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General discussion

4 XP Problems to challenge you

Feb 26, 2004 5:10AM PST

System is just a year old and, unfortunately, came with WINXP and many other programs installed. 1)After about 6 mos the "help and support" in start quit responding. 2)"Windows Update" does not let me access or download any updates, says I need administrator rights. Well, I have them. Besides that I used Microsofts troubleshooter online to change the settings in registry to allow all users admin rights...still doesn't let me update. 3) I cannot reveert to an earlier date in time, however it does let me go all the way to the end of the process before saying nope!And 4)My CPU usage is at about 50% when idle, in part due to NAVAPSVC.EXE which I believe is associated with Norton Antivirus. Now this just started, but I have always been running NAV. Also have the same NAV on laptop with XP Pro and another desktop with WIN2K, and the CPU is running at 0% when idle on those.
Any ideas on any of these for repair will be appreciated. I have too many essential business tools on this system to start fresh.
MSI MS-6701 MOBO INTEL PENTIUM 4, 2.67 GHZ CPU,
256 MB 3DRAM, SOCKET 478, FRONTSIDE BUS 512
SIS 648 CHIPSET, PHOENIX/AWARD BIOS V6.00PG
SEAGATE ST3120023A 120GB HARD DRIVE
NVIDIA GEFORCE4 TI4200 AGP8X W/128MB RAM
SIS 900 PCI FAST ETHERNET ADAPTER
CREATIX V.92 DSP DATA/FAX MODEM
REALTEK AC"97 AUDIO

Discussion is locked

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Re:4 XP Problems to challenge you
Feb 26, 2004 5:22AM PST

Check your pc for any Adware/Spyware .. remove anything you found
Check for Viruses, try using online scan such as Trendmicro.com .... clean it all ..

Then if you still have trouble, get back here and look for other information..

The point is, make sure your system is free of adware/spyware and viruses... then fixing any problem.

Good luck

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Re:Re:4 XP Problems to challenge you
Feb 27, 2004 12:01AM PST

I appreciate your input on this. We run AD-AWARE and SpyBot regularly and usually get 1 or 2 items to remove. Also once a week schedule runs Norton virus check on the whole system. For the first time in over a year it did find 6 infected files that were quarantined, but the aforementioned problems occured prior to that event.
I have 16 years experience with computer tech, but not in all areas, such as the registry of XP, and I suspect that's where the problem is, as opposed to something topical or easy.
By the way, ever run into MAPI can't find GAPI?? Every WIN OS over the years has had this come along after you have it installed for 6 mos or so. No one from MS to other techs have been able to provide a solution to it. Without going in to details, it's needed but not essential for some programs.

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You have the challenge.
Feb 26, 2004 8:39AM PST

Since you write "I have too many essential business tools on this system to start fresh.", I feel your first move is to secure what you can't lose since hard disks have panic detectors that tell the drive to stop spinning to generate the highest panic levels.

It's not a matter of if the drive or drive contents will vanish, but when.

My answer is simply this. Given the precarious issue of how important these tools are, NO REPAIRS should be attempted since the danger is far too great you will lose it all.

Bob

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Re:You have the challenge.
Feb 27, 2004 12:11AM PST

We back up all data changed to a second networked system every day, plus the 2nd system has a 2nd hard drive that automatically backs up the data files from the primary hard drive. Additionally, we back up critical data periodically to floppies and CDrom disks. That way we are covered, but still want to solve the problems associated with this OS as it would take 2 weeks to re-install and configure programs for business. We're not down, by any means, but these problems are solveable with persistance and spare time.

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Then by all means, persist.
Feb 27, 2004 12:30AM PST

Your first post doesn't agree with your new post.

The two weeks to install is rather amazing. At worst, our office machines take 5 hours from bare metal to all the way up.

Something's truly fishy.

Bob

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Re:Then by all means, persist.
Feb 27, 2004 11:31AM PST

I don't use my people to work on our own equipment during business hours, we have too much business to keep up with so I work on it about an hour or so from 6pm til midnight, during which period I'm also doing invoicing, preparing marketing materials, working with companies across the nation that are still open, repairing a equipment for a company that needs it first thing in the morning, and on and on. Unless our system is dead, we keep on using it with its quirks and try to solve its problems when there's time. The thought right now is to go to XP Pro over this, which may or may not help.

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The first rule is always... Do no harm.
Feb 27, 2004 9:29PM PST

Why I am very hesitent to offer any possible fix is the precarious nature of the machine plus it seems to be working for you. Maybe it has a glitch here or there, but it's working. Maybe it's best left as-is?

Since you made it clear in your first posts that it's very important to not mis-step, plus it works, then doing nothing is a viable alternative.

Bob

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Re:Re:You have the challenge.
Feb 27, 2004 12:49AM PST

Hi, data. I totally understand how you feel. I just spent a week getting my Windows XP laptop setup just perfect, and it's already hosed. Fortunately, I took copious notes of every step so I can easily go back after reinstalling the OS (if it comes to that--and it probably will). It will take time, but a lot less time than if I didn't have a record.

So... You may have to bite the bullet and wipe the thing out and start over. But persist in taking good notes, so when the next six months rolls around, you'll be ready.

Good luck!

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Re:4 XP Problems to challenge you
Feb 28, 2004 8:26AM PST
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Re:Re:4 XP Problems to challenge you
Feb 29, 2004 5:05AM PST

Thanks for the article, I will let you know how this worked out. I'm leaving for Mexico in a few hours, so will not get back to this for a week or so.