and this is where the problem is. We need a DOS like shell access to the drive before the XP GUI kicks in.

[BGW]

Have you tried booting from a Norton disk? I've heard that works sometimes...dunno if it's true or not though

[Nascar8Fan]

No, I don't have one. I think I am going to do some Googling tonight before I go into work. Hopefully there's a backdoor!

[only1alphafemale]

I found better stuff when I used aks.com tonight after I googled for awhile ~ , anyway, try this link when you get to work ~ it might do it ! :) ( I hope )

http://www.internetfixes.com/question_and_answer/IF00344.htm

[Sandman]

Oakhurst Computers is here for you if you need us. How much is your time worth to you? For about $45 or $60 we can get most problems resolved. Before you spend hours trying to fix it, consider dropping it off to us.

[Michelle]

Sandman
Thank you very much for getting my best friend Dee's computer back in order and not charging her an arm and a leg and she is very happy with what you did and all the help you are doing now to get her back on her computer. We had pizza together last night and she was telling us how happy she was with the service, honesty and the prices are fair....

Thank you for taking good care of her.
Michelle:grin:

[lazywolf]

I have a question. About a month ago I was playing with the controls on my laptop and really screwed up alot of things. The question is-- can I go back about a month and restore my laptop to how it was before? I have Vista so if I can how do I go about doing it or should I bring it in to Oakhurst computers and let them do it?

[Ted]

You can do a "Restore" but anything you loaded i.e. updates since the last restore point won't be installed. Usually that isn't a big deal unless you install a lot of software regularly.

Depending on the "view" you are using in Vista,
Go to Control panel
System & Maintenance
Backup and Restore center
There you will find your options. If you haven't set a restore point you should get in the habit of doing so before any new software install or windows update.
In our world it's not uncommon that a new program install or even an update will render a different program usless.
This just happened to us this week when we installed a simple QuickTime update and it killed our edit system. Fortunately we help with development of the software so the manufacturer of the edit system got us a fix overnight. :)

Hopefully this was of some help. I don't check in here often but I'll try and follow for a day or so before I leave town again.

[lazywolf]

Thank you for the info. How do I create a restore point? I'm afraid of messing it up even further.

[lazywolf]

I found it, thanks

[Bob Cat]

System restore points generally only restore the _system_ to what it was. They do not generally restore any of your documents or settings within programs. You need to do a backup to save that stuff.

[Ted]

So very true. Regular backups of Data are a must. Especially these days with so much of our lives that reside on our computers.
About every 6 months I take a dual layer DVD and back up all photos and documents. Now it takes a dual layer for picts and a different one for docs. :yes:

[lazywolf]

I never did a backup before this one today so I guess I can't get my computer back to how it was. I've lost the ability to send pictures etc. because I was playing around and messed up everything. So there's no way I can go back to before I messed it up? Sorry, I'm self taught on computers and lack the ability to figure some of these things out.:(rolleyes:

[only1alphafemale]

I never did a backup before this one today so I guess I can't get my computer back to how it was. I've lost the ability to send pictures etc. because I was playing around and messed up everything. So there's no way I can go back to before I messed it up? Sorry, I'm self taught on computers and lack the ability to figure some of these things out.:(rolleyes:

When you bought your computer, did you make the system restore discs? Or (if you were lucky) Did any come with it?

[Bob Cat]

To understand what you did and how to correct it would require far more information - like what program you use to send pictures, what you were doing when you were "playing around" and how exactly things are now "messed up." Most likely too much for this thread. But Remote Repair might be a convenient option for you.

http://www.yosemitearea.com/forums/showpost.php?p=84934&postcount=7

[lazywolf]

I know, I think I will do the remote repair before I get myself in deeper than I already am. That's what I needed to know. Thank you.

[Braymond]

System restore points generally only restore the _system_ to what it was. They do not generally restore any of your documents or settings within programs. You need to do a backup to save that stuff.

System Restore, in Windows Vista, and Windows 7 is a rollback of data at certain points in time. These points in time are user generated or automatically generated by the software. This is NOT to be confused with a complete system restore provided by your laptop manufacturer, normally found hidden by a special key function at boot. She was directed in the right direction. ;)