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boots only from restore point & mouse pointer jumps

Started by roscoeb , May 15 2006 04:21 PM

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#1
roscoeb
Posted 15 May 2006 - 04:21 PM

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Yesterday, my computer [Windows XP Home, SP2, with all recommended updates through Friday, the 12th]would not boot into Windows except (1) in safe mode and (2) by using Norton GoBack to restore it (the registry?) to an earlier time. Without these steps, the black Windows startup screen appears, the horizontal green progress bar moves back and forth for a few minutes, and the computer restarts itself -- time after time.

Althougn the computer had started on Saturday afternoon without any apparent problem, and again later that day after I had downloaded and installed 3 updates indicated as urgent by Microsoft Update, it would not start on Sunday morning without resorting to options 1 & 2 mentioned above.

The most recent GoBack restore point that generates a successful Windows startup is Saturday morning. Nothing more recent will make Windows start successfully. Each time I use GoBack and return things to Saturday morning, I lose important files -- including the Outlook file. That meant that I lost several very important emails that I had sent and received on Sunday. Fortunately, GoBack has a tool that can recover files more recent than the restore point used and that saved my bacon.

I have scanned using Ad-Aware and it discovered something called "Alexa" and removed it: that didn't solve the mouse jumping problem. I have run Norton WinDoctor and it has fixed 2 categories of problems (it says): a couple of improper file extensions and a couple of ActiveX problems: that hasn't solved anything either. I have used Registry Mechanic 5.2.310 (the latest) and it claimed to fix several hundred problems -- without solving the ultimate ones.

I am now running a Norton AntiVirus scan (maybe it was silly to wait this long, but it takes several hours on my machine; I run a complete scan one night a week with up-to-date virus definitions; and I go for years -- truly -- without any infections) At this point, it has scanned about 600,000 files (out of about a million) without discovering any "threats."

I have made regular backups using BackUpMyPC. The most recent one was yesterday morning, so I could use that path to recover important data, if necessary, up to that point, but I don't think I could trust the regestry files that it backed up -- they would be the same corrupt ones that seem to be plaguing me now, wouldn't they?

Any help would be appreciated. I would be happy to provide any additional information.

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#2
Retired Tech
Posted 16 May 2006 - 02:27 AM

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Items in blue which are underlined are clickable to give more information about the process

Click start then run, type prefetch then press enter, click edit then select all, right click any file then click delete, confirm delete

Click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools to run disc clean up, then from system tools, run disc defragmenter.

Click start then run, type sfc /scannow then press enter, you need the XP CD and Windows File Protection will show a blue onscreen progress bar, when the bar goes, reboot

If you do not have an XP CD you can borrow a same version as was originally installed XP CD, if you downloaded SP2 then you need an SP1 XP CD

Click start then run, type chkdsk /f /r then press enter, type Y to confirm for next boot, press enter then reboot.

Windows will appear to load normally then either the monitor will show progress or the screen will go blank, do not disturb this.

This will take an hour or so before it gets to the desktop.

Download and install Tune Up 2006 Trial

Run Tune Up Disc Clean Up

Run Tune Up Registry Clean Up

Click Optimize and Improve to run Reg Defrag, which will take a few minutes and need a reboot. You should disable the antivirus programme to run this and check it is running after the reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to optimize the computer, select computer with an internet connection from the drop down menu, this also requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to accelerate downloads, select the speed just above your actual connection speed, this requires a reboot

After the reboot, click optimize then system optimizer to run system advisor
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#3
Johanna
Posted 16 May 2006 - 06:09 AM

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FYI
Alexa comes compliments of MS- how about that?

Before you do much more, make sure you have backed up your most important data files. After you follow Keith's advice, post back if you are still having problems.

Johanna
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#4
roscoeb
Posted 16 May 2006 - 11:30 AM

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Thank you both Keith & Johanna,

The booting up problem seems to have gone away. The computer started up properly the first time this morning and it has started properly 2 times since. I have followed the cleanup steps you proposed, just to be safe, though.

I am now doing a complete backup to an external hard drive.

The jumping mouse problem may have been a problem with the KVM switch I was using to connect to two computers. Connecting it directly to this computer has eliminated the jumping around problem.

Thanks -- I hope I don't have to return to tell you that it's all gone south again!

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#5
Retired Tech
Posted 16 May 2006 - 11:54 AM

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Thank You for letting us know
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#6
roscoeb
Posted 16 May 2006 - 06:00 PM

roscoeb

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Hi Keith,

Regrettably, I spoke too soon. Although the computer started properly a couple of times, it didn't once again. I had to use an early morning restore point (having backed up the Outlook and Quicken files in safe mode first).

Perhaps, I need to follow a route you suggested for someone else who had reboot / failure to start problems: use the XP CD to reinstall the Kernal32.dll file?

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#7
Retired Tech
Posted 16 May 2006 - 08:37 PM

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You can use this guide to repair XP

Possibly, you will need to press the start button and keep tapping the delete key until the PC enters set up. Change the boot order to CD ROM Drive then hard drive, press F10 then press enter, load the XP CD then type Y then press enter, as it reboots, look for press any key to load from CD, press enter

You will need the XP product key to complete this

If you have audio / video files which are subject to DRM you should check with the provider for known issues with performing an XP repair install

XP Repair Install

Windows XP repair feature won't delete your data, installed programs, personal information, or settings. It just repairs the operating system

After running XP Repair you will need to install all Windows Updates

Microsoft Update
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