Rich Pearson Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Ok, computers buggered and I have no idea how to fix it. Started off by running the windows update programs as usual. All going fine, everything updated, blah, blah, blah, and then Spysweeper perks up.Spysweeper kicks up an error message saying that the windows updater is trying to access the internet and that I shouldn't allow it to do so. Having ignored Spysweeper in the past and it being to my misfortune, I blocked the updater.The windows updater then throws and almighty hissy fit at me and says its deleting everything its just updated, and that its taking Spysweeper down with it. Several hours earlier I had also (inadvertantly) downloaded Google Desktop (which fortunately had a version of Firefox on it, hence the reason I'm able to type stuff here)I restart the comp and immedtiately its apparrent that somethings wrong; to load the opening screen with user selections takes a good six minutes. After selecting my user name, another five minutes to open the desktop. From there, a message from Spysweeper pops up telling me I need to reinstal it as a vital component has been deleted. Hardly anything is working (Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, etc) and I can only just get firefox to work.there also are no program icons coming up in the task bar so I can't minimize anything without losing the program. Add and Remove programs opens but isn't allowing me to delete anything (the google stuff, spysweeper, etc).I'm really getting annoyed by this as it appears that three seemingly harmless programs have ripped the internals out of my computer in one single sweep.Anyone have any suggestions which don't involve the words 'recovery disc'?cheersRich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixed Pants™ Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 If you haven't got much stuff on your comp that you don't need, i'd format and reinstall or do system restore.Hmm, not too sure about what's happened to it, maybe start it up in safe mode and try uninstalling spysweeper (despite me having it, it's wank, you best not have payed for it).ORIf you've got any progras such as norton go back or another recovery program, try going back a day or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManxTrialSpaz Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 System restore?If that fails,,a reinstall doesn't take that long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poopipe Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 safe mode then try to uninstall spysweeper? it sounds like a complete b*****d to me if it's going to interfere with a windows update. if that gets you running again head off to the microsoft site and get your updates from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JT! Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Another vote for system restore, my computer went tits up one day, it sorted it out nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Campbell Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 System restore?If that fails,,a reinstall doesn't take that long I'd go along with system restore or XP repair.My last reinstall took about 6 hours and i'm still missing about half the programs I had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Pearson Posted May 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Only thing is I had to do a system restore using the recovery disc only a few weeks ago to sort out a sony program and am reluctant to do it again so soon (worried it might cause unnessecery damage to the hard drive). am I being too cautious or would that be fine to restore it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poopipe Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 it won't do any harm - not physically anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Pearson Posted May 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Other thing I'm having problems with is before I go through with restoring the system, I need to back up some of the files i have to a safe place where the restore won't wipe them, but the computers not letting me move them. Can't copy and paste them to an EXTharddrive or copy to a CD. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willy Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 This is risky, but if you delete them you should be able to recover them again, as nothing is truely deleted from a hard drive unless its physically copied over or destroyed. Which is why anyone (police) can look at a "formatted" hard drive and still retrieve evidence from it . Wouldnt advice it though as it is very risky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poopipe Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 (edited) Other thing I'm having problems with is before I go through with restoring the system, I need to back up some of the files i have to a safe place where the restore won't wipe them, but the computers not letting me move them. Can't copy and paste them to an EXTharddrive or copy to a CD. Any ideas?haaang on system restore won't delete any filessystem recovery using silly manufacturers recovery disk willdo a system restore by rightclicking on my computer and going to properties - don't go running any crap from the manufacturer Edited May 17, 2007 by poopipe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomm Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Other thing I'm having problems with is before I go through with restoring the system, I need to back up some of the files i have to a safe place where the restore won't wipe them, but the computers not letting me move them. Can't copy and paste them to an EXTharddrive or copy to a CD. Any ideas?The restore *shouldn't* delete any files at all. Certainly not stuff in your docs folder etc.A good answer in these cases is to get a version of linux that you can put on a bootable CD, then restart the comp with that in the drive. That'll load and you can backup till your heart's content. And then reinstall Windows which is what you really need to do, some time soon. I suggest Knoppix - You may have to use another computer to obtain this - it'll all free too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Pearson Posted May 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 haaang on system restore won't delete any filessystem recovery using silly manufacturers recovery disk willdo a system restore by rightclicking on my computer and going to properties - don't go running any crap from the manufacturerHmm, got me confused there, I thought they were one and the same. Can you talk me through a restore? I have sod all idea about this and don't want to f**k stuff up anymore than needs be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poopipe Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Hmm, got me confused there, I thought they were one and the same. Can you talk me through a restore? I have sod all idea about this and don't want to f**k stuff up anymore than needs be.you want the windows system restore. basically it returns your system to an earlier date when it worked properlystart - programs - accessories - system tools - system restorechoose restore my computerchoose the last available restore point that worked (a couple of days ago) and let it do its business (i can't remember exact procedure and I'm not going to run through the steps in case it starts restoring on me.the only things it'll do is get rid of busted drivers and other such stuff - your data should be left untouched Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Pearson Posted May 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 System restore isn't even coming up, whichever way I try and access it May just bite the bullet and pop down PC world in a bitRichEDIT: Error response "System Restore is unable to protect your computer. Please restart and run System Restore again." This being the third time I've tried to restart and then run Restore. Well and truly f**ked... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbra Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 (edited) Start > Run > 'restore' then click rstrui worked for me when i got that error message. Edited May 17, 2007 by Barber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocks370 Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 (edited) system restore doent delete or change any user files. only system and installed components.if that doesnt work try a repair install (not full) then if it works it wont take ages to get it back to how it was.another thing to try is SFC - System file checkerstart ---> run ---> type: CMD --->on command prompt type: sfc \scannow *this requires the windows cd.SFC users guide found hereps... were not nerd nor geeks Edited May 17, 2007 by rocks370 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixed Pants™ Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 So, technically, i could restore my comp back to as good as it was the day i bought it and still have all my musics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Pearson Posted May 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2007 Problem solved, mucho thanks to Mr Mcallistair. Cheers for everyones help.Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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