My computer just went tits up

I don't know what's going on. I uninstalled a utility I haven't used in a while and rebooted afterwards. When my pc came back up my mouse wasn't working properly (I could move it but couldn't click anything). I put it on the charger and plugged in an old mouse and rebooted again as it wasn't being detected. The pc came back up but now everything was going south.

The xp theme was changed to the classic one. I went into display properties to change it back but the jump box only had one choice - classic.

The desktop was stuck on the "active desktop could not be restored" screen.

I have no Internet access. I've tried resetting the modem, etc but nothing seems to work. That makes trying to fix anything almost impossible. I'm typing this from my iPhone.

I get several stop codes but Google yields no results when searching them.

0x7564d3ba
0x77600741
0x75606eb5

I tried to do a system restore but the final click I need to make to start the restore does nothing. It's like I'm not even clicking it.

I looked around for anything out of the ordinary and found a couple things right away. In device manager, there is a yellow exclamation mark next to "Other Devices". When I expand that, there is another next to the only option, "SM Bus Controller".

I cannot open either of my hard drives. Clicking on my backup drive does nothing and clicking on my C drive gives another error:

Windows cannot find 'RECYCLER\S-1-0-29-100021450-100007094-8170.com'. Make sure you have typed the name correctly ........ (etc)

Any ideas? :cry:

sounds like you'll need to reformat to me...sucks though, and hope someone else has a better idea.

perhaps you could get a live linux disk, to see if you can boot into that...that would tell you if its software or hardware related.

Run system repair.

Could you be more specific?

I tried putting the xp disk in as I thought there was some some kind of repair option but there isn't. I have an old xp upgrade disk as well as a full version and neither gave me the option to do any sort of repair. From reading around a bit, I do not want to click new install, so.....

It's so tempermental I don't know if I can do anything at all on it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skizo

Could you be more specific?

I tried putting the xp disk in as I thought there was some some kind of repair option but there isn't. I have an old xp upgrade disk as well as a full version and neither gave me the option to do any sort of repair. From reading around a bit, I do not want to click new install, so.....

It's so tempermental I don't know if I can do anything at all on it.

---

It depends on what version of windows you have. First I would run some hardware tests to make sure it's not a bad HD or memory.

Drive Fitness Test by Hitachi is a great little tool to run a HD test.

Memtest is a great memory test.

If both of those pass then I would try a windows repair as mentioned above. If it's possible it would be the 3rd screen in the windows installer. The first one you need to click enter to start, f8 to accept the agreement and then it would give you the option to repair an existing operating system.

If that option is not available then you would you need to a full restore.

Have you tired booting into safe mode and doing a windows restore?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skizo

From reading around a bit, I do not want to click new install, so.....

It's so tempermental I don't know if I can do anything at all on it.

---

Actually, clicking on new install is exactly what you want to do.
After that, it will find your hard drive(s) and the already installed OS and offer the option to repair or replace.
When you choose the repair option it will proceed exactly as though it's doing a full install but it's really only overwriting the core Windows files, leaving all your apps/data intact.

Have you checked the web for known issues with this particular utility you removed?

As odd as it sounds, I would try reinstalling it and see what happens, in case it fixes some system files that were removed during the uninstall

I removed an audio driver today and it caused my ethernet card to refuse to start up with a code 10 right after...I guess with Windows anything is possible

If you cannot rollback the O/S with a system restore (have you tried doing this via safe mode ?). Then a repair install is one of the few options left. It sounds to me though with missing hardware entries since the utilty removal that there has actually been a corruption of the registry? My first port of call would be to run a registry scan and repair tool to see if this resolves the issues. Something I use all the time is Hirens BootCD because it has all the hardware based utilities to do low level repairs on a single bootable CD including registry repair tools. Another option is to use Norton Systemworks and run it from the CD to run a registry repair (if you have either of these tools).

Once you have run a registry repair the system maybe stable enough to either continue using or to run a rollback on.

If these options do not work then a repair install is the next logical choice, remember though depending on your O/S disc you will have to reinstall the service packs afterwards.

I'd love to try some of things but I can't access the Internet to get any of them. Even if I could, I can't open my C drive to access anything.

I'm going through right now and testing the memory and GPUs one at a time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skizo

I'd love to try some of things but I can't access the Internet to get any of them. Even if I could, I can't open my C drive to access anything.

I'm going through right now and testing the memory and GPUs one at a time.

---

You do have friends I take it ? surely one of them must have one of those new fangled laptoppy thingee's or a PC with a burner. Hiren's BootCD is all over the interwebz and is roughly an 80mb download, this tool can pick up SATA controllers when booted itself, it also has the option to be run from within Windows so you can run diagnostics from within your Windows installation but they are still run from the CD they do not need to be installed.

I simply suggested using a tool like hirens to do some testing on your PC rather than going to the lengths of running a repair install since if it simply a corrupted registry, a registry repair may solve the problem.

Just run the damn Windows repair.

LOL yeah Im with clocker do a XP system repair. If your disk doens't have th eoption or doesn't work. Go to a friends and DL a copy of XP (updated oc) and use that one. If not you're going to have to do a full re-install homie.

Why would I download a copy of XP when I have 2 of them already? :huh:

I did however go out today and buy this to tide me over.

The TSG fella at work today said to bring it to him tomorrow and he'll have a look when he gets home. I'll be sure to report back any pertinent info or solutions.

that all looks like some hardware conflicts. plus registry corrupted.
this once helped me solve a kinda similar problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

now, maybe try a full reinstall of your drivers. go to www.drivermax.com and install their autodetection software. I know you haven't internet access, but if your ethernet port is working, and you have a router, you can get it sorted out.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skizo

Why would I download a copy of XP when I have 2 of them already? :huh:

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Detale

LOL yeah Im with clocker do a XP system repair. If your disk doens't have the option or doesn't work. Go to a friends and DL a copy of XP (updated oc) and use that one. If not you're going to have to do a full re-install homie.

---

Who loves ya man ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cabalo

that all looks like some hardware conflicts. plus registry corrupted.
this once helped me solve a kinda similar problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545

now, maybe try a full reinstall of your drivers. go to www.drivermax.com and install their autodetection software. I know you haven't internet access, but if your ethernet port is working, and you have a router, you can get it sorted out.

---

well im with Cabalo, it seems that uninstalling this software made your computer go wild, and you also checked the device manager which showed a missing driver. So why not try installing that and not doing a system repair?

ps: also it could be a registry issue. try also checking IF there are any known problems on your hardware due to incompatibility with xp.

Or he could run the system repair, which rebuilds the fucking registry anyway.

Just sayin.

For the THIRD time.

Repair will work but so will just re-formating the hard drive :) If you unsure of the XP utility grab this...obviously you have internet access or you wouldn't be posting.

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by clocker

Or he could run the system repair, which rebuilds the fucking registry anyway.

Just sayin.

For the THIRD time.

---

Flmao :lol:

Nah, I reckon much more complicated solutions are the way forward, a pox on your very-likely-to-work-with-no-hassle suggestions!

Clocker, what do you think he should do? :huh:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Detale

Clocker, what do you think he should do? :huh:

---

Go on say it again clocker, all in caps this time, maybe even a brightly coloured font for the ADD afflicted amongst us :naughty:

If you can get to the desktop then try reinstalling the utility that you uninstalled in case if there was some shared files that more then one utility depends on that were deleted

My computer has done that before, and sometimes it is because of a unstable app that I recently installed, if you can get to your desktop then try uninstalling any apps that you recently installed

Another thing, if you get it running, try installing Autopatcher

If the problem is software errors then it can be good to reinstall the windows updates that are already installed

AutoPatcher XP

AutoPatcher XP Full May 2007

http://majorgeeks.com/AutoPatcher_XP_Full_d4901.html

AutoPatcher XP Update August 2007

http://majorgeeks.com/AutoPatcher_XP_Update_d5213.html

I noticed that when my computer would do that then after I would uninstall any recent installs and reinstall the windows updates then it would often help

With Autopatcher it is good to select almost all of the updates but there are a few that are better not to update including:

Windows Genuine Advantage Validation
Internet Explorer 7 (just use Internet Explorer 6)
Windows Runtime

I think he should buy a Mac.

When you start the computer if you can get to a command line then type:

chkdsk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MackDaddy

With Autopatcher it is good to select almost all of the updates but there are a few that are better not to update including:
Internet Explorer 7 (just use Internet Explorer 6)

---

Why not just stick with Mosaic?

Since people like to repeat what they've said, I suppose I'll repeat myself as well - I gave it to a tech support guy at work and he's working on it. I have also bought another computer to tide me over until I get my baby back, that's how I'm able to post.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skizo

I gave it to a tech support guy at work and he's working on it.

---

:lol:
Sucka

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lynx

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skizo

I gave it to a tech support guy at work and he's working on it.

---

:lol:
Sucka

---

:lol: Agree, my dad just took one to some "repair" guy, I could've fixed it for free :D

It's not like it's going to cost me anything more than a genuine "Thank you". :)

He drinks Crown Royal or something else. Perhaps I'll buy him a bottle. :idunno:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Artemis

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Detale

Clocker, what do you think he should do? :huh:

---

Go on say it again clocker, all in caps this time, maybe even a brightly coloured font for the ADD afflicted amongst us :naughty:

---

This is a first, you missed some of my sarcasm, :whoosh:


Skizo, no one like a quitter man

I didn't feel like I had the proper resources to deal with the problem is all.

I miss pwning n00bs in cod4 though. :cry:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Detale

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Artemis

Go on say it again clocker, all in caps this time, maybe even a brightly coloured font for the ADD afflicted amongst us :naughty:

---

This is a first, you missed some of my sarcasm, :whoosh:


Skizo, no one like a quitter man

---

Errr no......... got the sarcasm, twas more for clocker's benefit since I could feel he was starting to get peeved at the thread so I thought I would add some gasoline to that particular fire :naughty:

Ohhhh and your a wuss Skizo.

Ahhh, I see Sorry.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Artemis

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Detale

This is a first, you missed some of my sarcasm, :whoosh:


Skizo, no one like a quitter man

---

Errr no......... got the sarcasm, twas more for clocker's benefit since I could feel he was starting to get peeved at the thread so I thought I would add some gasoline to that particular fire :naughty:

Ohhhh and your a wuss Skizo.

---

Actually Skizo reminds me of how I am when I am in the middle of my work week, with a bunch of things going on all at the same time

PC is fixed apparently. I'll pick it up at work tomorrow.

It seems there were a couple of trojans on there that were relatively easy to remove with the correct resources. Strange that neither NOD32, Spybot, nor AdAware were able to catch any of them. :dry:

That is odd, Glad all is well again man. IMO you should do a re-install just to be on the safe side.

I wouldn't even know how to do that. :unsure:

If it seems fixed, I'm not gonna fuck with it. Tho if the issue arises again, that will definitely be the future fix.

Get a Mac.

^^LOL

Just reinstall windows Skizo and format the HDD so no viruses can live there :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Skizo

I wouldn't even know how to do that. :unsure:

---

That's why we're here...to hold your hand and guide you through it.
And laugh at you.

Seriously- and this time I mean it, every PC owner should know how to reinstall Windows.
It's not hard and it's the easiest/quickest fallback fix for most software FUBARS.

Assuming you have a backup strategy in place- and if you don't, well you deserve what you get- you could have fixed* this problem yourself in under two hours...less time than you spent posting about the problem.


*OK, I'll grant that many don't consider this a "fix" in the classic sense.
I don't care.
For me, the ultimate goal has always been to minimize downtime, not to master the arcane innards of the OS.

I have a friend who takes great pride in being able to disinfect almost any PC.
It might take days to do but he likes to do it.
He's much smarter than I but my Neanderthal approach does the same thing in a fraction of the time.

He can be smart...I prefer lazy and fast.