help i seem to have broke my computer

frisbee

Please help, i seem to have lost all the applications on my computer. I had a message appear that i had a virus so i ran one of the clean up programs listed on the sticky. It detected 36 viruses, some were deleted some could not be deleted I had a message to install my windows xp startup disc as some programs had been replaced.i could not find it so shut the computer down.when i restarted it all i get when i log in is my screen saver page, no icons, no tool bar.is there any way i can restore my settings. i am a complete techno phobe.

latecomer

Probably the first thing to do is to try booting it into safe mode.
turn the pc on and keep pressing F8 and this should bring up a boot menu. Select safe mode and then see if it starts up correctly.

frisbee

hi thanks for your reply, i tried pressing f8 but nothing happened, the windows xp page comes up, then log in,then it says loading your personal settings then after that all i get is wallpaper.

latecomer

You need to start pressing F8 as soon as press the on button. Once it starts loading windows its too late.

What make of PC is it? custom or something "off the shelf"?

latecomer

Also when I said press F8 I meant repeatedly press it (in case that wasn't obvious!)

BritBrat

Tap it every second, DO NOT HOLD IT DOWN.

frisbee

Thanks for the advice its just not happening for me, i tried a few times pressing f8 as soon as i switch on then repeatedly pressing but windows is loading up everytime.should i take it to get looked at as i am so dumb.how much should i expect to pay.

mdbarber

Some systemss don't support usb keyboards without windows loading so that is a high possibility of you not being able to get into safe mode.
Can you get hold of and fit a PS2 keyboard, that is the type with a small round 5 pin connector

Donnie

Have you managed to find your Windows XP Disc?
Which 'Clean up' program did you utilise?
Is there important information you would like to save before proceeding?
When you get to your Screensaver page, does pressing the Flying Windows key on the keyboard have any effect?

jaydeeuk1

If you aren't able to press f8 during bootup, you could try and force windows to load the boot option menu by pressing power of while loading the XP splash screen. It will then say something like 'Windows XP failed to load up successfully' upon rebooting. The USB keyboard should be working at this point, and be able to select 'safe mode'.

Otherwise, get a usb->ps2 adapter

BritBrat

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

Otherwise, get a usb->ps2 adapter

That is a good idea I had never thought of that.

I keep an old PS2 keyboard and mouse for the problem of them not being detected on bootup.

Thanks.

I am sure I have one of them somewhere.

Yup, found it and will try it next time, live and learn.