[Maffers]

Hi All,

Please help. My aunty has asked me if I could help her with her PC. Her PC starts up fine no probs but we can not click on anything on the desktop. Also the taskbar bar is frozen with an egg timer when you drag the cursor over it. When you put the cursor back up past the taskbar it becomes normal again. Very bizarre. Nothing in the background has changed, you just cant access anything. So I thinK I possibly have to start it in safe mode but as the pc is quite old I think, when I rebooted and went into the bios menu I couldnt see safe mode reboot.
I am confused. Any ideas please?
Thanks very much
Mark

[blues_harp28]

Hi and welcome.
What system is she using? Xp?

If Xp.and you can use the start button.
Start>run>type
sfc /scannow

You will need the Xp install Cd

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

[Maffers]

hiya, thanks for the reply. I think thats the problem, you can not click on the start button because of the egg timer. You cant do anything.

[blues_harp28]

Try tapping F8 at startup.
Choose Last known good configuration.

Or F8
Choose safe mode with command prompt.
Log on as an admin.
At command prompt type
%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

This is Win Xp?

[Maffers]

yes this is XP, I am gonna try on her machine again tomorrow night. So I will try what you have said. What will this do? Any idea why we cant click on anything and the taskbar (Start) always has the egg timer when you pull the cursor over it?

[blues_harp28]

Something is still loading up and stalling for some reason.
Once we can get you past this problem we will be able to see what is running at startup
and go on from there.

Is she running up to date Anti-virus and Spyware programs??

[Maffers]

ok, I am pretty sure she has got no antivirus or spyware programs running. I will run what you said tommorrow night, will it solve the problem? or is there additional stuff to do?

[blues_harp28]

Hi first job is to get it to boot to the desktop and be able to use programs etc.

If you can do that then d/load.
http://free.avg.com/ww.download-avg-...s-free-edition
http://www.superantispyware.com
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

D/load>check for updates and scan the system with them.

[Maffers]

ok will do that, thanks I will report back in next few days

[blues_harp28]

Ok keep us updated..and good luck.

[Maffers]

Hiya, I just tried to choose last config and it didnt work as the egg timer was still present in the taskbar and we couldnt access anything on the desktop. I also tried to access safe mode and safe mode with command prompt. It loads all the multidisk listings then switches to a blue screen and says "that problem has been detected and windows has shut down to prevent damage, reboot in safe mode", it then counts to 100 then reboots. It then comes up with another screen saying that windows shut down incorrectly, I select start in safe mode, it then loads on the multidisk listings again and then just sits there!! The tower doesnt even make a noise.
Any ideas on this please?
sounds like its knackered to me!
Cheers

[blues_harp28]

Do you have the Xp install Cd?

Boot from Xp Cd...when prompted press [R]
Choose Windows installation [typically by pressing [1]
When prompted for password.
Press Enter.
Type chkdsk /r [note space ]
Window will fix errors..
Type Exit.
Then press Enter.

[Maffers]

hiya, yes she does have the XP CD that she installed XP from. I did try this before you said about it, I put the cd in but it didnt run, the light on the disk kicks on but just stops. So shall I start up, when it has booted up, put cd in? it should run automatically shouldnt it?

[blues_harp28]

If it boots to desktop try.
Start>run>type
sfc /scannow

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

[Maffers]

but thats the problem I cant do anything on the desktop remember, cant click on anything