Computer help wanted. Anyone??

[Dinsmore]

Thoughts on getting into safe mode

How to start your computer in safe mode

If Windows XP is the only operating system installed on your computer, you can boot into Safe Mode with these instructions:

If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power

Now turn the computer on

Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again.

Ensure that the Safe mode option is selected.

Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

When you are finished with all troubleshooting, close all programs and restart the computer as you normally would.

To use the System Configuration Utility method

Close all open programs.

Click Start, Run and type MSCONFIG in the box and click OK

The System Configuration Utility appears, On the BOOT.INI tab, Check the "/SAFEBOOT" option, and then click OK and Restart your computer when prompted.

The computer restarts in Safe mode.

Perform the troubleshooting steps for which you are using Safe Mode. When you are finished with troubleshooting in Safe mode, open MSCONFIG again, on the BOOT.INI tab, uncheck "/SAFEBOOT" and click OK to restart your computer

 

[Svenskaflicka]

Unless the files are something you REALLY, REALLY want to keep, I suggest getting rid of them - if they're infected with the virus, they might infect your computer once you've cleaned it and bring back the files.

As for the naughty AV's - trust me, whatever they show, the guys in the computer place have seen worse. In worst case, they'll hand the computer back to you and say "so YOU're Matriarch? Love your stories! Give my best to the gosling!"

 

[matriarch]

Unless the files are something you REALLY, REALLY want to keep, I suggest getting rid of them - if they're infected with the virus, they might infect your computer once you've cleaned it and bring back the files.

As for the naughty AV's - trust me, whatever they show, the guys in the computer place have seen worse. In worst case, they'll hand the computer back to you and say "so YOU're Matriarch? Love your stories! Give my best to the gosling!"

Thanks for that.

The folder is the one that contains all my stories and poems posted on Lit, as well as work in progress and ideas files, and my AVs.

The Avs aren't a problem, I'll just make new ones (when I can reinstall photoshop). And the completed stories and poems are also no problem, I can simply copy them off my page on Lit. Its the wips. *sigh*. I'll just have to start again.

Yes, I've accepted that the best thing for me to do is simply delete the folder (if I can), and then start again. I'm removing everything I want to keep from the computer to CDs (I don't have an external hard drive, I'll get one another day), and then I'll probably do a complete reformat of the hard drive, as suggested and reinstall windows XP and all my software.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice. I've learned a lot. Especially about backing up.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

"...but I thought YOU made the back-ups..?"

 

[matriarch]

Can you get into the ADD/REMOVE programs feature of Control Panel? Remove Adobe---and anything else you’ve added since the problem began. In terms of the restore feature, sadly after all of the messing around it’s likely that XP won’t be able to “find” a functioning restore point.

That's what I was doing, going through my add/remove folder in the Control Panel and removing anything I didn't need or had been superceded. When I got to Adobe photoshop, that's when I found it wouldn't remove. It stalled halfway, and asked me to 'load software'.

 

[Svenskaflicka]

work in progress and ideas files,

Don't you just hate it when that happends?http://pollyjuice.se/Smileys/consoling2.gif

 

[TxRad]

Don't you just hate it when that happends?http://pollyjuice.se/Smileys/consoling2.gif

Yeah, I do.......

Especially when you do make a back up and then it won't read on any machine you try it on.....

 

[TxRad]

That's what I was doing, going through my add/remove folder in the Control Panel and removing anything I didn't need or had been superceded. When I got to Adobe photoshop, that's when I found it wouldn't remove. It stalled halfway, and asked me to 'load software'.

Hmmm, this makes me wonder if Adobe's security is screwing with you from the bad install.... Try uninstalling it and if not then try reinstalling it or repair from the original disks for Adobe.... Adobe has some weird anti theft software in it and can play havoc with system files....

 

[matriarch]

Hmmm, this makes me wonder if Adobe's security is screwing with you from the bad install.... Try uninstalling it and if not then try reinstalling it or repair from the original disks for Adobe.... Adobe has some weird anti theft software in it and can play havoc with system files....

Finally uninstalled photoshop, it took forrrrreeeeeverrrrrr, but its gone.

Now I'm going through everything, taking excess software off, then copying the last of my files onto cds. Making a list of software that I need as a basic, make sure I have ALL the discs (or I'm not doing it), then it'll be reformat the hard drive. But not until tomorrow at least.

Wish me luck.