SOS - My Computer Is Failing - How to fix?

Restore didn't work. I tried a few different restore points and at the end it said it couldn't do it.

I think I need to dump some fonts in the windows folder.... like arial, verdana, trebuchet ms, new corrier, tahoma, times new roman, etc what do you think? anywhere to get these around?

 

I could send you my fonts folder.

Do you have a gmail account ?

 

No need. I found a backup on a cd-rom with all my fonts on it.

This helped. The start menu text and clock are still messed up but I can see program file lists now and applications are readable.

HOWEVER, when I rebooted, it deleted all my fonts in the windows fonts folder again.

Is this pointing to a registry issue?


(THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP EVERYBODY!)

 

At this point I would start burning all of your music, Pic, and Documents to CD or External drives and start thinking about Fdisk

Sorry man

J

 

If the problem hasn't been fixed after all that I would agree with Jason. It looks like your machine may have been infected with some type of smart Trojan.

Back-up whatever you value and re-install the operating system from scratch. For your future installation you may want to run a couple of free programs like Adaware & Spybot as well as perhaps using Firefox as your browser of choice. This may not guarantee immunity from nasty viruses but it will drastically reduce the chances of this happening again.

Truly sorry I couldn't have been more help Matt but the problem appears to be beyond a simple font issue. The operating system's registry is a "Pandora's Box" unless you are very computer savvy.

Sorry Matt. I know the feeling.....been there a couple of times myself. If you need help PM me.

Keep smiling

 

I have to agree with djnzlab1. I re-install windows like every 6 months so my computer is faster again if im using Windows Xp. However a great thing to do to get by not having to keep saving your files you want is to get another hard drive and save the stuff you like keeping to the second hard drive. I like djnzlab run linux on my second one on a different computer, which I am thinking about putting on this computer im using right now. Why you ask just the same reason he said ALOT safer and I dont have to keep restoring it every 6months. I will once again just suggest you save the stuff you want if you can find it and restore the computer matt sorry it has to be that way but gl to you

 

Hey Matt,

I've been working on computers now for 25+ years, maybe I can help.

1st off, you must have a virus. Do you have anti virus software? If not go here 1st go here and get this free anti-virus software save this program to a floppy disc, or CD for install later too.

I see that you cannot correct this problem using "system restore" that is because the corrupted files are in the restore files area. The way around that might be go back to the earliest restore date. If that does not help, and you have installed AVG anti-virus, and you have NO virus, you will have to restore your system using your original system restore disc that came with your system. You will need to try and backup your "My Documents" folder to a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. This will allow you to keep your pictures, favorites, documents, and music or what ever you have saved.
A problem will also arise, you may have saved the virus or corrupted file in your "My Documents" folder to the CD DVD we will get to that later.
When you start with a complete system re-install of your Windows XP OS you will have to get your system totally up to date from the window update services on the internet, be aware if you have dial up this will be an timely project. THIS IS A MUST Your computer is showing signs of hard disk corruption or virus activity. If you noticed thing changing on you computer then it was or is a virus. That is why it is important to install anti-virus software right after your updates are done. Then feel free to restore your "My Documents" disc you made earlier. The anti-virus will dectect any virus on the cd and will not transfer to you new system. Please feel free to send me email webmaster A T webcamhowto.com if your not sure of how to do what I described above.

Happy New Year All!

 

Do you have the winxp cd rom or was your system preinstalled
without providing you with a disc?
Have you tried system file checker?

Go to run box in start menu
type in sfc / scannow
will search and repair files .
may ask for winxp cd to replace some files needed though.

morejongg

 

I tried this ... it opened a dos window for a half a second and closed. That was it. I tried it twice. :-/

I was starting to wonder if this was a virus too.

I updated my AD-Aware SE and ran it. It found 14 critical errors which I had it fix. I have not rebooted since this.

I also ran 'FixMyPC' registry cleaner tool and it found a whole bunch of stuff which I had it fix. I rebooted it after that and it still had the font problem and deleted my fonts again.

This is a tough bugger!

I do have an external hard drive which I am going to move the rest of my must have files too today.

My windows XP is an upgrade disc so I'd have to reinstall windows 98 then install the upgrade again. I reallllyyy don't wan't to go through that.


I do have Norton Anti-Virus. I will have it run a scan now.

 

I have encountered some complicated viruses myself.Some couldnt be cleaned,some couldnt be quarantined.Your best freinds should be an external hard drive for saving important files.As for system restores not working well viruses love to hide and well to my excperience restores will not always help.You might wanna consider reinstalling your operating systems but please do save what you can before hand. If you still have the OS disk then reinstalling is more then likely the sure shot way.Also you might wanna consider replacing that norton anti virus with somethin else its not all that great possibly mcafee or panda something like those I have mcafee and that thing zaps viruses left and right