I've been converted...

[Astrotoy7]

lolz.... I love LFNers keeness for reformatting

 

Whilst fresh installs are good, they arent always practical if one hasnt backed up their data

 

* * *

 

Firstly Doc, dont get angry at us, we're trying to help you - and for free no less.

 

Here's some options/questions ?

 

*Are you running XP ??!!

 

*If you are running XP. Do you actually have "security center" The "security center" icon actually wont be there if you dont have SP2. This applies even if you switch from "category view" to "classic view" in the control panel section. In the classic view, there is actually a separate icon for the firewall settings. Try that.

 

If you dont have SP2 or for some strange reason this icon has disappeared, XP firewall settings are still accessible through networking/connections setup.

 

Have a look at the picture ive attached(I have windows mce but its still XP)

 

LOLZ..yes I realise I have my arrows messed up for 3-5

 

*please note, this only applies for adsl etc, if you have dialup its a bit different, please let me know*

 

Go To

 

1. Start > Control Panel > Network Connections *click!*

2. Network connections folder opens. It will show what your different neworking ports are doing.

3. If you have ADSL, it will usually show up here under "Lan or High Speed Internet" *click the one that is your internet commection*

4. It will open the properties of that connection... Go to the "Advanced" tab - This will display your Firewall settings.

 

5. If security center is installed/on - a separate window will open which clearly shows you your firewall settings.

 

5.1 if this isnt is the case, there are some options in the area ive written "5.1" allowing you to turn your firewall on off and tweak it slightly.

 

* * *

 

Another option worth trying before a reformat is a "system restore"

 

You can get there many ways but heres a quicker way

 

1. Start > help and Support *click* > Opens help and support center window

2. Under "Pick a Task" is has "Undo changes made to your computer with system restore"

3. Click it and follow the prompts. ie. choosing "restore my computer to an earlier time"

4. Pick a time when things were going well for you and not too far back. eg. if you installed KOTOR a week ago and you go back two weeks, it will uninstall it ! The calendar display thingy will show you what happened on what date.

 

* * *

 

As suggested try a "repair windows installation" if you have a windows disc or more ideally "product recovery disc"

 

Do you have a windows disc or a 'product recovery disc" product recovery discs are preferable as they restore your compy to "out of the box settings" but includes the drivers for your components. Sometimes an install of a windows standalone disc wont have the drivers and you'll have to go hunting for them (Tip: always a good idea to have updated driver files for specific components -eg. video card - backed up somewhere)

 

* * *

 

Finally - reformatting

 

Reformats do wipe your HDD. You can backup your HDD, but it isnt an easy process

 

This is why I keep all my files reports etc on a separate drive to where windows is. Windows is such a volatile bugger that it can mess up the drive where your important files are located if that is where it is installed. There are ways around this but it if you knew how to do that, you wouldnt be asking us about this problem !!

 

If you do a reformat - backup all the stuff you need, photos, files homework etc - otherwise it is LOST forever.

 

Reformating is dangerously easy -

 

1. My computer

2. Find your HDD. eg. C drive

3. Right Click > Scroll to Format > OK

 

* * *

 

If you're having trouble with all that, take your compy to someone who is clever enough to fix it, or to a proper repair place

 

Good luck Doc, and chill - worst things can happen in ones life !!

 

mtfbwya

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

lolz.... I love LFNers keeness for reformatting

 

Whilst fresh installs are good, they arent always practical if one hasnt backed up their data

 

* * * (Edited for space)

 

If you're having trouble with all that, take your compy to someone who is clever enough to fix it, or to a proper repair place

 

Good luck Doc, and chill - worst things can happen in ones life !!

 

mtfbwya

Easy on the details, you're making everybody else look bad

[Astrotoy7]

Easy on the details, you're making everybody else look bad

 

wow...no need to quote my whole post

 

anyway - there's nothing wrong with being helpful. The Doc is an AHTO regular Plus, its good to have some practical help showing you exactly what to do.. its whats helped me in the past

 

I hope the doc can find a fix...otherwise how will he get the TARDIS up and running again It was a bad move when Gallifrey decided to install Windows on all their Time & Relative Dimensions In Space Machines

 

mtfbwya

[Dark Woman]

I dont think he has SP" he should also have a wirless option on there if he has.

[The Doctor]

First off, I want to apologise for being a son of a b****. If I've offended anyone who's trying to help me, I'm deeply sorry. That was not my intention.

 

Second. I tryed everything up there, Astro. When I tried a system restore, it worked fine up until about 90% of the way. Then, my PC reboot, and none of the changes were made. I tried restoring to a point as far back as I could go without losing critical changes I made, and it kept saying:

Restoration Incomplete

I guess I have a pretty smart bug. Or just a stupid computer.

 

I don't really have a great deal of stuff I would need to back up... only my writing stuff, really... a little bit of homework... my music files... and the Cuba pictures... that's it, really. I can always reinstall KotOR once everything is fixed.

 

Is it possible to just back up the stuff I need on an external HD, then move it back in, or is there some special piece of hardware I'd need?

[Char Ell]

It's important to identify all the data files you need to preserve. Your Firefox bookmarks/IE favorites if you want them, music files, any game saves you want to hold onto, etc.

 

As far as backing up goes though you can burn them onto a CD or DVD or copy them onto an external HDD or onto a USB flash drive if you have one big enough to hold all your data files. Once you reformat your hard drive and reinstall Windows XP there really isn't going back so you want to make sure you get everything you want saved off to somewhere else so it doesn't get wiped.

[The Doctor]

Crap... I'd have to install XP... I forgot about that part. Looks like I have to take it in... or tell my Dad that I got a virus. Not something I'm looking forward to.

[Astrotoy7]

...I guess I have a pretty smart bug. Or just a stupid computer.

 

I don't really have a great deal of stuff I would need to back up... only my writing stuff, really... a little bit of homework... my music files... and the Cuba pictures... that's it, really. I can always reinstall KotOR once everything is fixed.

 

Is it possible to just back up the stuff I need on an external HD, then move it back in, or is there some special piece of hardware I'd need?

 

hehe..some bugs are indeed clever enough that they mess with you using system restore effectively. I had just the same problem(this was when I was going through my "i dont need a good AV program" stage ) lolz.

 

Basically, I backed up the photos, work etc I needed onto my external HDD, some onto disc(good to do these with photos) then did a fresh re-install of windows. Then when you get there, make sure you reinstall your AV/spyware proggies before you even attempt to get on the net.

 

Remember, unless you have a product recovery disc, before you resintall I highly recommend you track down the drivers of anything fancy you may have in there, eg - graphics card drivers etc. Your "add/remove programs" will list it in there if its been a separate install

 

Also note - a reformat, if you are considering one may not necessarily get rid of teh problem. When I had a similar ailment it didnt, in fact it prevented me from reformatting lolz.

 

A widnows full reinstall is a little time consuming but its good to do one every 12 months IMO. Gives your compy a fresh vigour, and restores your registry to a virginal state

 

Windows can be so unhealthy for PCs

 

mtfbwya

[The Doctor]

New information.

 

I had my brother, who knows significantly more about this stuff than I do, take a look at my PC. He says that it looks like the virus is gone, but the damage it caused to my registery is still present. I ran the registery tool Astro gave me a few posts up, and it didn't fix the problem. It did clean up 37 files that were safe to delete, but it didn't fix the problem. I don't know what else I could do, but I thought this new information might help you saviour-people out there.

[Rogue Nine]

Reformat. It is the ultimate solution.

[deathdisco]

How about using the upgrade option instead of a clean install of XP to save your current setup. I've done this with Win2k. You'd have to reinstall all updates and drivers but it's better than also having to reinstall all your programs too. Unless you know you have a nasty virus, then you should nuke the HD.

[Astrotoy7]

Reformat/reinstall....it is your destiny

 

serves you for looking up pron If I was your dad I'd be LMAO.. which is probably why its good that a)I can fix these type of bugs b)I dont have any kids. lolz.

 

mtfbwya