[microcuts]

Hey

I'm operating an XP system which has deteriorated since wednesday when I installed a new ipod onto it. Not sure whether there is a connection there or not but as soon as itunes started, an error message came up saying something about a bad image. After this, starting programs has led to error messages (though not necessarily the closure of the program) with the most common referring to a sensapi.dll. It also became impossible to switch users without logging off.
Since yesterday, having typed in the password to log on, nothing happens for about a minute. Then the background of the desktop comes up but explorer does not start, a few minutes later another error message comes up explaining that explorer.exe encountered an error and nothing else happens. I have tried running explorer.exe using task manager and the same error occurs.
I have also tried restoring the system in safe mode but this did not work and having done it and restarted it said the restore was unsuccesful. I have run Norton in safe mode with it's limited capabilities. And even on safe mode explorer seems not to work as soon as a screensaver comes on.
Any help with this (I know the errors are a bit vague) would be much appreciated. I at least want to be able to save the contents of my harddrive if possible.
(Just in case I haven't made it obvious, this is not the computer I am on ...)
Cheers.

Edited by microcuts, 12 February 2006 - 08:18 AM.

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

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.

Click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools to run disc clean up, click more options then clean up restore points, click confirm, click OK. Then from system tools, run disc defragmenter.

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

When it gets to the desktop, the system files and the hard drive will be as they should and you can check for any improvement

This section is optional

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

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

If no change, the next thing to do would be a repair install, this will leave data and settings intact

XP Repair

If you are unable to run XP Repair

Alternate XP Repair

Use the last one, Windows Installation CD to repair the current installation, which uses a slightly different method

After running the repair it will be necessary to install all Windows Updates

Microsoft Update

[Retired Tech]

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

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.

Click start, all programmes, accessories, system tools to run disc clean up, click more options then clean up restore points, click confirm, click OK. Then from system tools, run disc defragmenter.

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

When it gets to the desktop, the system files and the hard drive will be as they should and you can check for any improvement

This section is optional

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

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

If no change, the next thing to do would be a repair install, this will leave data and settings intact

XP Repair

If you are unable to run XP Repair

Alternate XP Repair

Use the last one, Windows Installation CD to repair the current installation, which uses a slightly different method

After running the repair it will be necessary to install all Windows Updates

Microsoft Update