Windows Problems

HI, my grandson has a Compaq Presario 5000 with Windows Me, he is about the 5th owner of this thing. He has a lot of viruses and trojans, but before I can fix that I have to fix this so I can download this site on his computer, Malware Removal sent me here.
When it opens the Windows Me logo comes on and then all these errors start:
A required dll file is needed ASHBASE.DLL was not found
testtest has caused an error in <unknown> testtest will now close
Another program is currently using this file C:\Programs files\Common files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\ wkcalrem.exe
PCTPTT has caused an error in PCTPTT.exe
PCTVOICE has caused an error in PCTVOICE.exe
Windows cannot find C:\ Windows\rundll32.exe, this comes on if I click on anything. I do have SYSTEM_SAV (D if that does any good.
He is connected to a Bellsouth modem and a Linksys router if that makes any difference. I can go into safe mode but don't know what to do there.
I don't have any recovery cd or any kind of discs. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Hi Tim, I got this message: Win 32- Cannot access the file C:\Windows|System\Conagent.exe.
Make sure the file is a valid program file and that it is not in use by another program.
Thank you for answering so fast

 

Hi Tim, I tried it in normal mode online and off line and in safe mode. It comes up with Page cannot be displayed. I tried to scan from System tools and after 10 trys it said another program is writing to the disk. Thanks for your time

 

I don't know how much current data you are trying to save. But for a COMPAQ with a System SAV partition you should be able to restore your computer to Factory Specs(as if you just opened the box). If any System Saves were done more recently it would back up to that state assuming you still have the Compaq agent running.

System Restore takes you to the last System Save.
From the Windows desktop(available in safe mode)
Double-click the Compaq support Icon (Q)
Double Click the QuickRestore icon. The quick restore main menu is displayed.
Click the SystemRestore button. The Quick Restore menu is displayed.
Click the Start button to begin the System Restore.
When the System Restore is finished the system reboots automatically.

There is also a Selective Restore that allows the loading of specific components.

Full Restore option takes you to factory state. Formats the partition and reloads original software.

I'm pretty sure Full Restore and System Restore will both be factory state if you've never done any System Saves since purchasing the computer.

Caution: Other posters may be able to help fix the problem without current data loss. My experience with Compaq Restores is that eventually you end up doing a Full Restore to get everything running. I never had luck with Selective Restore, but I used CDs because I never maintained a D: System Sav partition.

 

The PCT files are modem related (PCTel chipsets). Try booting in safe mode and removing any/all drivers and software related to the modem. The conagent file mentioned may also be modem file (connection agent maybe???). It may also be malware. Seems to me that formatting the hard drive and reloading Windows would be the easiest, sure fire way to get the PC up and running. I've worked on TONS of CPQ5000's and (hate to say it) they seem to be problematic in general. It's the uWave and TriGem mother boards that are low quality. If there's any data tp be saved, slave the hard drive to a 2nd PC (with virus/malware protection actively running) and copy the needed data to the healthy PC.... then format and reload the Compaq.

hopperdave2000

PS- running scandisk in safe mode will prevent the '... has restarted 10 times...' messages.

 

Thank you sach and dave for responding, I done a disk scan and defrag in safe mode last night, tried to do a system restore but it totally shut down about half way through, I dont know if anyone done a QuickRestore or not,(5th owner). I think the PCT error is form me connecting and unconnecting him from the router.
Dave, I have no idea how to format a hard drive and reload windows(no disks), there is no data on there he wants to save, it is close to 3 million data files on it. Thank you for your help, Sandy

 

Seeing as how you have a SYSTEM_SAV partition, you should be able to reload Windows from that partition. Do a bit of research at compaq's web site (it's actually www.hp.com) and find out how to do it. If that doesn't work, you do have another option. If you have a CD burner on the PC, burn the contents of the folder named 'Win9x' to a CD. Then create a boot floppy by doing this: Click Start > enter Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > and click on Start Up Disk tab (top right). You'll need a blank floppy disk handy. After creating the floppy and burning the CD, reboot the PC and boot to the newly created startup floppy. You'll get a menu; select 'Start with CDROM support'. After a bit you'll be sitting at the A:> prompt. Type 'format c: /q' without the quotes. This will perform a quick format of the hard drive. When that finishes, put the CD you burned earlier into the CD drive and type 'e:\setup.exe' again without the quotes. This will begin the Windows install on your new clean hard drive! Be sure to download and burn to a different CD the needed drivers from Compaq/HP's web site. Now that I think of it, you could actually try reloading 'over the top' of Windows. Just follow the steps above, but skip the 'format c: /q' step and you can try installing Windows on top of itself (usually called a repair install or safe reinstall). Good Luck!!

hopperdave2000

If you can't burn the CD, follow the steps above, and when you get to the A:> prompt, type "c:\win9x" and press enter. You should see a prompt something like "C:WIN9X:>". At this prompt type 'setup.exe' to try a repair install from the hard drive. Feel free to ask any more questions....

 

The instructions I gave above are from a user's manual for a Presario 5834. Like Hopperdave said you should be able to load Windows from the System_Sav partition if previous users did not overwrite the files. Using the Compaq Support Icon is different than Windows System Restore. It may be worth a try.