BIG PROBLEM, I think!

Hi, I know I'm new, but I have a big problem. My daughters Dell Demension B 110 desktop was so unoperable that I performed a system restore. I mean I took it back to bare bones. I know, but it was so infected with god knows what. It says it was successful. But the problem is I cant get it past the set up screen. I hit esc and the Windows screen comes up and says "please wait" then it goes black except for a small blinking dash in the upper left corner. I have started it in safe mode but a message comes up saying its not fully installed. And of course its a Dell, no backup CD. If I ever get it going you better believe I"m gonna make one! It did come with a monitor CD but its no help. Oh and it came with a square one that says I dont need one, just click the icon on my desktop. If you can give me a little advise I would Deeply Appreciate it. Linda Lue

 

OK Thanks for your help. Linda Lue

 

By this I assume you mean the Windows System Restore function?

PERFORMING A SYSTEM RESTORE DOES NOT REMOVE MALWARE

If you can get to safe mode perform another sytem restore FORWARD to your original configuration.

Then post details of the underlying problem so we can help you with it.

When you buy a Dell they provide two CDs (amongst others) to control land restore your pc, but only if you ask at the time. Otherwise you have to pay big buck to Dell to buy them later. The CDs are called Operating System and Drivers.

The Good news is than these disks are not specific to your pc, so if you have any friends with a Dell laptop, it doesn't even have to be the same model, you could borrow theirs.

Let us know how you get on

Studio T

 

That's great news, my husband has a Dell Dem.C521. You mean I can use his restore disc on the Dem. B110?

 

Very possibly, Does it say 'This disk contains the operating system' (OS)?
That's the one you want.

What happened with reversing system restore?

Studio T

 

I'm a little late, but thanks for the welcome. And by the way we're up and running. Yeah!!! I'm working on connecting to the internet by the D-Link connected to my computer. It's a challange. But I have faith. I realy did'nt think I'd get this far. But before I let my 15 year old daughter have it back, I have to fix it some how to where she can be an administrator and not be able to access system files and or virus protection programs. Do you have any suggestions? I've already tried the trusting route. Obviously that failed. Linda Lue

 

Hi Linda, glad you got it working, did reverse system restore work or did you have to re-install. The feedback is always useful.

I am afraid the facilities you require are only available in XP Pro, not XP home. This is why colleges and other large organisations use it. The facility to 'run as' can be invoked but that means you would have to give the administrator password to your daughter, rather defeating the object of the exercise.

Why would she need to be an administrator? Perhaps we can sort the individual need.

Over 75% of the malware out there require to be in an administrator account to have any effect. Most viruses and all rootkits can't install themselves in a limited user environment. In general no-one should log on to the internet as an administrator. Professional administrators have two accounts, one for general use and one for administrating the computer. I am connecting at this moment through a limited account. The biggest single action you can take for security is to set up two accounts, one for using the computer and one for administering it. If you have already set up daughter's account and created settings etc go into control panel> users. First create a new administrator account. Then demote your daughter's to limited user. You can control whether she has adminisrator access by using the account password. Passwords will not protect you on the internet, only from someone else in the same house.

Studio T

 

I had to re-install using my husbands cd from his Dell. Just as you guys suggested. I'm still trying to set up an internet connection through the D-Link router from my computer. Then I think I'm gonna set her account up as a user. She wont be too happy but oh well she's lucky it's still working. Thanks again Linda Lue