Expert: Brian Benosky - 10/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: Ok I ran the program that is suppose the reset and it said it did reset. I rebooted and pressed ok when it asked for the password and it opened up and I have a blue screen with the recycle bin icon and the microsoft outlook icon and neither work. It does not even have the toolbar at the bottom to select a program or command. What now. Can I try to install window from that cd that came with the system or is my system fried or something. It I did try to install windows and it worked would I still have all the data on my drive?

ANSWER: Hi Rodney

If you did a full install, all data would be wiped clean.  However, you can try a repair install, which essentially gives Windows a clean start, but keeps your programs and data intact.  You would need to reinstall all Windows Service Packs and Updates, however.  Here is a step-by-step:

# Insert the Windows XP CD into your computer's CD drive or DVD drive, and then restart your computer.
# When you receive the "Press any key to boot from CD" message on the screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.
# The following message on the Welcome to Setup screen will appear:
This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft Windows XP to run on your computer: To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER. To repair a Windows XP installation by using Recovery Console, press R. To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.
# Press ENTER to set up Windows XP.
# On the Windows XP Licensing Agreement screen, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
# Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.
# Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to reinstall Windows XP.

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well I would swear that I followed the instructions above and windows now opens with nothing but the recycle bin icon and microsoft outlook icon. When I double click the outlook icon it says preparing to install and then ask me to insert the microsoft office xp professional with fronpage disk. ???  Outlook express is no where to be found and there is not one single program or file on the computer that was there before. Under programs there is only windows catalog and windows update. Accessories, games, startup, windows media player, windows messenger. I guess it is safe to assume I have lost everything?

ANSWER: Hi Rodney

It does seem that Windows did a full install instead of a repair.  Check it by clicking Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click System Restore.  See if there is a restore point before you did the install.  If there is, try to revert back.  If not, then in all likelihood, the system was wiped clean.  Also, check to see that there is not another XP installation along side this one.  When you start the computer, if it lists two XP instances and asks you to choose which one to load, then you still have the old XP alongside the new one.

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: It has been a while since we last spoke and I had all but gave up on my computer. I was able to get the system up and when I go to start there is no windows explorer or express or any thing above all programs just a white blank area. If I select add or remove programs it shows all the programs installed before the crash but you cannot access them. I can go to my computer and under programs files I find a file named canon and from there I can find pictures on the computer. So everything is not gone but I just cannot get access to anything from start button. I can see a file on the c drive for Internet explorer 7 but cannot get it to open. Any suggestions.

Answer
Hi Rodney

Sorry for the delay in getting to your question.  Have you done a chkdsk on the hard drive?  It sounds to me like the drive itself may be starting to fail.  
# Click Start, and then Run.
# In Open, type cmd, and then press ENTER.
# To repair errors, locate bad sectors, and recover readable information, at the command prompt, type chkdsk C:/r, and then press ENTER.

Note If one or more of the files on the hard disk are open, you will receive the following message:
Chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? (Y/N)
Type Y, and then press ENTER to schedule the disk check, and then restart your computer to start the disk check.

Let me know the outcome, or if you are unable to run the scan.

Brian