Windows becoming corrupted: what do I do, except panic?

pigeonpie

My ISP say the problem I am having is likely related to Windows on this PC being corrupted. Apart from backing up all NB data, what can I do? I have no idea about PCs and have no XP Pro disk, even if I did know how to uninstall and reinstall it (which I don't). It's been working, albeit a bit eccentrically, for a year now. We didn't want to take it in to get it fixed as it is the only PC, we need it daily and we thought the repair may make it worse.

It is a Dell Inspiron 5150 from 2003 and we would like to keep it going for a few years yet as has a screen and build quality you don't get any more.

Second, can we add an external hdd to this PC instead of backing up everything? How do we transfer data (USB stick?) to an external hdd? Any suggestions on what to get and what to do?

many thanks guys.

justpaper

dell wont cover u for a repair if its a software problem which it seems like u have,.u'll have too pay,. (i got the feeling u was on about sending it back to dell sorry if im wrong)

this might help one of ur problems,..

when u get in to windows ,.. click on start,. then RUN ,. then type in cmd,. then black dos box will popup,. and type in ,. chkdsk /F /R hit enter u will get a msg saying the drive is in use and some thing about doing the chkdsk at next start up,. type Y for yes and hit enter,. restart ur pc, and chkdsk will start and repair ur drive,.


http://www.pegasus-afs.com/eSupport/using_CHKDSK.htm

full details of chkdsk = check disk

and are u running ur winxp updates,. do u have a firewall and a antivirus program installed?

also download ccleaner.com read about it,.

johnmc

Second bit first;
You can buy a hardrive caddy with a USB connection from any decent computer store or there are loads on Ebay. Search for "usb drive". A caddy is normally the empty box and cable if you already have a drive.

First bit second :-)
You need to back up any information you have before doing anything.

I haven't tried this but there is a folder called i386 on your C drive. It is, I believe, possible to do a rebuild from that but I won't give any instructions until I've tried it.

Your licence is the sticker on your PC. As long as you've got that then anyones copy of the setup disks is valid. If you take a look on Ebay there are a few on there for sale.

You could always ask on here if anyone's got one for sale / hire!

Omertron

johnmc wrote:

Your licence is the sticker on your PC. As long as you've got that then anyones copy of the setup disks is valid. If you take a look on Ebay there are a few on there for sale.

Not strictly true. The licence key is only valid for the version of XP that they have on the machine, so it will differentiate between OEM, Retail, Pro, etc. so you'll have to make sure that you get the same version as on your machine. Best option is to get it from Dell (assuming its <£10)

pigeonpie

I have Norton Internet Security last year's version, soon to expire. I do run CCleaner regularly.
My PC went nuts after using a foreign ISP's installation CD. OE is unusable. I had someone look at the PC and they cannot see how to fix it, other than uninstall and reinstall Windows (XP Pro). That was 6 months ago. They said as it is working and you are reliant on it, back up your data regularly to CD-R (have no DVD drive) and see what happens.

I use Outlook sometimes; it receives 2 copies of every mail. Last week when I clicked Send and Receive it came up with a Windows pop up box 'Operation failed' (nothing else) and froze. I removed and re-added my user account - nada. Then 2 days later, it started working again (2 copies of each email again). That is why zen say they think it is a prob with Windows.

I have vital data on the PC and thought that perhaps an external hdd would protect it, if I copied the important stuff to it, but I wasn't sure that you could run one with a laptop. I use a hub as only have 2 USB ports so things get a bit full.

I will start by asking Dell for a back up of XP Pro if they will sell me one.
What is Norton Ghost? (sorry). I am too scared to try some of what's suggested myself as I really only know how to turn PCs on and off!

justpaper

just a note: i swapped Outlook for mozilla's thunderbird ages ago,.

http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird/ it will import all of ur stuff from outlook,. and i kinda looks like the same layout as outlook,.

better then out outlook me thinks :P

System

To re install a Dell system without a restore disk (as in, it came without one) when it starts up press Ctrl + F11 and it will allow you to restore it to as it came out the factory.

pigeonpie

I have to uninstall XP Pro first then? omg.

albertross_2

A factory restore, will as the name suggests put it back to the way it was when you bought it, but you will lose all your data and configuration you have done since then.

is the only problem your duplicate mail problem.

have you been to https://www.windowsupdate.com recently, if not, try it.