pc - big trouble

susy_2

Help, I ran out of disk space this week and so deleted some programs and thought I would obtain more space by defragmenting. When I checked it after the defrag it said there were problems and to run the chkdsk/r to check and repair. (At least I THINK it said chkdsk/r). I did this from the start box and it said it could not be done then, but could be scheduled to run at the next start up. I then restarted and chkdsk started to run, but I quickly became worried because it appeared to be deleting everything. I could not stop it and so switched the machine off. When I restarted, it wanted to run again but I cancelled it. To my horror, when my desktop came up, most of my icons were missing. When I looked in explorer, most of my programs are missing! When I try to access Program files, it says the file or directory is corrupted or unreadable and when I check the properies, it says there are no files in it. This comes up for most things I try to access. I cannot use outlook express but strangely though, I still have access to the internet, which I am using now to write this. I have tried to download a couple of things from the internet but obviously cannot write to the disk. I have a second drive as a slave and tried to download to that, but it will not let me open anything.

What did I do wrong and what can I do to make it better. Have I lost everything HEEEEEELP!

southernscouser

Do you have "system restore" under system tools in your start menu. this means you can make your PC go back to how it was a week ago for example before everything went wrong!

I'm no expert so others might be along soon with a better solution but this has worked for me in the past!

susy_2

Hi southernscouser

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Yes I do have system restore, which I should have said was the first thing I tried but it would not let me pick an earlier date. Nobody else has come along and I am desperate - is there anybody else out there with any suggestions - please!!

CIS

Whether you can repair xp without data loss depends on the PC. If its a brand name PC with recovery disks, you'll have to see if it gives you an option for the recovery console or to do a non-destructive repair installation of xp (every ones set up different,have a look on the manufacturers support website).

If you have the a full XP cd you can repair 99.9% of the time without losing data by trying on eof the options below.

Boot in to the xp recovery console (boot from an xp cd, and on the 1st screen you will see 3 options, one says press 'r' for recovery, press r and you access the recovery console) and type in chkdsk /restore (it WONT delete files using this command) and sit back whilst it does it jobs. When it's finished, reboot and hopefully all will be well.

If that doesn't work, you'll need to do a recovery install of xp. See here for information http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

sionnach_2

Did you use add/remove from control panel to delete programs?

glosman555

If none of the advice you have been given works try this.
http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/uk/welcome.htm

Hintza

Ah in the days of my youth I killed a PC like this. Not the person to keep you right but get another Hard Drive (if and when you are sorted).

susy_2

Thanks to you all for your replies.

CIS - your reply seems quite technical, I am not a complete novice, but might take me a little time to get my head round this one.

You said 'it WONT delete files using this command', but it DID delete files using this command. How can I be sure that it won't continue to delete the rest of the files when I use it again.

Obviously, I have come to the conclusion that I have a virus of some sort (must have slipped by avg). I am trying to track any down using whatever virus progs will run on my system as it is currently. Haven't found anything yet. Is it important that I track the virus first before attempting recovery?

p.s forgot to mention that I do not have recovery disks, but I do have an xp disk somewhere which I assume is a full one. Will I get my missing data and programs back if I do a recovery?

sionnach - yes I did where possible, but not all programmes are added to this.

glosman555 - will look into it, thanks

Hintza - have been here more than once before in a previous life!!! As I said, I have two hard drives on at the mo, because of previous problems. Thought I was better protected now, seems not - do I ever learn, or is it just impossible to totally protect from virus's?


further update - I have run the free registry mechanic scan which tells me that I have 6801 errors!!!! (oh no!). Each of the errors is accompanied with the following line - ? priority, value is invalid - set to delete (this also includes some Hkeys's). It also says 3151 itmes are restricted but I don't know what this means

Mr_Skint_2

Try this Download and install Tweak UI 7th down http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx Then once installed go to, Start, All Programs, Powertoys, TweakUI, and choose repair from the left hand side and go through one by one to repair stuff.

Also get a firewall if you aint got one...http://smb.sygate.com/products/spf_standard.htm

Also If you have the XP CD pop it in the CD tray, then close it down if it starts up the do this, Click on, Start, Run, "Type" sfc /scannow take note of the space between sfc and /.......

If you wish to run a scan on an XP machine do it like this

Double Click My Computer Icon, Right Hand Click the drive (C:) choose
properties, Then the Tools Tab, Click on CheckNow, put the two ticks in
then start, then Restart your PC and it will perform a scan
on the restart of your machine..

I hope some of the above helps :beer:

susy_2

Thanks Mr Skint (me too)

Still trying to check for virus's first and then will work my way through replies.

A further note. Each time I restart my system, it tries to continue with the chkdsk/r! How do I get rid of this?

Mr_Skint_2

Can you just let it finish...??

http://help.lockergnome.com/lofiversion/index.php/t25251.html does this help at all as im not too sure what you get on screen....

or this http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-289491.php