[Kati.Pea]

This is a post I have been avoiding listing. I've been having problems for quite awhile. Tonight I removed my head from the sand & decided to ask for your take on it. I'm working on a project from home so it's critical that it keeps running through Sunday

There are many issues that crop up periodically. I've noted some of them, others I haven't. One reoccuring problem is with the volume control icon. It disappears frequently and I have to go through the uninstall/reinstall route at least once a week.

My keyboard and mouse periodically stop working. I turn off the computer, check connections (usually fine), unplug and replug then, and then do a reboot. After 3-6+ attempts, this usually works to get it working again.

I like to use Google Desktop, but I stopped using that because it seemed to add to the problem. I would go to do a search using the desktop taskbar icon and computer would freeze up, needing a cold reboot.

My computer freezes, sometimes when I'm on and/or off the internet. Recently, I put it in Standy mode, came back couple hours later & it was locked down, had to do a cold reboot I uninstalled/reinstalled XP SP3 for that issue. So far (2 days) it's working. I routinely (almost daily) run Advanced Windows Cleaner which is great at identifying malware, unwanted cookies, unneeded temp files, etc. I have a Hijack This Log for nearly every day in the past 2 weeks.

Nothing obvious is causing the problem. Nothing new installed. Same old, same old, My PC is a refurbished Dell, P4 1.80 GHz, 30 gig with 4 gig free, 256 RAM (yes I know I need more).

Can you help? Tonight I thought it was down for the count as it was nearly impossible to get the eyboard running.

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Sounds like an indexing service is on.

• Login to your computer as an administrator.
• Right click on My Computer and select Manage.
• Expand Services and Applications.
• Click on Services.
• Locate the Indexing Service entry.
• Right click and select Properties.
• Click the Stop button.
• Change the startup type to Disabled.
• Click Ok to apply your settings.

[DragonMaster Jay]

Sounds like an indexing service is on.

• Login to your computer as an administrator.
• Right click on My Computer and select Manage.
• Expand Services and Applications.
• Click on Services.
• Locate the Indexing Service entry.
• Right click and select Properties.
• Click the Stop button.
• Change the startup type to Disabled.
• Click Ok to apply your settings.

[edge2022]

Disable indexing service first. Did you see any blue screens during the freeze ups?
Let's run sfc.
Go to Start -> Run -> sfc /scannow
There is a space between the "c" and the "/"
Let the process complete, and if it prompts you for a Windows CD, then pop one in.
If you don't have one, use this fix.

Step 1

You will need to get your XP CD and locate the folder called:

I386

This is a major folder and should be one of the first you see, now copy this onto your hard drive into the system root. For most of you that is going to be C:\ so you should end up with a folder that looks like: C:\I386

-----------------------------

Step 2

Now you will need to tell your computer you now have the files on your PC. We do this is the registry (type regedit in the Run box on the start menu) by navigating to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Setup

You will see various entries here on the right hand side. The one we want is called:

SourcePath

It probably has an entry pointing to your CD-ROM drive, and that is why it is asking for the XP CD. All we need to do is change it to:

C:\

Simply double click the SourcePatch setting and a new box will pop up allowing you to make the change.

Now restart your computer and try scannow sfc again!

PS You probably already have the I386 folder in your drive.

[Kati.Pea]

First of all, thank you so much for replying to my post. I moved recently and have no idea where any of my CDs are. Other than borrowing one from a friend, is there any way around this?

I ran the sfc /scannow, but it kept asking me for the CD.

Three new comments.

1. Thank God, no blue screens!

2. I have disabled Google, as I mentioned. Every onece in a blue moon when I absolutely cannot locate something, I'll enable Google Desktop, and lately have been getting a message that indexing is going on. Since that only happens when my computer is idle, and I always disable it asap, I never understood the message. Could there be another indexing going on that I'm unaware of?

3. My right click will not work at the moment. It, too, works on and off.

Edited by Kati.Pea, 06 May 2009 - 09:48 PM.

[Kati.Pea]

The volume icon uninstall route goes something like this (and since it has just disappeared again, I practically have this stuff memorized): Get into Device Manager, delete the sound card, reboot computer, Windows is supposed to find this automatically, so ... voilla ... volume icon reappears.

My mouse and keyboard plug directly into the computer, not via USB.

Edited by Kati.Pea, 06 May 2009 - 11:49 PM.

[edge2022]

http://lifehacker.co...s-xp-031440.php
Follow the steps there.

For the sfc, use the fix I mentioned in the post above; you probably have the I386 folder on your C:\ drive anyways.

The problems you are describing might lean us toward a repair install, but you don't have your CD.

[edge2022]

One reoccuring problem is with the volume control icon. It disappears frequently and I have to go through the uninstall/reinstall route at least once a week.

What do you mean about reinstalling route?

My keyboard and mouse periodically stop working. I turn off the computer, check connections (usually fine), unplug and replug then, and then do a reboot. After 3-6+ attempts, this usually works to get it working again.

Do they connect though USB, or PS/2 ports?

[Kati.Pea]

Found the 1386 folder in Drivers --> Driver Cache --> 1386. Navigated through the registry to the setup folder. Source Path was not there.

[edge2022]

Just run sfc /scannow and if there are any corrupted or missing system files it finds, only then will it prompt for a CD.
Give me the make and model of your computer
Also give an Everest Report. Click on "Everest Instructions" in my sig, and follow the steps.

[Kati.Pea]

I ran the sfc /scannow, it kept asking for the CD. Here's the info you wanted:

Make: DELL Model Don't Know - It's a desktop bought refurbished about 5 years ago.
Hard Disk: Maxtor 2F030.JO
Processor: ACPI Uniprocessor PC Driver Version: 5.1.2600.0
Motherboard: Dell Dimension 2350

--------[ EVEREST Home Edition © 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc. ]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer SUNSHINE (Office)
Generator Kate
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2009-05-07
Time 05:11


--------[ Summary ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name SUNSHINE (Office)
User Name Kate

Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 1800 MHz (18 x 100)
Motherboard Name Dell Dimension 2350
Motherboard Chipset Intel Brookdale-G i845GL
System Memory 256 MB (PC2100 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Award (03/24/03)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter Intel® 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller (64 MB)
3D Accelerator Intel Extreme Graphics
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (96072CA002898)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Intel 82801DB ICH4 - AC'97 Audio Controller [B-0]

Storage:
IDE Controller Intel® 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CB
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive Maxtor 2F030J0 (30 GB, 5400 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Optical Drive _NEC CD-RW NR-9100A (40x/10x/40x CD-RW)
Optical Drive LITEON DVD-ROM LTD163 (16x/48x DVD-ROM)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 29290 MB (3940 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse PS/2 Compatible Mouse

Network:
Network Adapter Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller (192.168.1.64)
Network Adapter Linksys Wireless-G PCI Adapter
Modem Conexant HSF V92 56K Data Fax PCI Modem

Peripherals:
Printer Generic PostScript Printer
Printer HP DeskJet 720C
Printer Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
Printer novaPDF Lite v5
USB1 Controller Intel 82801DB ICH4 - USB Controller [B-0]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801DB ICH4 - USB Controller [B-0]
USB1 Controller Intel 82801DB ICH4 - USB Controller [B-0]
USB2 Controller Intel 82801DB ICH4 - Enhanced USB2 Controller [B-0]


--------[ Sensor ]------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sensor Properties:
Sensor Type HDD

Temperatures:
Maxtor 2F030J0 34 °C (93 °F)

[edge2022]

It would help if we had a list of all the problems we are trying to resolve.
Right now, lets focus on the volume problem.
http://support.dell..../...tid=&impid=
Go there. Expand audio and chipset. Download the drivers under those categories, and install them.

[Kati.Pea]

I will be back here at 20:00 hrs. CST

10 pm - Computer wouldn't let me download. Got this error message:
WINZIP.EXE is damanged. Please reload from distribution disk.

Edited by Kati.Pea, 07 May 2009 - 09:07 PM.

[edge2022]

All right. My time zone is PST.

[Kati.Pea]

Good to know. I'm ready when you are.
I'll be online until 11 pm PST.

Edited by Kati.Pea, 07 May 2009 - 10:39 PM.

[edge2022]

It would help if we had a list of all the problems we are trying to resolve.
Right now, lets focus on the volume problem.
http://support.dell..../...tid=&impid=
Go there. Expand audio and chipset. Download the drivers under those categories, and install them.