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Question

XP apps wont launch and other wierdness

Mar 25, 2014 11:48PM PDT

My XP machine went totally downhill over the course of about 24 hours a couple of weeks ago. Symptoms:
1. Can't launch many apps, including IE, Firefox, Norton A/V, WIndows Search, or anything that accesses the Internet. CAN launch Word and other stuff however.
2. System restore fails
3. Can't close several open windows--like a directory view of the Recycle Bin, for example. Can close new things I open like Word.
4. Got a strange graphic on the desktop background--a stoplight looking thing with the bottom light containing a checkmark.
5. Tried doing stuff in safe Mode--no luck launching there, either (tried launching NPE from a stick, via Task Manager RUN command.).
6. When launching, get hourglass for a few secs, then nothing. Checking Task Manager, I the app does not show, but for example, the ieexplorer PROCESS shows up and another one shows up if I do it again.

I am assuming that I have a bad bug, but also maybe that I've lost the registry association for executing .exe files.

Been in touch with Norton, but can't complete their instructions since I can't download new s/w. I am going to try their Bootable recovery tool, just downloaded to another machine.

Took to Best Buy Geek Squad who couldn't do anything and suggested leaving XP behind in view of end of support. No help.

Any suggestions? Anyone seen this "stoplight" thing?

Thanks,
Martin

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: XP gone downhill
Mar 25, 2014 11:55PM PDT

The best solution seems a total clean re-install of XP, if you don't have a more recent image to fall back upon. It's easy to make an image on an external or internal hard disk, that it really makes sense as a preventive measure against all kinds of mishaps.

Kees

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OK, tell me more, pls
Mar 26, 2014 12:20AM PDT

Thanks for the suggestion. Questions:
1. What do I lose (data, etc.) with a re-install?
2. Doubt if I have any XP discs as it was pre-installed. Where do I get the XP s/w to install?

Thanks,

Martin

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Re: install
Mar 26, 2014 12:29AM PDT

With a 'repair install' you lose nothing (in principle), but that might not be sufficient. With a 'clean install' you only lose what you didn't backup or can't reinstall.

If you don't have an XP install disk, you ask the maker what to do. There's a chance they still sell recovery disks. If not, you find a disk from a friend or from eBay and hope that (a) it accepts the license code on the sticker on the PC, and (b) you can find all necessary drivers yourself. Both aren't sure.

If no luck, you buy another PC or you convert this PC with XP to a PC with Linux. That's free, but has small disadvantage that it won't run any Windows program, so you'll need to use Linux replacements like VLC in stead of Windows Media Player and LibreOffice in stead of Word.

Kees

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Still hoping . . .
Mar 26, 2014 3:10AM PDT

Not quite ready for the clean install or LINUX. Running the Norton Bootable Recovery Tool now . . .

Thanks,

Martin

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Answer
Where to get the XP CD?
Mar 26, 2014 3:25AM PDT
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Backup
Mar 26, 2014 4:02AM PDT

Well, we did have backup via Symantec, but as you probably know, data is not just in My Documents. As for restoring all the apps--from WIN95 games in a DOSBOX to things we've lost or never had the install disks for, not sure that all comes back ready to go . . . I am not an expert or even know how, for example, to go about recovering registry settings. Plus this is actually my wife's machine. So, it would be nice to have things simple enough that you don't have to like doing this stuff just to keep things running. Maybe we should move to a nice Cloud . . .

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That's a problem Microsoft never tackled.
Mar 26, 2014 4:16AM PDT

Microsoft and many companies never moved out past the 90's as to expecting users to learn more about the Windows PC. You see a lot of folk just move away from Windows for reasons like this. Even at our office we are trying out the ChromeBook and more.
Bob