Hubbys laptop - worked fine until.......:
1. Downloaded/installed updates for MS Essentials (virus, etc). Scanned for viruses. None.
2. Downloaded/installed Win updates all of which failed (most were security for MS office 2003 & 2007).
3. Rebooted.
4. Win XP appears to load properly BUT nearly all program icons would not completely load - generic icons Except a few PDFs on desktop, IE 8 and Google, and Tune-Up. Tried start-menu same icons. Could not open programs; tried right-click but no properties.
5. Able to load/open: Google, Tune-up and can open MS Office from Cmd line or Task Mgr menu. Strangely, cannot load/open IE.
6. Tried Control Panel but would not start.
7. Ran Tune-Up maintenance found 14,611 registry errors! Ran auto clean up.
8. Tried installing Win updates again all failed.
9. Checked online / one responder said MS installer was corrupted or missing checked and found no installer.
10. Downloaded installer from MS site.
11. Tried installing Win updates again all completed. Rebooted. But same issues as above.
12. Tried Lenovos ThinkVantage (loads prior to Win). Tried its PC Doctor to scan all sectors for errors took HOURS AND HOURS. But found no errors.
13. Looked for original Win disks. Either = never got them, lost them, or did not make a backup system disk (dont recall).
Suggestions? Help?
If we need system disks, where can we find/buy them?
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Question
Answers (7)
0
Votes
XP Pro problem
Have you tried doing a system restore?
You can go back in time and sometimes that works fine.
Start
Accessories
system tools
system restore
Select a time prior to your problem.
You can go back in time and sometimes that works fine.
Start
Accessories
system tools
system restore
Select a time prior to your problem.
1st Oct
Replies
Um. Cannot open anything -- Start, yes ..... other stuff, no. See my #4:
4. Win XP appears to load properly BUT nearly all program icons would not completely load - generic icons Except a few PDFs on desktop, IE 8 and Google, and Tune-Up. Tried start-menu same icons. Could not open programs; tried right-click but no properties.
4. Win XP appears to load properly BUT nearly all program icons would not completely load - generic icons Except a few PDFs on desktop, IE 8 and Google, and Tune-Up. Tried start-menu same icons. Could not open programs; tried right-click but no properties.
etopt
2nd Oct
@avlwiz person stated does NOT have disks... Kind of hard to do system restore without them.
greatnewproducts
2nd Oct
greatnewproducts : you don't need disks to do a system restore. It can be done from normal startup, safe mode or safe mode with command prompt. Look it up.
avlwiz
3rd Oct
0
Votes
system disks
most likely can be ordered straight from Lenovo...there's no hidden partition with a restore partition is there? Have you tried running all your scans in safe mode as well?
2nd Oct
0
Votes
I would say....
You are pretty much doomed... M$ gears their "updates" towards new(er) PC's/Laptops... They could care less about old(er) equipment, let alone XP. What I tell people that I help, is that their computer will eventually crawl to a halt or just plain not work altogether. If you can get a hold of the disks, or just an OEM version of XP, repair the XP install, and forget about the 20,000(or so) updates. Granted, they are needed mostly for security, but they will eventually cripple your equipment.
2nd Oct
0
Votes
Restore Point
1. Restart the computer pressing F8.
2. Select Safe Mode
3. Select Help and Support
4. Search to "Restore Point"
5. Select Restore from a date (you'll have to look around for a date prior to the computer going wonky.)
6. Wait until it finalizes, the computer will restart. Should be alright.
IMMEDIATELY SCAN YOUR COMPUTER FOR VIRUSES.
7. Go to www,lenovo.com and the T60 site, download all the updates from there.
8. If you don't already have one, add a second user, elevate to "admin," change user to 2nd user, change your original user to limited. This way you have access to all your bookmarks, files, etc. Don't surf unsafely. Install malware detector (freeware).
No problems with all XP updates. Have 5 Lenovo X60 tablets, runs windows fine with additional software downloads from lenovo. NEVER, NEVER surf as an admin. Sounds like you are infected.
Don't need to buy recovery disks this way.
2. Select Safe Mode
3. Select Help and Support
4. Search to "Restore Point"
5. Select Restore from a date (you'll have to look around for a date prior to the computer going wonky.)
6. Wait until it finalizes, the computer will restart. Should be alright.
IMMEDIATELY SCAN YOUR COMPUTER FOR VIRUSES.
7. Go to www,lenovo.com and the T60 site, download all the updates from there.
8. If you don't already have one, add a second user, elevate to "admin," change user to 2nd user, change your original user to limited. This way you have access to all your bookmarks, files, etc. Don't surf unsafely. Install malware detector (freeware).
No problems with all XP updates. Have 5 Lenovo X60 tablets, runs windows fine with additional software downloads from lenovo. NEVER, NEVER surf as an admin. Sounds like you are infected.
Don't need to buy recovery disks this way.
Updated - 2nd Oct
0
Votes
Trinity Rescue Disk & Ubuntu
The trinity rescue Disk is a bootable linux Cd with a stack of utilities aimed at helping recover unbootable Windows machines. It can be used to sort out disk partition problems as well as remove viruses'etc.It does rely ion you being able to boot from a cd or USB memory stick
If nothing else works and you dont want to pay for Windows Media then you could move to ubuntu. I've done that with an acer netbook with libre office and firefox and its perfect for browsing and casual work. You can either build a bootable usb memory stickpen drive or download the install ISO to a CD. If the laptop can boot from a usb stick then you can try unbuntu in before you ovewrite the hard drive by running the live edition from the stick.
If nothing else works and you dont want to pay for Windows Media then you could move to ubuntu. I've done that with an acer netbook with libre office and firefox and its perfect for browsing and casual work. You can either build a bootable usb memory stickpen drive or download the install ISO to a CD. If the laptop can boot from a usb stick then you can try unbuntu in before you ovewrite the hard drive by running the live edition from the stick.
3rd Oct
0
Votes
ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery
A really nice feature of IBM/Lenovo machines is the inclusion of their ThinkVantage Rescue & Recovery. This tool makes scheduled disk images and can be accessed at boot up prior to going into Windows if you need to restore to a prior version of your OS. There's a simple set it/forget process initially. Once you do have a problem the interface is quite intuitive. I like to muck around w my machine (actually the company's machine) and this has saved me from having to call the IT guys a couple of times. If you had that program running you should be able to restore from that. Good luck!
J
J
Updated - 3rd Oct
0
Votes
XP pro - now quirky on ThinkPad T60p
Thanks all! RE your suggestions -
- I've already tired some before posting
- some I cannot try as they are disabled
- some I can't wait to try this weekend.
I'll let you know which (if) they worked.
Thanks again !!!!
- I've already tired some before posting
- some I cannot try as they are disabled
- some I can't wait to try this weekend.
I'll let you know which (if) they worked.
Thanks again !!!!
3rd Oct
