Working on computer and "stuck'

I have my brother-in-law's computer at my house trying to get all the nasties cleaned out. Worked on it 8 hours yesterday and 2 so far today. They had no anti-virus or firewall installed.
The computer is Windows XP.Home Version 2000
I have hit a road block. When I try to scan now, it is freezing up every time. I have gotten rid of over 300 viruses,2 trojans, etc.
I cannot connect it to the internet, as they had dial-up and I am on hi speed. I have been downloading scans, etc to a cd, from my computer, and running them from that, so no updates. I cannot run Spybot becuase I cannot update first. Ad-aware won't even install. I am also worried about my computer getting infected if I would somehow connect the two. I know you can do it, but don't know how.
There are dll files corrupted, etc.
I know there is more "stuff" on it, but since my scans freeze showing infected files. I am unsure what to do.
Should I try to do a repair or what? I have both the Compaq disk and the Windows XP disk.
Please give me step by step instructions on what I should do or try next.

Thanks

 

Have you tried a system restore, then ran anti-virus?

Restore back to as far back as possible.

 

System Restore was infected. When I tried to go to it, I would get a pink screen with nothing else on it.
I have it turned off now

 

TBH - If I was in this position I'd back up important data and reformat and reinstall. It appears as though many files are corrupted and I would find this to be the best solution.

Essentially what I'm saying is - I can't offer any more help (and it's 1am and I'm so tired!)

 

Reformat and reinstall. I know most people know how to do it, but I have never had to.
Can someone tell me how or point me to a tutorial?
Being it is not my computer, I don't want to screw it up more than it is,.

Thanks

I have found some tutorials. Does anyone think I could try anything else before I do this?

 

This site should help you out here - It has the step-by-step and pics:
Reformatting Your Computer Using Windows XP​

Additionally, since you say that you are new at this, it might be a good idea to print the entire webpage to use for reference while you're going through the steps.

Important Note Re: Reformatting/Reinstalling Win XP: After you have reformatted your computer, you will need to reinstall all of your personal data, as well as any software products you may use (for example, Microsoft Office, iTunes, Symantec AntiVirus, etc.).

Good Luck!

 

^ What he said

Any questions, do post back

 

Before i get started doing this I want to make sure I know what I am doing.
I have it set to boot to CD, then HD
I have went into registry and got Product Key.

The 2 disks I have are Windows XP Home and Compaq Recovery CD,
I know to use the XP one, but what is the other for? Install drivers, etc. or what?

Thanks so much

OK More questions. After looking around the case more, I discovered this probably had Windows ME on it, then was changed to XP. Is THIS going to make a difference?

 

That Compaq disk will be one of two things, a recovery CD that will but it back to factory install, or it will be the drivers disks. Can you open it and explore the disk?

Ok on your XP disk, is that a full version or an upgarde from Me? If it's an upgrade you are going to need the Me disk to verify before it lets you install XP. It it's a full version you should be fine.

 

Compaq disk says Recovery CD. For use with QuickRestore, If Windows will not start or to make an Emergency Diskette.

The XP Home I think is a full version. Says nothing abut upgrade. Says for distribution with a new PC.

 

Your recovery disc is probably ME, if that was on the computer, originally , so if you want XP, you use the XP disc.

 

What about the drivers?

I am sorry. I have never done this before and being it is not my computer, I don't want to end up buying them another.lol

 

Anyone?

 

>> What about the drivers? gal1998 <<
Contact HP Software and Drivers downnloads webpage
Download the latest Compaq drivers, files & utilities there
(These downloads if avaliable, are free of charge for Compaq HP customers!)​

Sometimes they might even send you the necessary CD's with everything you need for your particular model (for a nominal fee) by Contacting HP directly.

Side Note: No no need for apology at all, really. If you are unclear on anything at all, continue posting until you're confident about it. No polite, sincerely asked question is out of line in this forum and we're happy to guide you through this, however slowly/quickly the sucessful outcome takes (and heck, you're only on Post 13 here!)

Good Luck!

 

I love the way you organise your posts COMPUABLE

 

Just follow Compuable,
I don't wish to add confusion- just wanted to mention that if the machine has an ME sticker, then it would have , most likely , to have been the original operating system and in that case, the restore CD would not get the system back to XP, only ME-
Also the key you got from the registry, would be the oem registration,of XP, but unless you revealed XP's product number by using a third party tool, you will not have the Key needed to reinstall XP.
Magic jelly bean
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2612
You cannot go into the registry to find the XP product key.
Be sure you have the PRODUCT KEY FOR XP, not just the oem string, otherwise you will not be able to restore XP - the registry oem is no good for that.
Sorry Compuable, and MacAdam, to jump in, even a little late, as I felt that point had gone unnoticed.:major

 

Thank you for the advice. I did use Magic jelly Bean to get the Product Key. So.........I do think I have the right one.
I am nervous. Haven't started yet. I have the disk, product key, I set the bios to boot from cd, then hd.

 

If you have done as Compuable said, also got the keys, if needed for any software, Beleac Advisor can do that if you have not got it.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/Belarc_Advisor_d1385.html
then you are ready.
Read the printed out information, twice, then , with it in front of you start with the XP cd.
Come back if you have any problem - help is usually not long coming- as you saw Compuable, macadam, and Yooperlady, and others.

 

One more question before I start.
I know where I can download drivers, but being I can't go online with his computer, can I download them to cd from this computer, and install them that way?
Will the computer tell me what drivers I need?

PS. OK, it is two questions.

 

That is exactly the way to do it.- download and burn to cd.
Did you intend to dowload from

http://www.compaq.co.uk/cpq_support.html
If so, Enter your details, then you will have all the correct drivers , and install all

 

I will download from there now. Thanks

I know once I get the computer back to his place, there will be lots and lots of updates to do. He has dial-up so will take quite a while. I have a SP2 disk that was sent to me from Microsoft a while ago. I should see if I can find it

 

It is a big download for sp2, if you cannot find your disc, but not so bad on broadband- again download to yours, and burn , if necessary
This is really for IT people to put on multiple computers, but , otherwise you need to ask them to send a copy for the computer you are repairing.
From here
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...BE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en

 

Thank you do much for your help baklogic and everyone else.

I think I am ready to start now............
I'll be posting back for help if I need it, but hopefully nothing goes wrong.

 

I have a problem.
Formatting has been on 83% for 15 minutes now.

What do I do?
Wait?

Getting nervous

 

Thank you so much everyone for the help.
I have windows XP installed now. I am quitting for tonight and will download what ever else I need tomorrow.
Thanks again

 

I downloaded SP2 from the link I was given on an earlier post to a cd, but when I tried to install on the other computer, it gives me an error.
I know there is no malware. It is a new install of Windows.
Do I need to wait till I get it back to his house and install it when I get the computer online, or might there be some other reason?
Do I need to activate windows first?
The error is
application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000006)

 

It seems that the installation you have done might have a corrupt/missing file, and the error (0xc0000006) is the services.exe in Windows XP for starting, stopping, and interacting with system services. The recommendation to resolve it, is to reinstall XP.
This might be best, rather than find you still cannot instal sp2, when you take it back. I know its a pain, but I would suggest it is best to do.
What you actually do is make an “in-place upgrade” and it should only have the effect of repairing any fault in the your XP instalation. This could have been caused by the interuption that you seemed to have , at 83%, when you were installing.
Go here , print it out and save it.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341
This is the bit you are interested in, but do read it all, and keep a copy on hand.
Method 1: Reinstall Windows XP by using Windows XP
To reinstall Windows XP by using Windows XP, follow these steps:
1. Start your computer.
2. Insert the Windows XP CD in your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
IGNORE THE UNDERLINED PARAGRAPH, IN YOUR SYSTEM
Note If the service pack version of the operating system that you want to install is higher than the service pack version of the CD-ROM operating system that you own, integrate the service pack that you want into the Windows XP installation folder. For more information about how to integrate Windows XP Service Pack 2 files into the Windows XP installation folder, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
900871 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900871/) How to integrate Windows XP Service Pack 2 files into the Windows XP installation folder
3. On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP page, click Install Windows XP.
4. On the Welcome to Windows Setup page, click Upgrade (Recommended) in the Installation Type box (if it is not already selected), and then click Next.
5. On the License Agreement page, click I accept this agreement, and then click Next.
6. On the Your Product Key page, type the 25-character product key in the Product key boxes, and then click Next.
7. On the Get Updated Setup Files page, select the option that you want, and then click Next.
8. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to reinstall Windows XP.

 

Just a quick question while I am printing this out and reading it. Could I just use my XP disk and put their Product key in?
We both have legal CDs. Just mine is newer and has SP2 already on it

 

No, if you use your CD, the liscence will not be accepted as you install- XP SP1, AND XP withXP2, ARE RECOGNISED AS DIFFERENT SYSTEMS IN LISCENSING.

 

Darn, Was looking for an easy way out........lol
I promised them the computer tonight, so guess I better get at it
Thanks again baklogic

 

I am sorry I am such a pain, but I am really learning here. Just don't know if I will ever volunteer to do this again.
Is it ok to install the SP2 right away? Will it override the SP1 on the computer? or do I have to wait and do all the updates for SP1 first?

 

you should be able to do the SP2 update, I think it is a roll up update that includes all previous updates.

 

If you got the 266MB full install of SP2, then you don't even need SP1 as it's included, the only thing you'll have left to do is the 90+ WU updates that were issued after SP2. If you'd like to speed this process up, you can always use the RyanVM pack available here but that's another can of worms though it was easy for me and I'm not a specialist but it worked well for me.

 

Pleased to see others come in to help - I usually go off-line around 11pm UK time.
Did all go o.k ?

 

I still have the computer. They weren't home last night, so I am still trying to do this for them.
I downloaded RyanVM pack.............Used 7zip,extracted files back to cd, but now when I try to run it..File/Compile it tells me operation isn't supported. Any other way I can get it to work?

 

Ryans VM is used more to add to an iso,for making own CD including updates - so
I believe you mght find Autopatcher XP easier to use, and could be the one audiedoggie meant to give you.
You will need the full May 2007 issue to start, easiest.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4901.html

Very straightforward, and can be burnt to cd., but 39mb download

 

I want to thank everyone for the help with this. It was the first time ai had ever tried it.
I had to get the computer back to them, (kids were calling) and so they are just leaving the computer on to update itself that way. I told them it is going to take a long time on dial up, but they wanted the computer back.
Thanks again for all the patience and answers to my questions.

 

Well done, its easier second time, or, third, .....