Boo-2

Join Date 01/2005

XP home is spontaneously combusting

Okay, it isn't technically on fire. I have a dell laptop running XP home (I wanted XP pro but my parents ordered it). Every so often, the system goes into this 'semi-broken' mode. Semi-broken mode is different than normal operation in a few ways (there may be more, this is what I've noticed):

*None of the buttons in Norton internet security 2k5 will work, and it won't show any status-es. This means I can't change any settings, run any scans, etc.

*The Help and Support center won't show up. This isn't a big problem, since it isn't remotely helpful or supportive when it's working.

*AIM displays the error message 'Could not create Boxely service' when started, then terminates.

*Windows media player does the same as AIM only it says 'An internal application error has occured'.

*None of the search options show up on the search menu, effectively rendering it useless.

*Some DX widgets seem to break in various ways. (ex. objects missing)

And that's all I can think of for now. The only way to fix all this is to repair Xp home with the reinstallation CD, and then convince windows that you already have activated the product (usually achieved with a mixture of luck, swears, and re-reinstallation). Then the OS will work for somewhere between four hours and three weeks before 'semi-breaking' again. A little voice in the back of my head is telling me that a specific activity is causing this, but I can't seems to nail anything down. Any help would be much appreciated

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That's why I am getting a mac. On my PC it locks up when I logon and when I get the Task Manager and move it, it leaves a trail!

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

None of the buttons in Norton internet security 2k5 will work, and it won't show any status-es. This means I can't change any settings, run any scans, etc

Happened on my Compaq. Got rid of it and went with avast(FREE). AVG is free also. Eventually, Norton is gonna want some do-re-mi anyway and I have heard nothing but negative things about Norton lately.

*The Help and Support center won't show up. This isn't a big problem, since it isn't remotely helpful or supportive when it's working.

This happens to me as well. the only fix I have found is a reinstall of XP. However, I don't completely loose it, I just have to click it 3 or 4 times.

I wish I had a clue what causes all of this. I recently did a complete restore and so far so good. What i didn't do this time was activate any of the stupid crap that came pre-loaded. (Weatherbug, some kind of email spam gaurd, and a host of stuff).

I doubt I need to tell you, but get those updates from Microsoft, get Spybot, Adaware, SpyBlaster...maybe a new anti-virus (but do NOT run 2 anti-virus programs at once..you only need 1...a good one) and possibly ZoneAlarm as well. I don't know how old the laptop is, but check Dell for any updates and patches as well.

Good luck. I hope I was some help.

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Agreed a reinstall is in order me thinks or you'll spend hours trying to repair and achieve scwot

this time tho see if the installation discs will let you create a recovery partition so next time a reinstall necessary it's a one button operation just like the brand named type comps or the best way is ghost to another hdd

This time round make sure that 3rd party software is trustworthy

google for and grab these
ccleaner (free)
easycleaner (free)
As previous poster stated
avast antivirus (free)
zonealarm(free)
windows defender
adaware
spybot

Do a defrag and "free up disc space" (performance and maintenance) after OS install then again after updating and then again while adding more software as you go.

A bit of useless info = a defrag and clean up is good before doing a virus scan as it will decrease the scan time

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Island Dog

Join Date 06/2003

+1048

Semi-broken mode is different than normal operation in a few ways (there may be more, this is what I've noticed):

I thought semi-broken is normal mode for Windows.

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Po is dead on about Symantec (Norton). You need to rid yourself of that. I use Avast also and, it is a great....absolutely free program.

You may want to run a check disk for errors and find a utility to test your hard drive. Major Geeks has a few freeware utilities you can download.

I would suggest doing this before re-installing Windows and everything. It sounds suspiciously like a failing hard drive.

Major Geeks also has freeware Ram testers that probably wouldn't hurt you to run, just to be safe.

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I thought semi-broken is normal mode for Windows.

mostly the case when some garbage like:

Symantec (Norton).

... is on the machine.

Quite some time back Symantec/Norton moved from highly useful and reliable utilities to bloatware that should be avoided when and where possible. It's a shame, as I used to like their products, but they really have become disfavorable and poor alternatives to other choices that do the job better and with much less bloat and system troubles.

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WebGizmos

Join Date 09/2003

+735

I wonder sometimes what you guys are doing to your machines. Honestly, I've been running Norton for the past 3 years and I have never had a problem with it with the exception of one time when I...or one of the cleaners I run deleted a Norton related file which screwed things up. Other than that I hardly know Norton is running...but it is running. And I don't experience any slowdowns related to Norton. So this is what makes me wonder what you guys are doing to your machines. I guess I must be lucky or something.

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I guess I must be lucky or something.

You are.....

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1845

Honestly, I've been running Norton for the past 3 years and I have never had a problem with it with the exception of one time when I...

....ran Norton.....

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1845

Seriously...I discarded 12 months of new subscription when it [Norton] actually destroyed 'bits' necessitating a re-install of SP2.

Since then it's been AVG [freeware]...but have been looking into paying for something that actually WORKS...and more often than not it's 'BitDefender' that gets the good write-ups.

There's a free ver, much like the free AVG [it seems]...but the purchased one isn't expensive anyway. I'm currently using the online scanner....and it's having fun...found itself a nasty in the pst ...slow as a wet week...looks like 70 minutes for my 'C' drive [20gig].

Full ver is a 30 day trial anyway...so looks like I'll go 'that way'...

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