windows xp system restore

Hi,

I'm having massive issues with winXP. Namely the following.

I had to turnoff system restore due to malware. I then accidentally uninstalled windows installer. Then, upon reboot, i could no longer see my toolbar/taskbar/startmenu.

I then wanted to run system restore, but since it was OFF, it wouldn't work. I then proceeded to try to turn it on, but due to the uninstalled windows installer, this did not work either.

I would just reformat, but my folders and files can't be moved!


1. malware attack = turn off system restore
2. accidentally uninstalled windows installer from add/remove programs
3. upon reboot, could not see/use startmenu
4. tried to system restore, but had to turn ON system restore
5. system restore could not be turned on due to uninstalled windows installer
6. tried to install windows installer, but that didn't work either.
7. would just reformat, but i can't move/touch/open any documents/pictures...

Please help!

 

1) in my experiance a bad restore point is better than no restore point - not much help but a little future info,

2) can you slave the drive on another pc to recover your 'personals'

 

I don't know how to slave my drive.

I just ran Nero, and that's not working either...Nero Burning ROM An error using COM/OLE occurs. Please check the installation of COM on your computer.

So, this is still the weirdest thing. What does any of my previous actions have to do with being UNABLE to move/copy/ files? I right click a file, select copy (or cut). i go to another location, right click, and the paste function is grayed out.

Thus, i can't move files, i can't copy files, and now apparently i can't burn files...this is so ridiculous!

If anything, can we please solve the issue of moving/copying files, and i can move it/copy it to an external drive and just reformat.

Thanks

 

Yes, if i could restore to ANY bad restore point that would be fine (even one with malware because i fixed those).

the problem is, now i can't even get to those. and actually, a little afraid that they might have been wiped out (anyway i can check to see if they are still there? if so, i would be less inclined to reformat). i'm just afraid that since i can't see system restore, or run it (even through the cmd prompt), then it's not really "there".

Thanks

 

Hi, i will do all these steps right now.


Did you get to the task manager and stop all explore processes and reboot?

No. But I can by using ctrl alt del. What is the point of doing that? I have closed many on previous attempts.

Can you get to the control panel and create a new user?

I can't access my start menu, so have not been able to get to the control panel. I have been using the cmd prompt instead. I would assume that since i have been able to acces services.msc, msconfig, regedit, that I should be able to get to the control panel.

Have you run sfc /scannow?

I just did. That was what i was waiting for. It finished. And then, nothing happend. no popup, no notice, nothing. I waited for 5 minutes and then proceeded to reboot. What does that mean? It took so long, and nothing happened...

Have you tried doing a repair install?[/QUOTE]

I am open to doing a repair installation, but I have never been able to do a repair install without deleting all of my files in the process. Unfortunately, that's not a solution this time since I have not backedup my files.

I'll run the steps now. Thanks.

 

Please see the bold.

Thanks.

 

Interesting, I will read this now. Have you tried this before? I am not doubting you, I just need some reassurance as I have some sensitive data that I can't afford to lose (by acting hasty). If that actually IS a solution, i would be glad to try. I guess my question is, if there is a xp repair install, then why is it not more commonly used? what is the pitfalls?

Thanks!

 

Ok, thanks. I'm just going to go for it. One last thing.

I have with me two xp installation CDs. One is the one my current OS was running off of. But I am missing the product Key.

The other xp installation CD is my friends. It has the product Key, but I can't guarantee that it is a legal copy. Will it make any difference if i run my CD and use HIS product Key? or should i just run HIS CD and HIS product key.

Or should i just run MY CD and find my product key (which could take a long time/be impossible).

Thanks

 

Try Magic JellyBean key finder on your computer to get your key.

 

Thanks. It was useful.

 

Ok. I just did the repair reinstallation mentioned earlier. Every step has finished. Unfortunately, windows is not loading...It got to the last screen where it said "thank you". And then it went black, and my computer has been running for 5-10 minutes with no change in the screen. I'm afraid of rebooting, i'm afraid of taking the CD out. I'm just very afraid...

Screen Eighteen
The final steps in the Repair process pass very quickly, and you'll soon reach the last screen in the Repair operation, a "thank you."The final steps in the Repair process pass very quickly, and you'll soon reach the last screen in the Repair operation, a ''thank you.''
In most cases, the system will now reboot for a final time. The Repair is done. It's a normal boot, bringing you to the normal choices for login.

------
Basically, it said thank you, but has not moved on from there.

Thanks...

 

well, i shut down the computer. and my computer died...











Just kidding. thanks for the help. worked perfectly.

 

Thanks for letting us know.

That would have been my recommendation since it said "in most cases it would reboot". But not having had to use that process, I was waiting for someone else to tell you to go ahead and reboot.