Help Need Windows OS Advice

[Grrilla]

During the process of doing a reg cleaning and a defrag, something got screwed up on my Windows XP os. All system related text is coming up as code/symbols. I get text on programs and online (albeit as I type, everything is in a bold font). I used Syst Mech to clean reg, and restored reg settings, but w/ no effect. I believe I am getting a Rundll missing file or error message. I don't use Windows system restore, because I have other methods of reg backup, but because I am having trouble reading all text in windows files, am not sure what I am getting.

Anyone know where I should be looking to fix prob? GUI? The system is all there, it's just that most everything is reading out as hyroglyphics.

 

[middlebe]

format c:

 

[Grrilla]

There's got to be some way other than reformatting the C drive. I have a seperate, disconnected harddrive w/ a backup system on it, but that is an extreme measure, and I would be picking up the pieces from my current syst/docs/work for days.
I am looking for what it is that specifically turns the hyroglyphs into the alphabet. Will try to get over to and see if I can decipher info from WindowsXP forum. TX

 

[AdsenseGuy]

grilla I would suggest using these before any drastic measures such as format

hijackthis you can find and D/L vi google its 5 stars in my book
windowswasher if you cant find a free copy pm me i have a hack
adaware

This sounds like some reg key are corrupt

also registry healer

I have hacked copies of all but you can find them via google but the best IMHO is Hijackthis

 

[netPH]

thats one problem of defrag... it missed to copy some files

 

[Grrilla]

thats one problem of defrag... it missed to copy some files

That's my guess, in that nothing improved after I rolled back the deleted registry entries. Something has changed at XP newsgroup- you need to log in w/ MS NetPassport, something I have avoided being a part of. S~~t.

I used to be a real software junkie and have tons of utilities- probably 5-6 different reg repair apps alone. But if what I need is missing, chances are it'll be hard to bring back. I had this happen once before, and somehow I fixed it, but can't remember. Maybe I had System Restore turned on, back then. Double s~~t.

 

[Mark]

Sorry to hear it ~
Yes - it has changed (Updated last night) Made me log in when I hit the email button - Added the new popup blocker everyone has been talking about ...

I'm not liking this too much ....

 

[identity_00]

take the stuff you can save and reformat. It takes about 20 min.
By the time you get a answer or trying to find one.. tracking down a file you need or whatever...you could be done.

 

[adam_uk]

sounds like a font got corrupt or something

dont reform but reinstall windows over your current installation it will replace all system files but you may need to reinstall some programs

go through the setup and it will say windows has detected antoher version of windows, do a repair

 

[Grrilla]

Coming to you from my D:/backup OS. A troubleshooter will be over in about 1/2 hr. I've tried several "fixes" w/o results, seen the "blue screen of death" a couple of times; went into BIOS to boot from D:. One problem is that my XP program came w/ a #@&~! "Restore Disc" that was supplied w/ the computer, so an OS overlay doesn't work- it starts you out from scratch. Also, I have gigs of programs, and rebuilding my set-up is more than a real pain.
It feels like all is well except for a corrupted sys. file somewhere. Almost as if the computer isn't in the right language mode or is reading it wrong. The look is similar to landing at a page w/ a language w/ different alphabet- squares, slashes and characters replacing "A, B, C's". Will let you know what I learn.

 

[middlebe]

may the Force be with you! :wave:

 

[adam_uk]

Coming to you from my D:/backup OS. A troubleshooter will be over in about 1/2 hr. I've tried several "fixes" w/o results, seen the "blue screen of death" a couple of times; went into BIOS to boot from D:. One problem is that my XP program came w/ a #@&~! "Restore Disc" that was supplied w/ the computer, so an OS overlay doesn't work- it starts you out from scratch. Also, I have gigs of programs, and rebuilding my set-up is more than a real pain.
It feels like all is well except for a corrupted sys. file somewhere. Almost as if the computer isn't in the right language mode or is reading it wrong. The look is similar to landing at a page w/ a language w/ different alphabet- squares, slashes and characters replacing "A, B, C's". Will let you know what I learn.

is it possible to get a screeny?

 

[Grrilla]

Still limping along at present. After 2 days of messing around- 3 hours w/ a tech- checking Global language settings, laying in new font files, (apparantly a new virus out there that grabs some of the MS system fonts off your OS- not the actual problem here, however), and finally doing a new XP install/overlay- I got my system fonts to work again, but now there is an IE issue that hasn't been resolved, and navigation is impossible off of my my main OS. Also, for some reason, am unable to slave a second hard drive in any order- reads "OS not found- (HD jumpers are right, etc), so at present, have to physically disconnect main OS and reconnect back-up OS hard drive for navigation, and then switch back to other HD to use programs, email etc- what a pain!
The IE issue *could be*, related to service pack updates that were installed and some incompatibility w/ XP overlay or vice versa, (ie the new XP that was overlayed did not have the service pack updates that were compatible w/ the updated IE that was on the syst.). Without the ability to slave the drives, I am currently left w/ the stop-gap move of transferring my important navigational and security progs and utilities to CD and than installing to secondary, (navigational), HD, and than physically switching over to my main HD to do graphics work, etc., until I find a solution for a working browser w/ the main HD.

I wish I would've seen your post for a screen shot earlier, Adam. Didn't get one w/ the initial OS font problem. The best comparison I can make for what I was getting is w/ the symbols you get from an Asian language site, w/ the characters you get from the sections that don't get translated- upright rectangles, triangles (delta symbols), \\\ w/ descending lengths, dots etc.

Damn, and I was really making headway on my site building. Nothing like spending a couple of days combing through, analyzing, troubleshooting, an OS to throw off your flow.

BTW, all of your advice pointed to the right direction. We think the initial problem was caused by the defrag missing/corrupting a file(s). Fonts were definetly the firest place to look. An XP overlay was the solution, although that created some new probs that haven't been resolved. Will be back when I come up for air again.

 

[adam_uk]

Still limping along at present. After 2 days of messing around- 3 hours w/ a tech- checking Global language settings, laying in new font files, (apparantly a new virus out there that grabs some of the MS system fonts off your OS- not the actual problem here, however), and finally doing a new XP install/overlay- I got my system fonts to work again, but now there is an IE issue that hasn't been resolved, and navigation is impossible off of my my main OS. Also, for some reason, am unable to slave a second hard drive in any order- reads "OS not found- (HD jumpers are right, etc), so at present, have to physically disconnect main OS and reconnect back-up OS hard drive for navigation, and then switch back to other HD to use programs, email etc- what a pain!

this is a boot sector problem whats happening is when you connect the second drive up its looking at that for the boot secotor but its not there try putting it on a different channel

The IE issue *could be*, related to service pack updates that were installed and some incompatibility w/ XP overlay or vice versa, (ie the new XP that was overlayed did not have the service pack updates that were compatible w/ the updated IE that was on the syst.). Without the ability to slave the drives, I am currently left w/ the stop-gap move of transferring my important navigational and security progs and utilities to CD and than installing to secondary, (navigational), HD, and than physically switching over to my main HD to do graphics work, etc., until I find a solution for a working browser w/ the main HD.

have to been to microshite willitwork update? etc? it might fix some of the problems

i doubt it will be its worth a shot

 

[Grrilla]

An update. Have created a solution, although I didn't solve the prob, and no one at Windows newsgroup was able to come up w/ anything, either.

Adam's suggestion to change channels worked. Funny, I thought once the BIOS were set to determine the HD boot order that it was immaterial as to where the HDs were plugged in, but apparently that's not so.

What I have ended up doing is using the smaller HD as the master and have copied "must have" progs and files over to it. Outside of Word, my firewall, the a-v prog and my form filler/p/w manager, for the most part, the progs work straight up, some recquiring minor reconfigs or serials to reestablish their relationship to the registry. The biggest pains are some of the upgraded progs that are recquiring reinstalls of the original version before accepting the upgrade disc (ie Word).

It is not at all satisfying to have spent all of this time experimenting w/ solutions and to still come up blank. There are a few isolated oddities that, I am sure, point towards a solution that I have yet to grasp:
- Some site pages open right up, (GoDaddy, and Snapnames, for example), and navigation is normal. What they seem to have in common, is that my link to them is a secure, (https://), sign-in page.
- When a webpage is opened, (or "opening", as is usually the case), all progs and processes are effected- eveything slows down. Otherwise, progs and file system operate normally and work well.
- Links contained in emails no longer send me to the web page, but, instead, are opened by Notepad, which is interesting, because I use Textpad as my default txt application. (Some of this may be due to some changes made w/the new XP OS overlay.)
- Different browsers, (I tried Opera), have the same problem. ie It takes 3-5 minutes to open, (and to change a page), here at NP. (To reiterate, this prob is w/ the HD that contains the OS w/ probs-not the smaller HD w/ OS I am currently using as the master.)

Besides the general pain in the ass of having to migrate progs over to the new master HD, the only worrisome problem I currently have comes after I have had to physically go to my old master (to package files for transfer). and then replug to current HD config/boot order. When I reboot, some startup files/processes aren't being read, (ie syst config and various dll files). I have been able to "trick" the system by booting up w/ the XP Restore CD in and then ejecting it during BIOS op, just prior to OS startup. Hopefully, I have packaged most of what I need on the, (now), secondary drive and won't have to physically switch drives too many more times. :ghost: :tri:

 

[adam_uk]

An update. Have created a solution, although I didn't solve the prob, and no one at Windows newsgroup was able to come up w/ anything, either.

Adam's suggestion to change channels worked. Funny, I thought once the BIOS were set to determine the HD boot order that it was immaterial as to where the HDs were plugged in, but apparently that's not so.

What I have ended up doing is using the smaller HD as the master and have copied "must have" progs and files over to it. Outside of Word, my firewall, the a-v prog and my form filler/p/w manager, for the most part, the progs work straight up, some recquiring minor reconfigs or serials to reestablish their relationship to the registry. The biggest pains are some of the upgraded progs that are recquiring reinstalls of the original version before accepting the upgrade disc (ie Word).

It is not at all satisfying to have spent all of this time experimenting w/ solutions and to still come up blank. There are a few isolated oddities that, I am sure, point towards a solution that I have yet to grasp:
- Some site pages open right up, (GoDaddy, and Snapnames, for example), and navigation is normal. What they seem to have in common, is that my link to them is a secure, (https://), sign-in page.
- When a webpage is opened, (or "opening", as is usually the case), all progs and processes are effected- eveything slows down. Otherwise, progs and file system operate normally and work well.
- Links contained in emails no longer send me to the web page, but, instead, are opened by Notepad, which is interesting, because I use Textpad as my default txt application. (Some of this may be due to some changes made w/the new XP OS overlay.)
- Different browsers, (I tried Opera), have the same problem. ie It takes 3-5 minutes to open, (and to change a page), here at NP. (To reiterate, this prob is w/ the HD that contains the OS w/ probs-not the smaller HD w/ OS I am currently using as the master.)

Besides the general pain in the ass of having to migrate progs over to the new master HD, the only worrisome problem I currently have comes after I have had to physically go to my old master (to package files for transfer). and then replug to current HD config/boot order. When I reboot, some startup files/processes aren't being read, (ie syst config and various dll files). I have been able to "trick" the system by booting up w/ the XP Restore CD in and then ejecting it during BIOS op, just prior to OS startup. Hopefully, I have packaged most of what I need on the, (now), secondary drive and won't have to physically switch drives too many more times. :ghost: :tri:

1. so no other links with normal http:// work?

2. sounds like somethings doing the processor up the arse. open task manager (ctrl and alt and del then click processes) cause the problem again and see what process screws it all up.

3. check the file assosications with them. (tools, folder options) might be something along there

with the boot thing, make a note of the files that are missing and enter there names in google it usually helps bring up problems and fixes for them. some of them maybe surplus so you may be able to disable them in services and msconfig

 

[Grrilla]

The final word from Microsoft Windows "MSVP":
The OS lost and/or had files corrupted during the 3rd party defrag and an overlay of a new OS would most likely be ineffective under this circumstance. (Why the h~ll not? They wouldn't/didn't say.)

Their solution? "Backup files and docs and reinstall Windows XP. In other words, start over."

My solution? Scratch Windows, bite the bullet, and purchase a Mac. Hopefully there will be some provisions for cross platform software upgrades. If not, I'll bite the bullet on that also.

I've never been an active Micro$oft basher, and won't waste my time being one in the future. That being said, this has been one HD reformat/sys reinstall too many, and I've had it w/ Service Packs, critical updates, an OS that needs a patch-a-week, defragging, shortcuts, registry scrubs, OS tweaks, security systems backing up security systems, excessive OS utilities, system maintenance ad infinitum, and the general invasive personality of MSN and all things Micro$oft. Will intall a secondary HD on my Mac to mirror my system in real time, so that if and when the primary HD goes belly up, my work on the computer won't miss a beat.

I didn't think anything could quell my enthusiasm for the computer, but this last episode has really taken the wind out of my sails and I'm trying to find the spark that will reignite me and get me back on track w/ my projects. Currently, I just feel very flat when I boot up and am finding myself just going through the motions. :zzz:

 

[PolurNET]

Forget about Mac m8, you're best off with Linux, has much more cross-compatibility, and best of all, don't pay another cent. They have a free version of MS-Office like proggies, and macromedia suite works with WINE. I'm not a Linux user myself, but I've been experimenting with it once in a while

Cheers!

 

[Caveman]

Did you try the system file checker. It'll check for errors/deleted/changed system files and allow you to just extract the files needed from the xp disk. Start it from the run command with sfc.exe.
Hope this helps

Regards,
Mike

 

[Grrilla]

I get
"Specified COMMAND search directory bad"
-then-
"C>sfc.exe
C>SFC.exe is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

The real capper for me, is that after reinstalling XP on a second HD, (now running as Primary- (w/ original problematic HD running in the slave position), and reinstalling Thunderbird (email client), Mailwasher (remote server SPAM checker), Roboform (auto form filler-ie username, P/W for site auto log in), Macromedia progs, Adobe progs, and a few other high priority apps)-
I am nowgetting varying "missing or corrupt file" messages when I try to boot up including:
.dll cache
hal.dll (often)
.sys configuration
.pci DRIVER

If I insert a disc, (CD drive is in first boot position in BIOS set-up), and time it to eject just after it starts running, but before the system reads it, the OS boots up. Sometimes I can boot up normally w/o the command line messages, (missing, corrupt). I have found the "missing, corrupt" files in my newly installed Windows, so they are there- just not being read.

Scan Disc has come on and reindexed a file group a couple of times, but after rebooting, the same prob remains. Additionally, there have been times when the computer just crashes- but there is no discernable pattern for this or for other problems.

The systems instability has brought my web design projects to a screeching hault- I don't trust the system and never know when the "wrong" button will get pushed. How many times does one need to "start over", before normal operations resume. I am into week three of this cluster_____!

On a positive note, I am spending alot more time in my design studio- (time that I was spending trying to iron out some php/CSS/html issues)- preparing for a gallery opening, so my major income source is prospering by default.