Lost Desktop including TaskBar

Thanks for getting back Tim. I tried that and it seems that it doesn't recognize the installation and want to either partition or do a repair where I would lose security settings, applications, my documents, etc. I can do without all but the applications since he needs the backup of his .pst file.

I ran the eight steps again but it still doesn't recognize the bootcfg /rebuild command. Maybe Microsoft has a different command to do this. I wish I had renamed that boot file instead of deleting it.

Just a thought. He has another desktop that is identical hardware wise to the one in question here. I believe there are a couple different apps, one in particular is MS Office, which he has installed in this desktop we are attempting to recover.

From what I mentioned, is creating a recovery disk from the good desktop not a good option?

I'm getting the feeling I'm running out of options. I hope you have some more.

 

Ok, went past the first repair that would have taken me to the console and press the F8 which took me to Windows 2000 Professional Setup with the selections *To set up windows 2000 on the selected item press ENTER *To create a partition in the unpartitioned space press c *To delete the selected partition press D

I selected the C: NTFS and pressed ENTER it took me to the screen with the selections
Format the partition using the NTFS file system
Format the partition using the FAT file system
Leave the current file system intact (no changes)

Selecting the Leave the current file system intact gives me the message Installing on folder C:Winnt "All files, subfolders, user accounts, applications, security and desktop settings for that Windows installation will be deleted. The My Documents folder will also be deleted.

It looks that he is truly f***ed doesn't it?

Is slaving the drive into another our only, last ditch, solution?

I did see a boot.bak dated back five years ago. Would renaming it to an boot.exe work? If so, would I lose the .pst file in the process. Just brain storming here.

 

Sorry I meant renaming boot.bak to boot.ini.

 

Check this and see what the "value" for Shell is.

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell

Steve

 

I can't boot up Windows. Since deleting the boot.ini file (per instructions in previous replies) and trying to rebuild the boot.ini without success.

 

I may not be on when you get back craig.

Make sure the value for Shell is Explorer.exe only. Nothing after it.

Steve

 

Didn't notice that, have to go back and re-read. Sorry.

Steve

 

Even though it didn't work out this time, I do appreciate all your efforts. Thanks, Craig

 

Just playing with fire a bit I renamed the boot.bak to boot.ini and it worked. In that, it brought me back to the looping login. I'll try the memory check you suggested but most likely will be slavin this drive.

 

Memory checked out and produced the same result. I guess slaving the drive is the easiest way to get the .pst file backed up but I can't help to feel that I'm a thumb nail away from getting around this security setting that has me in this login loop. Being stubborn is not a good quality at times. Any thoughts as to getting around this security issue? Tried it in safe start and got the same loop problem.

 

Erm i'm new here but just a query if you use task manager to run explorer.exe does drwtsn32.exe or drwatson.exe appear in the task manager?

If so are they running javacools spyware guard?

I just recently had this issue so after a bit of web hunting, I disabled the drwatson debugger and got an explorer.exe
The instruction at "0x734305be" referenced memory at "0x734305be". The memory could not be "read".
error, after researching this:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t54932.html

Turns out spyware guard (v2.2 in my case) causes explorer.exe startup issues
it seems to crash both the active desktop and taskbar, after killing both sgmain and sgb.. (<forgot last 2 letters) in task manager and then running control.exe
I was able to use add/remove programs to remove spyware guard, and that fixed my pc, obviously after a quick restart I could restore my active desktop too.

 

Thanks Wolf but this situation has developed or degraded to not being able to get past the login where after logging in it goes from loading to saving and then back to the login screen. The username and password are confirm to be correctly entered. Any way to get past this?

 

Tim, did made the drive a slave in another desktop and was able to backup the file. Should have done this long ago. Being stuborn is not a good time manager.

Thanks a lot for you help and your time.

Craig