Re: problem with win2000 please help

From: dcdon (olekingcole_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 07/16/04 

Date: Fri, 16 Jul 2004 22:09:16 GMT

Hi Steve,

What you are doing is typical of the masculine gender. We run out of gas
before asking for directions, and yada yada...

Let's get this straight. U R running W2K. With what SP? (4)? Sounds like
someone tarded ya.

Let's try this... (with Administrative permissions) You know how to change
your first boot device? Reboot and start tapping the "delete" key. When you
get in be careful about what you do , if you are not familiar. Look for and
change the first boot device to CD-ROM, and place your OS CD in the drive.

Reboot and start tapping the spacebar, POST starts. You will get the files
contained on the four diskettes boot disk set, and after it does this you
will be asked if you want to install a new installation of W2K or to Repair.

Choose "repair" when asked. Use typical (recommended). After complete boot
to Safe Mode. If you don't know how, start tapping the F8 key at POST.
Choose Safe Mode. Do this first in case you have any BSOD (Blue Screen Of
Death) before getting back up smooth. Do this...
Start...
Settings
Control Panel
System
Advanced Tab
Startup and Recovery button
"Uncheck" Automatically reboot
OK out

Reboot and get online if possible to run an Online Security and Virus check.
Use Symantec here, http://securityresponse.symantec.com/ . Look under Virus
Definitions for Online Virus scan and Security check. Run the Virus Scan. If
you have infections, print the list. Go to Google and do a search with each
to find a fix *** from Symantec or another well known. You can also do a
search for "Stinger" for a little program that heals about 40 infections.

If you don't have any infections, I suggest you go to www.spychecker.com and
look for AdAware, SpyBot S&D, HiJackThis, and a firewall like Zone Alarm
(free version) Pro version better. One other utility you NEED. Go to
www.belarc.com, and d/l and install Belarc Advisor. This utility tells you
if any of your Hotpatches did not install properly and has a link provided
to reinstall it. Also, it provides your CD install key code, all your
hardware, all your software, and more, and it is free for personal use.

After you run Belarc, print it.

If you are up and running, you may want to run a couple of Command Prompts.
The first is SFC (system file checker)
Start
Run...
"type" SFC /SCANNOW <enter> (You may need the OS CD)
then reboot
Next run this
Start
Run...
"type" checkdisk /r <enter> (it will not be able to do this until your next
restart)
It will take 15 minutes or so, you may want to do it just before meal time.

When (if) you get through that, you seriously need to consider being
protected. That includes NOT using your main account. Your primary
Administrative account should be left to get you out of trouble. And it
needs to have "strong passwords". After you have it set, you need to have a
second Administrative account in case the password is forgotten or the
account is corrupted (so you can get back in the primary account ). It also
needs strong password protection. Your account should be a power user with
strong password also.

I know this sounds ridiculous, but it is absolutely needed. And another
thing is to make timely ERC's and full backups in case you lose a HDD.

That's enough for now.

Sorry if you got more than you bargained for. Ask someone else that is
knowledgeable to see if you should practice Safe Hex.

good computing,
don

"Steve" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2e5fd01c46b68$732c7240$a401280a@phx.gbl...
Hello, well I was at a LAN party yesterday at my friends
house, and any way I started downloading files from
another friends computer, and I came back and I don't
exactly remember the error but I got something please run
check disk can't copy data error so I stopped my downloads
and all of a sudden my computer restarted by it self and
then I was like ok, then after system hardware get then
the screen before getting to windows I get an Error
loading operating system. So I let my computer cool down
for 20 minutes, thinking that might help, nope did
nothing, I was going to reinstall windows but I did not
want to format and lose anything would running a windows
emergency back up help? And how do u make one of those
disk? I went home to pick up a new hard drive with XP on
it and tried to see if I could see any data on my other
win2k drive but it said please format, any ideas of what I
can do?

Thanks