[Certifiably Blonde]

Hi I'm new here and hopefully I put this in the right spot. I have a 5 yo IBM Clone computer running ME on a cable connection. I have 384 mbs RAM and usually have NO PROBLEMS...so this has really got me baffled and kinda freaked out as I am realizing now more than ever just how much is wrapped up in that box.

I turned it on yesterday and the graphic and it came up...this is what I saw. The graphic on my desktop is all distorted in shape and all the colors are off. Usually at the bottom right start up task bar there is the sound bell, ATI, AVG & Zone Alarm icons...but yesterday there remained only AVG & Zone. The mouse has all but disappeared...I had a tailess elliptical Logitech..which I tried to reload to no avail. Then I tried reloading ME and its done but no change in the outcome. I then tried a usb connected elliptical Logitech..nada. Then I dug out my ole pin mouse ... plugged that in...reloaded ME again...no change. I cant do much because navigation is the problem at the moment...the tab bar and arrow keys arent working and it just sits there looking at me!!! It's so frustrating...I'm not sure what else to do from here.

The only other oddity is that during the last week I have noticed alot of freezing issues, on or offline.

I usually do monthly defraggs and scandisks and I usually dont have any problems. I was wondering if it was my graphics card but cant figure out what the mouse would possibly have to do with that. Is this a crash? Windows appears to be loading..just cant do anything with it once it does.

I would love to be able to salvage at least my digital family photos and music and some data files if its possible.

Any suggestions you may be able to make would be appreciated.

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Hi Certifiably Blonde...

This IS an odd one. Let's see what happens if you try to boot into Safe Mode (Hopefully the mouse and keyboard will work with the drivers istalled at this level). Restart the machine and tap the F8 key repeatedly during the boot sequence. If you get to the Safe Mode Options screen, choose "Safe Mode" and press "Enter".

Let me know if you are able to boot into Safe Mode successfully.

wannabe1

[wannabe1]

Hi Certifiably Blonde...

This IS an odd one. Let's see what happens if you try to boot into Safe Mode (Hopefully the mouse and keyboard will work with the drivers istalled at this level). Restart the machine and tap the F8 key repeatedly during the boot sequence. If you get to the Safe Mode Options screen, choose "Safe Mode" and press "Enter".

Let me know if you are able to boot into Safe Mode successfully.

wannabe1

[Certifiably Blonde]

Good Morning Wannabe....Thankyou for your prompt reply...here's an update of where this mess is right now....

Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen (and whomever else this doesnt cover) and welcome to Part 2 of my current computer .... ahem...fiasco. Late last night a lightbulb went off in my head and I actually got my computer to load my old, original pin & ball mouse (yuck) but at least now I have access to my desktop and to take alook around. The display is still really off...When I check the settings I think, if memory serves me and at my age sometimes thats not so good, it appears to me that 16 colors isnt the setting I should be at...(I am on ME..yuck yessss the dreaded unstable ME, that once through this will be scrapped and I can start a war with XP) All the display even this site and all my digital family photos looks quite like smeared negatives with some very faint color. When I try to apply some of my other color settings...they wont stay no matter how many times I apply and restart. So the current questions of the day:
1. Should I burn my photos onto a CD, when viewed on another "well" machine, will they be ok or will they be screwey looking? ANSWER: I couldnt get a pic to attach in email for some odd reason but I copied one on a floppy and viewed it on another computer and its SCREWEY...sighs...
2. Just what color setting and screen size setting should I be set at? I have 17" monitor if that makes a difference
NOTE: All task bars are bordered by broken lines. The area around this posting box is all dotted and the quick reply bar is a putrid colod of aqua (I really thought the normal aqua couldnt be any worse..but there ya go...wrong again!) In the lower righthand corner task bar...the ATI symbol is still missing (I have the disk...should I reload it?)

My goal here is to get all my photos, music, programs that I dont have disks for any other files I use and need on a daily basis (recipes) zipped and copied onto cds. There are also a few fav urls (such as G2G) that I would hate to lose so I'll email myself with all the urls in one email. Then I am gonna take this machine in;get it looked at (once I find a reputable place to get that done as my former geek princess is lost on crack somewhere but heyyy she knew how to build an awesome computer)..get it reformatted & loaded with XP. I know its 5 years old but being disabled and unable to work kinda puts a hamper on ones financial lifestyle...sigh...

Heres a copy of my HiJack log ...

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 7:48:36 AM, on 01/03/2006
Platform: Windows ME (Win9x 4.90.3000)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v5.50 (5.50.4134.0100)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ATI2EVXX.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KB891711\KB891711.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ZONELABS\VSMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\RESTORE\STMGR.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\ZONE LABS\ZONEALARM\ZLCLIENT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\HIDSERV.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\GRISOFT\AVG FREE\AVGCC.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\GRISOFT\AVG FREE\AVGEMC.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\GRISOFT\AVG FREE\AVGAMSVR.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\MY DOCUMENTS\EXE FILES\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://red.clientapp....ch/search.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://red.clientapp..../www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://red.clientapp....ch/search.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://red.clientapp..../www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page =
F1 - win.ini: run=hpfsched
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! IE Services Button - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\YAHOO!\COMMON\YIESRVC.DLL
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\ADOBE\ACROBAT 5.0\READER\ACTIVEX\ACROIEHELPER.OCX
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\YAHOO!\COMPANION\INSTALLS\CPN3\YT.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: @msdxmLC.dll,-1@1033,&Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TaskMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\taskmon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCHealth] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\Support\PCHSchd.exe -s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AtiPTA] Atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Hidserv] Hidserv.exe run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_CC] C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVGFRE~1\AVGCC.EXE /STARTUP
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_EMC] C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVGFRE~1\AVGEMC.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG7_AMSVR] C:\PROGRA~1\GRISOFT\AVGFRE~1\AVGAMSVR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [ATIPOLAB] ati2evxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [StillImageMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [KB891711] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KB891711\KB891711.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [SchedulingAgent] mstask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [*StateMgr] C:\WINDOWS\System\Restore\StateMgr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [TrueVector] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ZONELABS\VSMON.EXE -service
O4 - Startup: Event Reminder.lnk = C:\Program Files\Mindscape\PrintMaster\PMREMIND.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Dictionary - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycdict.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Maps - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycmap.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &SMS - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsms.htm
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\YAHOO!\COMMON\YIESRVC.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Related - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINDOWS\web\related.htm
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Show &Related Links - {c95fe080-8f5d-11d2-a20b-00aa003c157a} - C:\WINDOWS\web\related.htm
O12 - Plugin for .mid: C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\PLUGINS\npqtplugin2.dll
O12 - Plugin for .qt: C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\PLUGINS\npqtplugin.dll
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\PROGRA~1\INTERN~1\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Chat - http://cs8.chat.sc5....m/c381/chat.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Backgammon - http://download.game....ts/y/at1_x.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Chess - http://download.game....ts/y/ct0_x.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Literati - http://download.game....ts/y/tt4_x.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Cribbage - http://download.game....ts/y/it0_x.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Dominoes - http://download.game....s/y/dot2_x.cab
O16 - DPF: {90C9629E-CD32-11D3-BBFB-00105A1F0D68} (InstallShield International Setup Player) - http://www.installen...gine/isetup.cab
O16 - DPF: {03F998B2-0E00-11D3-A498-00104B6EB52E} (MetaStreamCtl Class) - https://components.v....asp?DSFRID=352
O16 - DPF: {F58E1CEF-A068-4C15-BA5E-587CAF3EE8C6} (MSN Chat Control 4.5) - http://chat.msn.com/...s/msnchat45.cab
O16 - DPF: {B942A249-D1E7-4C11-98AE-FCB76B08747F} (RealArcadeRdxIE Class) - http://games-dl.real....rcadeRdxIE.cab
O16 - DPF: Yahoo! Chat 1.3 - http://cs5.chat.sc5....m/c174/chat.cab
O16 - DPF: {CE28D5D2-60CF-4C7D-9FE8-0F47A3308078} (ActiveDataInfo Class) - http://www.symantec....sa/SymAData.cab
O16 - DPF: {E77C0D62-882A-456F-AD8F-7C6C9569B8C7} (ActiveDataObj Class) - https://www-secure.s....ActiveData.cab
O16 - DPF: {F00F4763-7355-4725-82F7-0DA94A256D46} (IMDownloader Class) - http://www2.incredim....r/imloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {17D72920-7A15-11D4-921E-0080C8DA7A5E} (AimSp32 Class) - http://makeover.subs...ve/makeover.cab
O16 - DPF: {2359626E-7524-4F87-B04E-22CD38A0C88C} (ICSScannerLight Class) - http://download.zone...ee/cm/ICSCM.cab
O16 - DPF: {B9191F79-5613-4C76-AA2A-398534BB8999} (YAddBook Class) - http://us.dl1.yimg.c....tocomplete.cab
O16 - DPF: {EB387D2F-E27B-4D36-979E-847D1036C65D} (QDiagHUpdateObj Class) - http://h30043.www3.h.../qdiagh.cab?323
O16 - DPF: {4F1E5B1A-2A80-42CA-8532-2D05CB959537} (MSN Photo Upload Tool) - http://by2fd.bay2.ho....s/MsnPUpld.cab
O16 - DPF: {DF780F87-FF2B-4DF8-92D0-73DB16A1543A} (PopCapLoader Object) - http://download.game....ploader_v6.cab
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn....Downloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {1F2F4C9E-6F09-47BC-970D-3C54734667FE} (LSSupCtl Class) - http://www.symantec....sa/LSSupCtl.cab
O16 - DPF: {701DC9DC-ACD5-4E94-85E3-F3F1ED68611A} (CWebClientCtl Object) - http://download.palt....bclientctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (YInstStarter Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yinsthelper.dll
O16 - DPF: {1D4DB7D2-6EC9-47A3-BD87-1E41684E07BB} - http://ak.imgfarm.co....up1.0.0.15.exe

Any help anyone can give me would be most appreciated. Thank you.

Edited by Certifiably Blonde, 01 March 2006 - 08:22 AM.

[wannabe1]

Take a look in Device Manager (right click My Computer and choose Properties...click the Device Manager tab) and see if any devices are marked with a yellow (?) or (!). If you see any, list them here for me.

wannabe1

[Certifiably Blonde]

okiess...yellow ! are Logitech PS/2 Port Mouse; PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port; VIA TEch 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller.

As well its telling me I'm missing Display Drivers sooo I put in the ATI disc...throughout it told me that my drivers were more uptodate than the ones I was trying to load so I stuck with what I had...thinking that might not have been a great idea as what I have doesnt work. So then it told me to go to Windows Update to update drivers....it wont work because of Windows Update Error...Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot display the requested page.

YIKES...now what?

oh...before I got back this am...I did run antivirus, adaware, and spybot S&D ...they all came out clean.

Edited by Certifiably Blonde, 01 March 2006 - 09:05 AM.

[wannabe1]

Just exactly what Windows error are you getting when you attempt to update?

Please download and run Everest Home Edition. Save a report (All Pages...HTML) and Attach the report here for me.

wannabe1

[Certifiably Blonde]

ok...now it asked to be restarted (Im just sitting here watching)...so I did....now it says " Display - The driver file that displays items correctly on your screen isnt working. To fix this, you might need to install a new display driver. See the Windows Update Web Site for updated drivers, or check the Web site of your display driver manufacturer. For information about updating driver files, click Help.

Options are "OK" and "Help" What should I do?

When I attempt a Windows Update (just to scan for whats available) this is the error message verbatim:

Windows Update Error...Windows Update has encountered an error and cannot display the requested page.

Edited by Certifiably Blonde, 01 March 2006 - 09:15 AM.

[wannabe1]

Click "Ok"...

Let me have a look at an Everest Report and I'll see if I can round up the drivers you need.

Edited by wannabe1, 01 March 2006 - 09:17 AM.

[Certifiably Blonde]

kk attempting Everest now...sorry for the delays...but Im answering on a lapdinosaur.

grrr...having trouble getting explorer....rebooted and now its saying.....

Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer. System Halted

ok...here we go again...brb...

ok...now its given me the option of Safe mode and since I didnt respond asap i am in Safe Mode...and nowwwww a Microsoft Help & Support page is displayed saying....Safe Mode Troubleshooter....shall I go on or are you familiar with what Im seeing now?

Edited by Certifiably Blonde, 01 March 2006 - 09:24 AM.

[wannabe1]

While you're in Safe Mode, let's try a system restore.

Go ahead and close the Trouble Shooter. Click "Start", point to "Programs" then to "Accessories", then to "System Tools", and click on "System Restore". Restore to an earlier time...preferrably before this problem began.

[Certifiably Blonde]

Restoration was Unsuccessful.

Your computer cannot be restored to February 28,2006 2:01pm system checkpoint. No changes have been made to your computer. To choose another restore point, restart system restore.

Andd for some reason thats the only restore point on there...

ok...i have IE....am searching for everest and will endeavour to do that now as you instructed before.

Edited by Certifiably Blonde, 01 March 2006 - 09:54 AM.

[Certifiably Blonde]

Here's the Everest Report Wannabe.

I wont do another thing until I hear back from you. Thank you for your patience.

[wannabe1]

Let's work on the update problem first...

Click Start, point to "All Programs", point to "Accessories", and then click "MS-DOS Prompt".

In the Command Prompt window, type Regsvr32 C:\Windows\System32\Msxml.dll, and then press "Enter".
When you receive the following message, click "Ok": DllRegisterServer in C:\Windows\System32\Msxml.dll DLL succeeded.

Type Regsvr32 C:\Windows\System32\Msxml2.dll, and then press "Enter".
When you receive the following message, click "Ok": DllRegisterServer in C:\Windows\System32\Msxml2.dll DLL succeeded.

Type Regsvr32 C:\Windows\System32\Msxml3.dll, and then press "Enter".
When you receive the following message, click "Ok": DllRegisterServer in C:\Windows\System32\Msxml3.dll DLL succeeded.

Close the Command Prompt window and try the Windows update site.

Let me know how this goes...

Edited by wannabe1, 01 March 2006 - 01:05 PM.

[wannabe1]

Download This Driver for your video adapter, install it, and reboot.

Does this improve your display?

Edited by wannabe1, 01 March 2006 - 01:10 PM.

[Certifiably Blonde]

In the Command Prompt window, type Regsvr32 C:\Windows\System32\Msxml.dll, and then press "Enter".
When you receive the following message, click "Ok": DllRegisterServer in C:\Windows\System32\Msxml.dll DLL succeeded.

When I type Regsvr32 C:\Windows\System32\Msxml.dll

I get

Bad command or file name

C:\Windows>

*********

When I click on the Driver..it says Your support portal session has expired due to inactivity and the requested action has not been completed. If you entered data in the previous screen and would like to save it, please follow these steps.

The other option says

If you just want to restart your support session and discard any possible unsaved data from the previous screen click below.

neither of them do anything for me...I'll try to access the site.

Edited by Certifiably Blonde, 01 March 2006 - 01:29 PM.