Computer seriously messed up (possibly with SP2)
 

I have a friend who is not too computer-savvy. She downloaded and installed
Windows XP SP2 over a Windows XP SP1 installation. Soon after she reported
having a lot of problems. I took her PC and hooked it up to look at it and
these are some of the things I noticed.

-- No task buttons appear when corresponding programs open.
-- The Windows Task Manager has some simplified task manager in its place
-- Many programs take two minutes or longer to open.
-- Phone Modem icon in Control Panel does not open anything but reports
something may be wrong with the telephony
-- Wizard to provide an Internet connection blanks out all but the Cable
Modem option.
-- Device manager would not open properties of Modem (did not try others)
-- Properties button for C: gave a "(Not Responding)"
--It seemed like there were a lot of Services "stopped" in System Configure
but I do not know if that is significant.
-- System Restore won't open inside Windows XP (I think you can restore from
Safe startup but I don't know how this works -- don't know if it had been on
before or if SP2 automatically generates a restore point regardless.)

Any ideas?

It's a Compaq Pasario 5000, 1.2 gig CPU, 256 RAM, modem on motherboard. She
got it from a business selling off old equipment. I don't know if she even
has a CD-ROM for the Windows XP Home installed. I have "Professional" so I
don't know if it's possible to repair anything off my CD.

Thanks.

Think I would try:
Spybot
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

Adaware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Stinger
http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/

see if there are any nasties in there first before thinking about
re-installing XP. Installing SP2 should not cause those sort of errors
unless there is something wrong before hand.

Neil

"William Low" wrote in message
...
I have a friend who is not too computer-savvy. She downloaded and installed
Windows XP SP2 over a Windows XP SP1 installation. Soon after she reported
having a lot of problems. I took her PC and hooked it up to look at it and
these are some of the things I noticed.

-- No task buttons appear when corresponding programs open.
-- The Windows Task Manager has some simplified task manager in its place
-- Many programs take two minutes or longer to open.
-- Phone Modem icon in Control Panel does not open anything but reports
something may be wrong with the telephony
-- Wizard to provide an Internet connection blanks out all but the Cable
Modem option.
-- Device manager would not open properties of Modem (did not try others)
-- Properties button for C: gave a "(Not Responding)"
--It seemed like there were a lot of Services "stopped" in System
Configure but I do not know if that is significant.
-- System Restore won't open inside Windows XP (I think you can restore
from Safe startup but I don't know how this works -- don't know if it had
been on before or if SP2 automatically generates a restore point
regardless.)

Any ideas?

It's a Compaq Pasario 5000, 1.2 gig CPU, 256 RAM, modem on motherboard.
She got it from a business selling off old equipment. I don't know if she
even has a CD-ROM for the Windows XP Home installed. I have "Professional"
so I don't know if it's possible to repair anything off my CD.

Thanks.