Win2000Pro Freezes periodically online or on my desktop
Sometimes when I open a program or go online (have a mix of IE5 and 6 which has been since day one). So I hit the TaskManager to stop the task. This creates yet more problems and more boxes freeze. Soon it says "Error" in TM which becomes another frozen box. They will pile up ten deep or as long as I try to close windows and error boxes. I have to reboot (then it scans before coming back) to regain control. Then we just do it again (maybe three or four times per day....more if I'm more active here).
There is no pattern to this. It sometimes will say something like "cannot close because program is being debugged." It will indicate I should allow this task to finish or I should do something about it. I wait and wait and wait. It finishes (blue bar fills) and doesn't do a thing for the OS. I have no clue about "debugging." This also freezes so I have yet one or two or more layers of boxes frozen on the screen. It gets pretty messy.
I just spent the better part of a week getting my system to work and yet some of the old errors are still there. This (above) existed before and after running many diagnostics (Avast!; ZoneAlarm; PestPatrol; Adaware; Spybot; Spyware Doctor; Register Mechanic). Got rid of hundreds of "bugs"! The computer (or I) will hurl if this doesn't stop!
Spyware Doctor is nasty if running in the tray so I have to disable it and run it manually. It just now caused me to have to log in to every single page here that I clicked on only to caution about a bad cookie (I allow ALL cookies). I'd start on the page I AGAIN logged in to, and it would ask for me to log in again. This went on about 12 times until I realized it was Spyware Doctor and "strangled the little booger." With it gone from tray I can get around in here, AND you remember me as it is meant to be! ;)
I disallow Spyware Doctor because I don't know how to tell it what to leave alone either out here online or on my desktop (it prevents a handy little program I have running at all times, and I think I hate the thing already!).
Thanks for any helps. Break it into two parts if you wish. It's just all muddled in my tired head if you can appreciate how hard I've worked to save from a complete format spending $60 for PCTools programs over the weekend! Oy! I thought by yesterday I'd be humming along like brand new after about 200 "bugs" were cleared! NOT! Well, whatever....
Lindsay
There is no pattern to this. It sometimes will say something like "cannot close because program is being debugged." It will indicate I should allow this task to finish or I should do something about it. I wait and wait and wait. It finishes (blue bar fills) and doesn't do a thing for the OS. I have no clue about "debugging." This also freezes so I have yet one or two or more layers of boxes frozen on the screen. It gets pretty messy.
I just spent the better part of a week getting my system to work and yet some of the old errors are still there. This (above) existed before and after running many diagnostics (Avast!; ZoneAlarm; PestPatrol; Adaware; Spybot; Spyware Doctor; Register Mechanic). Got rid of hundreds of "bugs"! The computer (or I) will hurl if this doesn't stop!
Spyware Doctor is nasty if running in the tray so I have to disable it and run it manually. It just now caused me to have to log in to every single page here that I clicked on only to caution about a bad cookie (I allow ALL cookies). I'd start on the page I AGAIN logged in to, and it would ask for me to log in again. This went on about 12 times until I realized it was Spyware Doctor and "strangled the little booger." With it gone from tray I can get around in here, AND you remember me as it is meant to be! ;)
I disallow Spyware Doctor because I don't know how to tell it what to leave alone either out here online or on my desktop (it prevents a handy little program I have running at all times, and I think I hate the thing already!).
Thanks for any helps. Break it into two parts if you wish. It's just all muddled in my tired head if you can appreciate how hard I've worked to save from a complete format spending $60 for PCTools programs over the weekend! Oy! I thought by yesterday I'd be humming along like brand new after about 200 "bugs" were cleared! NOT! Well, whatever....
Lindsay
ASKER
Took most of last night and today but I got it done. To no avail. It's messier and slower than ever! Took three minutes to type that last sentence. I'm typing "in the dark." I have Spyware Doctor, and it's not helping. I think it's making things worse. I keep losing the ability to type in these windows or any fields and have to reinstall evertying to do with IE. I'm going to formate and install. Is there something that comes before using the first boot disk? Will it walk me through all that?
I won't be able to answer. The rest of that paragraph above took five minutes to show letters. So be explicit, and I'll come read it. First step? Then what. When do you use the boot disks? This is ALL blank. I can see nothing of what I am typing. I have to wait a while and come back to see if it makes sense. Thank you.
That took another 5-6 minutes. I'm quitting. I hope someone sees this because I've had it with the mess of Trojans, malware, worms, viri and whatnot that are picked up daily by three or four programs. DONE
I won't be able to answer. The rest of that paragraph above took five minutes to show letters. So be explicit, and I'll come read it. First step? Then what. When do you use the boot disks? This is ALL blank. I can see nothing of what I am typing. I have to wait a while and come back to see if it makes sense. Thank you.
That took another 5-6 minutes. I'm quitting. I hope someone sees this because I've had it with the mess of Trojans, malware, worms, viri and whatnot that are picked up daily by three or four programs. DONE
ASKER
I'm becaise I just ran iefix after installing IE6. BUT now I know why my version always shows IE5! It's because the fix is IE5 and so is my CD! When this system was first on here it started as ver 5 and then I upgraded gradually to IE6! So I have a conglomerate of 5 and 6 and who knows what else. No wonder this thing is dizzy, and I'm exhausted.
It's working now (that can stop in a second), but sure as rain something will weasle in and get it all messed up again, and I don't know how to fix without the full format.
Why so many "bugs" lately? I mean I can't make it a day without a few if not a lot! These were always caught before landing, and now they worm their way in and create the messes I've dealt with for almost two weeks now.
I will do the format to see if I can get the IE6 "fix" somehow. But again, I need to know what the very first step is to tearing this system down. I have copied ALL my files, other data, music files, photos, downloaded programs, you name it, I got it on CD and Zips.
So I will begin by............? 1) Insert first boot disk? What happens? Does this lead me through the other three and then to the CD with MS2000 on it? I am trying to avoid the endless loop I got into almost a year ago when I'd start the install process (this was without boot disks...just put in CD after I did a c:\format (never again that way). It would almost make it clear to the end and then it would crash.
I lost count of how many times I had to restart, answer questions, waste hours. Finally as I was about ready to smack it it finished and was installed, and for many months this thing worked like a class act. I didn't have many problems with "bugs" until early this year and nothing like right now. Are there more out there? Are the AV companies just not up to speed? I hate this!
Help me if you can. I'll probably check this out about noon (PDT) Friday to see if anyone rescues me from myself.
Thanks.
It's working now (that can stop in a second), but sure as rain something will weasle in and get it all messed up again, and I don't know how to fix without the full format.
Why so many "bugs" lately? I mean I can't make it a day without a few if not a lot! These were always caught before landing, and now they worm their way in and create the messes I've dealt with for almost two weeks now.
I will do the format to see if I can get the IE6 "fix" somehow. But again, I need to know what the very first step is to tearing this system down. I have copied ALL my files, other data, music files, photos, downloaded programs, you name it, I got it on CD and Zips.
So I will begin by............? 1) Insert first boot disk? What happens? Does this lead me through the other three and then to the CD with MS2000 on it? I am trying to avoid the endless loop I got into almost a year ago when I'd start the install process (this was without boot disks...just put in CD after I did a c:\format (never again that way). It would almost make it clear to the end and then it would crash.
I lost count of how many times I had to restart, answer questions, waste hours. Finally as I was about ready to smack it it finished and was installed, and for many months this thing worked like a class act. I didn't have many problems with "bugs" until early this year and nothing like right now. Are there more out there? Are the AV companies just not up to speed? I hate this!
Help me if you can. I'll probably check this out about noon (PDT) Friday to see if anyone rescues me from myself.
Thanks.
I do not envy you your position.
Have you checked the event logs - is there anything in there. Are you able to check the event logs.
Is there any indication this may be a hardware issue - do you have anyway of testing this? For instance a spare drive you can build a test OS on to see if the problem persists?
Failing all this a rebuild may be your best bet.
Have you checked the event logs - is there anything in there. Are you able to check the event logs.
Is there any indication this may be a hardware issue - do you have anyway of testing this? For instance a spare drive you can build a test OS on to see if the problem persists?
Failing all this a rebuild may be your best bet.
ASKER
Event logs? As in "manage" when rightclicking MyComputer? Lots of errors. They don't tell me anything as I don't have that much knowledge.
Doubt it's hardware. Think it's a mismatch of IE5 with IE6 and in wrong ways due to running IEfix which reverts system back to IE5. Wish there was one of these for IE6. My system does this when I use the fix or the SFC \scannow. That's when everything really got bad (after I realized I had bugs in there).
I just want the FIRST step to formatting (someone said to use CD....that scares me as it was a near disaster last June). I read on MS site I believe that using Boot disks I made would guide me through. CORRECT?
THE QUESTION IS SIMPLY THIS: Do I just put the first boot disk in drive A:? And do I just follow along whereupon at some point it gets the Windows CD involved?
This thing is working now, but it does this in between huge periods of time I cannot do anything or I have to wait many minutes for anything to appear or change or whatever.
I'm just ready to dump it and start over. Had I done this last weekend as I was tempted, I'd be clean and running. No one gives me STEP ONE then STEP TWO and what to expect and do when.
CAN ANYONE JUST GET ME THOSE FIRST FEW STEPS TO FORMATTING, PLEASE? I've been waiting for this to be answered for days now! Or doesn't anyone ever format their harddrive and reinstall Win2000? I read about "clean install" and "reinstall" but what happens when the hard drive is bare "nekked"? That's the part I remember last year and all I know is it did boot into the CD and then the looping around and around without QUITE finishing so that it had to be repeated MANY times.
How do I avoid the looping? Use the boot disks?
Answer quickly as this system may go nuts at any point. Thanks so much. I'll "try" to get back here.
I'm also no longer receiving notices from here for some odd reason. I almost didn't come as a mail check an hour ago revealed nothing from here. ???
Lindsay
Doubt it's hardware. Think it's a mismatch of IE5 with IE6 and in wrong ways due to running IEfix which reverts system back to IE5. Wish there was one of these for IE6. My system does this when I use the fix or the SFC \scannow. That's when everything really got bad (after I realized I had bugs in there).
I just want the FIRST step to formatting (someone said to use CD....that scares me as it was a near disaster last June). I read on MS site I believe that using Boot disks I made would guide me through. CORRECT?
THE QUESTION IS SIMPLY THIS: Do I just put the first boot disk in drive A:? And do I just follow along whereupon at some point it gets the Windows CD involved?
This thing is working now, but it does this in between huge periods of time I cannot do anything or I have to wait many minutes for anything to appear or change or whatever.
I'm just ready to dump it and start over. Had I done this last weekend as I was tempted, I'd be clean and running. No one gives me STEP ONE then STEP TWO and what to expect and do when.
CAN ANYONE JUST GET ME THOSE FIRST FEW STEPS TO FORMATTING, PLEASE? I've been waiting for this to be answered for days now! Or doesn't anyone ever format their harddrive and reinstall Win2000? I read about "clean install" and "reinstall" but what happens when the hard drive is bare "nekked"? That's the part I remember last year and all I know is it did boot into the CD and then the looping around and around without QUITE finishing so that it had to be repeated MANY times.
How do I avoid the looping? Use the boot disks?
Answer quickly as this system may go nuts at any point. Thanks so much. I'll "try" to get back here.
I'm also no longer receiving notices from here for some odd reason. I almost didn't come as a mail check an hour ago revealed nothing from here. ???
Lindsay
Here is what I did.
This is dependent on how much free space you have.
1. Boot into the recovery console (option provided if you boot off the CD)
2. Rename the Winnt, Documents and Settings, Program Files, Recycled, System Volume Information files to something else
3. Move / Rename / Delete boot.ini in the root directory.
4. Reboot off CD and go through process to install new version of Win2k - don't elect to format drive - select existing partition and install to that.
When you are done you will have a completely fresh install of Win2k with all the files from your original installation in renamed folders. You can now in your own time copy out the files you want from the old install (Docs, images, mail files etc) to the new installation.
This way there is no oops I formatted a drive with some data I wanted to keep. It is predicated on you having about 1GB disk free to do the install. Once you have got the new installation up and running you can start freeing up more disk space by deleting unnecessary files from the old Installation - if required - before putting on the service packs, security updates, applications etc.
This is dependent on how much free space you have.
1. Boot into the recovery console (option provided if you boot off the CD)
2. Rename the Winnt, Documents and Settings, Program Files, Recycled, System Volume Information files to something else
3. Move / Rename / Delete boot.ini in the root directory.
4. Reboot off CD and go through process to install new version of Win2k - don't elect to format drive - select existing partition and install to that.
When you are done you will have a completely fresh install of Win2k with all the files from your original installation in renamed folders. You can now in your own time copy out the files you want from the old install (Docs, images, mail files etc) to the new installation.
This way there is no oops I formatted a drive with some data I wanted to keep. It is predicated on you having about 1GB disk free to do the install. Once you have got the new installation up and running you can start freeing up more disk space by deleting unnecessary files from the old Installation - if required - before putting on the service packs, security updates, applications etc.
ASKER
That looks complicated. I'll come back when I can get a screen shot of it. Spyware Doctor disabled my wonderful Screen Shot program, and I can't use it!
I have ALL my files saved and know the few I need to save since I did all that CD burning. ;)
Thanks for the details. I'd still love to know the format from (1) on as in "insert boot disk 1" do xxxxxxx. After all that I want to know why using the CD last year got caught in the almost endless loop of restarting just before it finished installing. Must have taken about four hours to finally get it past that last point. That's really ALL I want to know. It's THE ONE sticky point. Perhaps the boot disks take care of that happening (didn't have them last year).
Does anyone know how to get the full format so that the CD doesn't start and restart and start and restart just before it's fully installed?
Thankewe.
I have ALL my files saved and know the few I need to save since I did all that CD burning. ;)
Thanks for the details. I'd still love to know the format from (1) on as in "insert boot disk 1" do xxxxxxx. After all that I want to know why using the CD last year got caught in the almost endless loop of restarting just before it finished installing. Must have taken about four hours to finally get it past that last point. That's really ALL I want to know. It's THE ONE sticky point. Perhaps the boot disks take care of that happening (didn't have them last year).
Does anyone know how to get the full format so that the CD doesn't start and restart and start and restart just before it's fully installed?
Thankewe.
No the boot disks won't help in this regard. All they do is get you to the point where the CD takes over and are really for machines that don't have boot from CD options.
The endless loop of restarting, I think has to do with a problem with the boot.ini - something gets screwed up there. I had it once before - I removed the boot.ini file and renamed all the other relevant folders and tried again - worked fine the second time round.
One trick is to remove the CD after the first phase is complete - or else make sure the boot from CD option is turned off - this could also be a potential cause of the problem.
The endless loop of restarting, I think has to do with a problem with the boot.ini - something gets screwed up there. I had it once before - I removed the boot.ini file and renamed all the other relevant folders and tried again - worked fine the second time round.
One trick is to remove the CD after the first phase is complete - or else make sure the boot from CD option is turned off - this could also be a potential cause of the problem.
ASKER
Phooey, something got the message and POOF! Gone.
Julian, can you please go more slowly and spell this out. I think you know my problem with the CD! I don't know how or when to rename any files! The hard drive would be empty I assume, and you can't write to the CD. Nothing else figures.
Start with THE VERY FIRST STEP (think "format hard drive" and go step by step) and how you do what when and rename what, when, where, please, please.
You're getting to the place where I could relax IF I do format and begin again. I don't want to do the idea way up that you suggested. That much work I want a CLEAN reinstall on a formatted hard drive IF I go that direction. Things are working pretty well just now. I've spent HOURS getting junk out of the system (lots of them). I think there are simply a LOT more attacks on us of late. I've never had so many worms, trojans, viri, malware or whatever on this system, and I've never had it so protected!
Thanks a lot.
Lindsay
Julian, can you please go more slowly and spell this out. I think you know my problem with the CD! I don't know how or when to rename any files! The hard drive would be empty I assume, and you can't write to the CD. Nothing else figures.
Start with THE VERY FIRST STEP (think "format hard drive" and go step by step) and how you do what when and rename what, when, where, please, please.
You're getting to the place where I could relax IF I do format and begin again. I don't want to do the idea way up that you suggested. That much work I want a CLEAN reinstall on a formatted hard drive IF I go that direction. Things are working pretty well just now. I've spent HOURS getting junk out of the system (lots of them). I think there are simply a LOT more attacks on us of late. I've never had so many worms, trojans, viri, malware or whatever on this system, and I've never had it so protected!
Thanks a lot.
Lindsay
Hi Lindsay,
Clean install on formatted disk is always best. I do it the other way because moving data on and off the machine is a real mission.
Ok, if it is a clean install then no need to delete / rename anything (Backup your data tho ;) )
1. Set machine to boot of CD
2. Put Install CD in CDROM and reboot machine. If necessary select option to boot of CD
3. Proceed through the installation selecting the options for new install.
4. When you get to the screen that shows you your drive partitions (the one with the half the screen at the bottom enclosed in a rectangle with the partitions listed) go through the steps to remove the partition - I think you have to select the partition and press 'D' then it gives you a confirmation screen and you have to push 'L' or something. Anyway it is pretty clear.
5. Create a new partition pressing 'C' I think - create the partition according to your requirements - make it at least 10GB if you can though.
6. Select the new partition to install to
7. Select NTFS as the file system format option
8. Follow instructions to get install going.
9. After the install has copied installation files it will reboot the workstation AT THIS POINT remove the CD from the CD ROM before the machine starts the boot process. The idea is to stop the system booting off the CD again.
At this stage the system should restart into the second half of the installation process.
I compiled this out of my head but you have any specific questions let me know and I will go through the build in a virutal machine and feedback to you.
Clean install on formatted disk is always best. I do it the other way because moving data on and off the machine is a real mission.
Ok, if it is a clean install then no need to delete / rename anything (Backup your data tho ;) )
1. Set machine to boot of CD
2. Put Install CD in CDROM and reboot machine. If necessary select option to boot of CD
3. Proceed through the installation selecting the options for new install.
4. When you get to the screen that shows you your drive partitions (the one with the half the screen at the bottom enclosed in a rectangle with the partitions listed) go through the steps to remove the partition - I think you have to select the partition and press 'D' then it gives you a confirmation screen and you have to push 'L' or something. Anyway it is pretty clear.
5. Create a new partition pressing 'C' I think - create the partition according to your requirements - make it at least 10GB if you can though.
6. Select the new partition to install to
7. Select NTFS as the file system format option
8. Follow instructions to get install going.
9. After the install has copied installation files it will reboot the workstation AT THIS POINT remove the CD from the CD ROM before the machine starts the boot process. The idea is to stop the system booting off the CD again.
At this stage the system should restart into the second half of the installation process.
I compiled this out of my head but you have any specific questions let me know and I will go through the build in a virutal machine and feedback to you.
ASKER
I'll go over this (printing just this last part). What if I want three partitions (I think it's talked about above or maybe that was another question I had earlier).
Thanks for the helps! I am running very nicely right now. I just wonder why it shows IE as ver 5 in the system area, but everywhere else it shows what it truly is: IE 6! This is weird stuff.
Right now I'm getting ready to do a better burn of photos (many GBs of them) to CDs. I had them on CD-RWs (NOT for photo archiving). Got all my data and stuff I need from all over the place. That took a LONG LONG time to assemble. At least I have it except for this week's stuff.
Lindsay
Thanks for the helps! I am running very nicely right now. I just wonder why it shows IE as ver 5 in the system area, but everywhere else it shows what it truly is: IE 6! This is weird stuff.
Right now I'm getting ready to do a better burn of photos (many GBs of them) to CDs. I had them on CD-RWs (NOT for photo archiving). Got all my data and stuff I need from all over the place. That took a LONG LONG time to assemble. At least I have it except for this week's stuff.
Lindsay
ASKER
Oh, BTW, if I partition three ways can I install programs in the alternate drive with the "guts" going into the other partition for WINNT? I had a six-way partition one time when a consultant did it to a whole 80 MB if you can imagine. Of course, programmers wrote very efficient programs when they only had 20 MB to hold Windows AND all our programs (wish they'd program more tightly again!). ONE small folder of photos will take 80 MB or MORE, much more, now! I do not know what that man was thinking! But I remember the convenience of keeping downloaded programs and data over in a "safe" place (but I'd still burn to CD periodically). I could format one partition and still keep things as they were (this was about 10 years ago or so).
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
There are various strategies around partitions - personally I prefer simplicity. A system partition of around 20MB and the rest for data etc. However, it depends on your particular situation and how you will use your machine. From a perspective or restoring or rebuilding 2 or more partitions make sense. Your system partition is throw away - i.e. there is nothing that is stored on their that needs backing up. All data etc is stored on the second partition (as you mention in your last post). Once your system is built you can now ghost the the system partition and keep a copy for rapid restoring or rebuild the long way from the CD without having to first extract your data etc.
You can create multiple partitions and then install apps to the other partitions. The common stuff (WINNT and WINNT\SYSTEM32) will still have to go to the system partition but the rest of the files can go to any partition.
IE 6.0 - what does IE itself report IE -> Help -> About?
You can create multiple partitions and then install apps to the other partitions. The common stuff (WINNT and WINNT\SYSTEM32) will still have to go to the system partition but the rest of the files can go to any partition.
IE 6.0 - what does IE itself report IE -> Help -> About?
ASKER
Julian, you said:
>All data etc is stored on the second partition (as you mention in your last post).
>Once your system is built you can now ghost the the system partition and keep a copy >for rapid restoring or rebuild the long way from the CD without having to first extract >your data etc.
Not sure what you mean about "ghost" of system partition and keeping a copy. Can you break that down a bit more simply. Boy I don't know a lot. ;) I know more than many, but you guys blow me away with your language/knowledge. I just sometimes don't know meanings of words or phrases as used in a tech sense so please bear with me. I want to get it right in case I do have a crash and have to rebuild the system.
Thanks again. You're doing great.
Lindsay
>All data etc is stored on the second partition (as you mention in your last post).
>Once your system is built you can now ghost the the system partition and keep a copy >for rapid restoring or rebuild the long way from the CD without having to first extract >your data etc.
Not sure what you mean about "ghost" of system partition and keeping a copy. Can you break that down a bit more simply. Boy I don't know a lot. ;) I know more than many, but you guys blow me away with your language/knowledge. I just sometimes don't know meanings of words or phrases as used in a tech sense so please bear with me. I want to get it right in case I do have a crash and have to rebuild the system.
Thanks again. You're doing great.
Lindsay
>> Boy I don't know a lot. ;) I know more than many, but you guys blow me away with your language/knowledge
Actually its a very thin layer of terminology - I find out more each day how little I actually know proving that the more you learn the less you actually know ... ;)
Ghost is a product - Norton Ghost - it is a tool that basically takes a snapshot of a disk or partition from which you can restore an entire disk or partition or copy a machine build. It is used a lot by procurement outfits that have to build a lot of the same PC's - they build 1 PC according to a standard, Ghost it and then role the image out to as many other PC's as needed. This can also be used to restore a system if it goes haywire. The install process from a Ghost image takes 5-10 minutes which is quite attractive compared to the normal build process.
There are restrictions though - it is a good idea to use like on like - so don't take a ghost from one type of hardware and use it on another - it may work but then again it may not.
Ghost is an option - I just used it as an example of one strategy you can use to backup your system. There are other products on the market that will do the same or similar including some products that will keep 1 or more snapshots with the option to roll back to any one.
Hope that answers the question.
Actually its a very thin layer of terminology - I find out more each day how little I actually know proving that the more you learn the less you actually know ... ;)
Ghost is a product - Norton Ghost - it is a tool that basically takes a snapshot of a disk or partition from which you can restore an entire disk or partition or copy a machine build. It is used a lot by procurement outfits that have to build a lot of the same PC's - they build 1 PC according to a standard, Ghost it and then role the image out to as many other PC's as needed. This can also be used to restore a system if it goes haywire. The install process from a Ghost image takes 5-10 minutes which is quite attractive compared to the normal build process.
There are restrictions though - it is a good idea to use like on like - so don't take a ghost from one type of hardware and use it on another - it may work but then again it may not.
Ghost is an option - I just used it as an example of one strategy you can use to backup your system. There are other products on the market that will do the same or similar including some products that will keep 1 or more snapshots with the option to roll back to any one.
Hope that answers the question.
ASKER
Why not just use the ERDNT? That has gotten me out of hot water while I've been working through my problems here more than once! I have "ghost" in my programs, but I think it's just a piece of it. I have the CD which seems to have Ghost on it. I'm just not clear about using it. When it all falls down I tend to think "FORMAT"! ;) This time I just kept plugging away, and it's doing pretty good. I know there are a few mild problems, but they seem to be erratic. Error messages at odd times and so forth. Never consistent. Sometimes I'll get one trying to open O.E. or closing it or restarting the computer. Just now and then. I run "bugware" and things clear up or they just go away on their own.
I remember that format last June and I thought my problems were all over! Ha! It was no time at all until things seemed out of hand once more so that's why I have been dragging my feet. BUT I need to know EXACTLY what I'm doing in case this sucker should freeze up like it did with a Trojan in 2003 (cost me a ton! And the consultants really did me wrong which has taught me to FORMAT when in doubt.
I'm just having problems with my CD burner. I can burn CD-RWs, but the CD-Rs are moody. I'll get one or two and POOF! nothing more. I need to put photos on CD-R per the photo magazine wizards. I guess they degrade on CD-RWs. I just wish I had a huge Zip drive (have the small one). I think those things are great, but it's not "universal" which presents a real problem. BUT some CDs won't read in my DVD drive and some will. So if something happens to the Iomega burner I would have to get the CDs to a company that could pull off the photos. Sigh! This all has exhausted me. I really just want to save my photos and data and feel safe for once (since putting on Win2000 I could not use my wonderful HP CD burner).
Iomega will work with me. They are great people. I just get tired of working with everyone, even here as it takes a LOT of time. Windows has to be stable and right before I go after techies for hardware problems and so on and so forth.
Let's BE SURE I know what to do if I crash. I'll put the photos on CD-RWs temporarily JUST IN CASE (JIC)! I have your notes from above. If that's all I need just send me sympathy in advance in case I don't show up for a week or so. ;) Guess I could use my neighbor's computer in a pinch except she works odd hours, but it's a possibility. We now use my Hotmail account as verizon.net is not working for e-mail alerts for some stupid reason. Works for everything else except you and Webshots!
Thankewe!! You're being very nice, and I appreciate it. I'll close this the instant I know I have ALL the secrets to: 1. CRASH! 2. Decide what comes then. 3. Figure out what to do when 2 is deciphered and so on. ;) I think you've done it. I'm just Windows challenged more than usual due to fatigue.
Lindsay
I remember that format last June and I thought my problems were all over! Ha! It was no time at all until things seemed out of hand once more so that's why I have been dragging my feet. BUT I need to know EXACTLY what I'm doing in case this sucker should freeze up like it did with a Trojan in 2003 (cost me a ton! And the consultants really did me wrong which has taught me to FORMAT when in doubt.
I'm just having problems with my CD burner. I can burn CD-RWs, but the CD-Rs are moody. I'll get one or two and POOF! nothing more. I need to put photos on CD-R per the photo magazine wizards. I guess they degrade on CD-RWs. I just wish I had a huge Zip drive (have the small one). I think those things are great, but it's not "universal" which presents a real problem. BUT some CDs won't read in my DVD drive and some will. So if something happens to the Iomega burner I would have to get the CDs to a company that could pull off the photos. Sigh! This all has exhausted me. I really just want to save my photos and data and feel safe for once (since putting on Win2000 I could not use my wonderful HP CD burner).
Iomega will work with me. They are great people. I just get tired of working with everyone, even here as it takes a LOT of time. Windows has to be stable and right before I go after techies for hardware problems and so on and so forth.
Let's BE SURE I know what to do if I crash. I'll put the photos on CD-RWs temporarily JUST IN CASE (JIC)! I have your notes from above. If that's all I need just send me sympathy in advance in case I don't show up for a week or so. ;) Guess I could use my neighbor's computer in a pinch except she works odd hours, but it's a possibility. We now use my Hotmail account as verizon.net is not working for e-mail alerts for some stupid reason. Works for everything else except you and Webshots!
Thankewe!! You're being very nice, and I appreciate it. I'll close this the instant I know I have ALL the secrets to: 1. CRASH! 2. Decide what comes then. 3. Figure out what to do when 2 is deciphered and so on. ;) I think you've done it. I'm just Windows challenged more than usual due to fatigue.
Lindsay
No problem.
ERDNT - is the is the Emergency Repair Disk ? If so it is not quite the same as Ghost - as I understand it. The emergency repair disk will only save parts of your configuration (critical registry info etc). Ghost will save the entire drive to an image that can then be written to another drive or CD / DVD. So for instance I build my Windows 2000 box to SP4 with Office, IE 6.0 and all the service packs and security updates but I haven't used the new machine yet. I run Ghost against my system partition and create a Ghost image - say cdrive.gho. Size will vary depending on if you use compression or not and how much is on your drive - should be around 900MB.
If the system crashes instead of formatting you run ghost against this image - restores your system EXACTLY to how it was when you took the image - it will be binary identical - as though you had formatted and reinstalled - only it will have taken you 10min instead of 1-2 hours.
I am formatting and rebuilding 2000 / XP boxes all the time - it is not too bad providing your hardware is fairly new and you have all the drivers you need. The most important thing before killing your machine is getting all the drivers that you will need to install Internet connectivity to your machine. Once you have an internet connection back the rest can be solved from there - so make sure you have the right installation software for whatever equipement you need to access the net. Other than that check once more that you have all your data - best to backup your entire profile directory just in case.
That's all I can think of for now.
Good luck
ERDNT - is the is the Emergency Repair Disk ? If so it is not quite the same as Ghost - as I understand it. The emergency repair disk will only save parts of your configuration (critical registry info etc). Ghost will save the entire drive to an image that can then be written to another drive or CD / DVD. So for instance I build my Windows 2000 box to SP4 with Office, IE 6.0 and all the service packs and security updates but I haven't used the new machine yet. I run Ghost against my system partition and create a Ghost image - say cdrive.gho. Size will vary depending on if you use compression or not and how much is on your drive - should be around 900MB.
If the system crashes instead of formatting you run ghost against this image - restores your system EXACTLY to how it was when you took the image - it will be binary identical - as though you had formatted and reinstalled - only it will have taken you 10min instead of 1-2 hours.
I am formatting and rebuilding 2000 / XP boxes all the time - it is not too bad providing your hardware is fairly new and you have all the drivers you need. The most important thing before killing your machine is getting all the drivers that you will need to install Internet connectivity to your machine. Once you have an internet connection back the rest can be solved from there - so make sure you have the right installation software for whatever equipement you need to access the net. Other than that check once more that you have all your data - best to backup your entire profile directory just in case.
That's all I can think of for now.
Good luck
ASKER
Julian, she crashed Saturday evening! I followed your instructions. Couldn't get the three partitions (anywhere!). So I had it format something like 24,xxx MB of space or whatever! It now has TWO C:/ showing, but it doesn't matter. I noticed them when I was searching.
The thing is working well, but some of the old problems persist and have to do with my CD burner which Iomega has to help with. They are blaming media, but no matter what I get the problems remain. It will freeze the entire Windows system. I just finally have to soft boot, let it scan and come back up. A PITA, but I'm sure I'll get it one day. I'm tired of this now. I want to do something else.
I'll close this out because I have other questions, and this title doesn't do it for me at least! ;)
Thanks much,
Lindsay
The thing is working well, but some of the old problems persist and have to do with my CD burner which Iomega has to help with. They are blaming media, but no matter what I get the problems remain. It will freeze the entire Windows system. I just finally have to soft boot, let it scan and come back up. A PITA, but I'm sure I'll get it one day. I'm tired of this now. I want to do something else.
I'll close this out because I have other questions, and this title doesn't do it for me at least! ;)
Thanks much,
Lindsay
Definitely sounds like either a hardware issue with your drive or a driver issue.
Not sure why you had issues with the partitions ... having 1 partition is not a bad thing as long as you have a good data policy and keep everything under a single folder backing up and restoring the machine should not be too difficult.
>> It now has TWO C:/ showing, but it doesn't matter. I noticed them when I was searching.
Can you elaborate on this ?
Julian
Not sure why you had issues with the partitions ... having 1 partition is not a bad thing as long as you have a good data policy and keep everything under a single folder backing up and restoring the machine should not be too difficult.
>> It now has TWO C:/ showing, but it doesn't matter. I noticed them when I was searching.
Can you elaborate on this ?
Julian
ASKER
Not too well, Julian. Sometimes I see a C:\ and then another C:\where programs and OS are installed. I can't make it happen. I just tried.
The partition thing was like two partitions (one was for NTFS). I thought it would ask me to set partitions. It just asked about the one for NTFS and its size. I'm not in the mood right now to do this all over, but if the thing gets more wobbly, I'll redo. I just need a break.
Would you also look in on another question I just posted yesterday as to size of Internet pages being way too wide for my monitor now plus font sizes (and, yes, I do know how to work in the Appearance part of Display. It's having little to no effect on anything. I appreciate that.
Thanks.
Lindsay
P.S. It's the burner causing the freezing when I insert a "bad" CD. Somehow two or three RWs went south on me. I'll get with Iomega when I have the will and energy to have another go at that. This is supposedly a great burner, and it was fine. It probably still is but some little thing is causing the "debug" to take over at which time it freezes. This is only when I get into Task Manager to close down programs that I cannot exit, and it's very off and on.
The partition thing was like two partitions (one was for NTFS). I thought it would ask me to set partitions. It just asked about the one for NTFS and its size. I'm not in the mood right now to do this all over, but if the thing gets more wobbly, I'll redo. I just need a break.
Would you also look in on another question I just posted yesterday as to size of Internet pages being way too wide for my monitor now plus font sizes (and, yes, I do know how to work in the Appearance part of Display. It's having little to no effect on anything. I appreciate that.
Thanks.
Lindsay
P.S. It's the burner causing the freezing when I insert a "bad" CD. Somehow two or three RWs went south on me. I'll get with Iomega when I have the will and energy to have another go at that. This is supposedly a great burner, and it was fine. It probably still is but some little thing is causing the "debug" to take over at which time it freezes. This is only when I get into Task Manager to close down programs that I cannot exit, and it's very off and on.
>> Not too well, Julian. Sometimes I see a C:\ and then another C:\where programs and OS are installed. I can't make it happen. I just tried.
That is a new one - this sounds like a maverik file system driver giving Explorer a bum steer. My normal recommendation would be to rebuild but you have already done that so I don't think it is the OS - does sound like it could be hardware / driver issue. Are there any errors or warnings reported in the Event logs?
If you do decide to go through the process again when you get to the part where you choose a partitiion to install to, you will need to first delete the existing partitions - select them one at a time and follow instructions on the screen for removing the partition - and then recreate the partitions you need.
Will take a look at the other question as well.
That is a new one - this sounds like a maverik file system driver giving Explorer a bum steer. My normal recommendation would be to rebuild but you have already done that so I don't think it is the OS - does sound like it could be hardware / driver issue. Are there any errors or warnings reported in the Event logs?
If you do decide to go through the process again when you get to the part where you choose a partitiion to install to, you will need to first delete the existing partitions - select them one at a time and follow instructions on the screen for removing the partition - and then recreate the partitions you need.
Will take a look at the other question as well.
ASKER
Julian, I can't find the "extra C:" no matter what I do. I think I was cross-eyed or it was a one-time thing. It's just not there, anywhere.
Okay, in the "if I do 'it' again" thang: I don't remember seeing anything about deleting partitions, but I could have been half asleep. Sure it's there?
If I can get the other question answered on visual problems I believe I'll be fine now. I have about 90% of the drive free (25 GB). Windows 2000 only takes up maybe 3 or 5 GB, rest are programs I installed (just a bit of them).
I should have bought some HUGE book on Windows 2000 and memorized it. ;) CNet is offering a year-long session (seige) for $9.95 so we get bit by bit of the OS's.
Thanks for helps. I'll check back. I'm thinking this visual problem can "go away" if I once find the right "button" to press. ;)
Okay, in the "if I do 'it' again" thang: I don't remember seeing anything about deleting partitions, but I could have been half asleep. Sure it's there?
If I can get the other question answered on visual problems I believe I'll be fine now. I have about 90% of the drive free (25 GB). Windows 2000 only takes up maybe 3 or 5 GB, rest are programs I installed (just a bit of them).
I should have bought some HUGE book on Windows 2000 and memorized it. ;) CNet is offering a year-long session (seige) for $9.95 so we get bit by bit of the OS's.
Thanks for helps. I'll check back. I'm thinking this visual problem can "go away" if I once find the right "button" to press. ;)
Yes the option is there - it is not a screen that jumps out at you and says partitions but it is there.
You will recognise it as follows
The bottom half of the screen is a box with borders touch the bottom, left and right hand sides - the top line of the box cuts the screen in half.
Above this is some text with instructions on how to create / delete partitions by pressing various letters
In the box itself the partitions are listed. If there is more than one you can move the highlight between them using the cursor keys. The idea is you either highlight a partition for installaion or for deletion or highlight an unpartiioned space for partitioning.
The thing to check is if there are partitions created already that suit your requirements - if there are then no need to create them. If not then delete whats there and recreate the partitions.
It is only necessary to create 1 partition - you create the other partitions after Windows has been installed.
I think I read somewhere earlier that you had a couple of partitions on the disk already. It might be that you have an unformated partion on your system.
To check here is what you do.
1. Start->Settings->Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management
2. Select Computer Management(Local)->Storage
3. This should display a screen on the right with a graphical representation of all your drives and partitions. You should have a list of drives in the top half of the screen with headings such as Volume, Layout, Type,FileSystem etc - one for each Hard Drive in your system. In the bottom half of the window you should have a bar graph for each drive (including the CDROM) with each bar divided into proportional sections representing partitions on the drive. If there is only 1 box per graph then you have only 1 partition. In each box you will see a message indicating the status of the drive and the file system. You need to look for either unpartitioned space or partitions that have not been formated.
Post back the findings here and based on that we can go to step 2.
You will recognise it as follows
The bottom half of the screen is a box with borders touch the bottom, left and right hand sides - the top line of the box cuts the screen in half.
Above this is some text with instructions on how to create / delete partitions by pressing various letters
In the box itself the partitions are listed. If there is more than one you can move the highlight between them using the cursor keys. The idea is you either highlight a partition for installaion or for deletion or highlight an unpartiioned space for partitioning.
The thing to check is if there are partitions created already that suit your requirements - if there are then no need to create them. If not then delete whats there and recreate the partitions.
It is only necessary to create 1 partition - you create the other partitions after Windows has been installed.
I think I read somewhere earlier that you had a couple of partitions on the disk already. It might be that you have an unformated partion on your system.
To check here is what you do.
1. Start->Settings->Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer Management
2. Select Computer Management(Local)->Storage
3. This should display a screen on the right with a graphical representation of all your drives and partitions. You should have a list of drives in the top half of the screen with headings such as Volume, Layout, Type,FileSystem etc - one for each Hard Drive in your system. In the bottom half of the window you should have a bar graph for each drive (including the CDROM) with each bar divided into proportional sections representing partitions on the drive. If there is only 1 box per graph then you have only 1 partition. In each box you will see a message indicating the status of the drive and the file system. You need to look for either unpartitioned space or partitions that have not been formated.
Post back the findings here and based on that we can go to step 2.
ASKER
C: 23.82 GB NTFS
E:
D:
Nothing unformatted in C: or the CD-ROM or Zip Drive. Each has ONE partition of its own
That's it. Nice and clean, and says it's "healthy." Good thing to know. ;)
E:
D:
Nothing unformatted in C: or the CD-ROM or Zip Drive. Each has ONE partition of its own
That's it. Nice and clean, and says it's "healthy." Good thing to know. ;)
Hi Lindsay,
Ok so E = Zip and D= CDROM (or vice versa)
That means there are no other partitions hanging around I am assuming you have a 25GB drive (strange number).
If you do decide to go through this again and you want to partition the drive then post back here and I will put on a more comprehensive description of how to handle the partitioning section.
Ok so E = Zip and D= CDROM (or vice versa)
That means there are no other partitions hanging around I am assuming you have a 25GB drive (strange number).
If you do decide to go through this again and you want to partition the drive then post back here and I will put on a more comprehensive description of how to handle the partitioning section.
ASKER
Yeah, "vice versa." :) I have C:\ (of course; and ONLY ONE), D: (zip), E: CD-ROM, F: CD Burner; G: Camera (when it's being uploaded to computer).
Read somewhere that you can take a large capacity card in a camera and save files on it that you wish to save or transfer or whatever. There is a software for this and not at all expensive. Amazing!
Oh, and yes, 25 GB. That was HUGE in 1999. Now I see a camera with an 80 GB card in it! Or was that 40 GB? 80 GB rings the bell. At any rate it boggles my mind. A camera has a larger "hard drive" than a big ole computer! Tsk.
I had 256 MB of RAM and got sick of that fast so I got another 256 MB for about $30 from CRW (I believe), and boy it souped this thing up a LOT. Now I want double that and would have to change BIOS etc etc for that. I have a class (yet to be studied) on building a PC and wonder if that wouldn't be a fun thing? New case or existing one? One day flat screen. This thing is huge and deep. I cannot lift it myself.
Ever build one? Is it very hard? Doesn't look so tough for me, but I grew up in a garage (dad was a crackerjack mechanic and master of MANY things) so I was always "under the hood" looking and trying stuff in the 40s/50s! I even worked a bit on my old Duster (74) myself in the 80s ;) My son has even more skills (inventor, artist, tool & dye, pro photographer, printmaker, mechanic, contractor......the list is endless...and Oh! He's a mathmatician...I mean WAY up there with the likes of Hawkings, Einstein. Any one for string theory or black holes? And challenging those theories? Oy!!!
Thanks for any ideas. My head is too busy for what my body can cope with past few years. I hope to get back up at least another 30-50%, but I'll never be young again which is sad for me! But I will have to organize and prioritize what I do from fiddling with the computer (it's fun for me) to shooting photos for fun and for city, etc. etc. and trying to find paying work at home!!! ;)
Donna Lindsay
Read somewhere that you can take a large capacity card in a camera and save files on it that you wish to save or transfer or whatever. There is a software for this and not at all expensive. Amazing!
Oh, and yes, 25 GB. That was HUGE in 1999. Now I see a camera with an 80 GB card in it! Or was that 40 GB? 80 GB rings the bell. At any rate it boggles my mind. A camera has a larger "hard drive" than a big ole computer! Tsk.
I had 256 MB of RAM and got sick of that fast so I got another 256 MB for about $30 from CRW (I believe), and boy it souped this thing up a LOT. Now I want double that and would have to change BIOS etc etc for that. I have a class (yet to be studied) on building a PC and wonder if that wouldn't be a fun thing? New case or existing one? One day flat screen. This thing is huge and deep. I cannot lift it myself.
Ever build one? Is it very hard? Doesn't look so tough for me, but I grew up in a garage (dad was a crackerjack mechanic and master of MANY things) so I was always "under the hood" looking and trying stuff in the 40s/50s! I even worked a bit on my old Duster (74) myself in the 80s ;) My son has even more skills (inventor, artist, tool & dye, pro photographer, printmaker, mechanic, contractor......the list is endless...and Oh! He's a mathmatician...I mean WAY up there with the likes of Hawkings, Einstein. Any one for string theory or black holes? And challenging those theories? Oy!!!
Thanks for any ideas. My head is too busy for what my body can cope with past few years. I hope to get back up at least another 30-50%, but I'll never be young again which is sad for me! But I will have to organize and prioritize what I do from fiddling with the computer (it's fun for me) to shooting photos for fun and for city, etc. etc. and trying to find paying work at home!!! ;)
Donna Lindsay
Hi Lindsay,
Building computers - not too difficult these days - everything is standardised but there is still enough there to surprise you if you don't know what you are doing.
Drives and partitions I have a suspicion I know what happened with your reinstall - can you remember if you selected the option for ReInstall after booting off the CD-ROM? If so this would explain it and would also mean that your machine did not get a complete refresh.
Your option to delete and remove partitions is available when you choose to install a new instance of Windows.
Julian
Building computers - not too difficult these days - everything is standardised but there is still enough there to surprise you if you don't know what you are doing.
Drives and partitions I have a suspicion I know what happened with your reinstall - can you remember if you selected the option for ReInstall after booting off the CD-ROM? If so this would explain it and would also mean that your machine did not get a complete refresh.
Your option to delete and remove partitions is available when you choose to install a new instance of Windows.
Julian
ASKER
Julian, see other question. In brief: I'd still like to build my own PC because I'd have only what I wanted and needed! AND save money.
I cannot remember how I reinstalled Windows. I chose anything that didn't select
"examine and repair" or whatever that other choice is. As I recall, only two choices.
I CAN do this over again, but this time I need to know what to epect from each window that pops up with lists of options. I thought I was doing everything exactly right, but I was very puzzled that there was only ONE choice on partitions, and that was for a smaller or larger NTFS partition. I hit for their choice as it would not take numbers I dropped in. (So why ask the silly question?)
Wonder if I could get a fresh copy of Windows2000Pro because of the myriad problems I've had with this CD. Any ideas? I can write to MS. They DO chat for free in e-mail. Very nice technicians, and the guy who helped me with O.E. left this reinstall question open with another tech (now if I can find that e-mail). ;)
You can put all of this in the other question, and I can close this or vice versa. Choose the better question since these things stay up. ;)
Thankewe. You're just doing SO great. I appreciate this SO very much. You and the others have no idea what a bonanza I think EE is!
I cannot remember how I reinstalled Windows. I chose anything that didn't select
"examine and repair" or whatever that other choice is. As I recall, only two choices.
I CAN do this over again, but this time I need to know what to epect from each window that pops up with lists of options. I thought I was doing everything exactly right, but I was very puzzled that there was only ONE choice on partitions, and that was for a smaller or larger NTFS partition. I hit for their choice as it would not take numbers I dropped in. (So why ask the silly question?)
Wonder if I could get a fresh copy of Windows2000Pro because of the myriad problems I've had with this CD. Any ideas? I can write to MS. They DO chat for free in e-mail. Very nice technicians, and the guy who helped me with O.E. left this reinstall question open with another tech (now if I can find that e-mail). ;)
You can put all of this in the other question, and I can close this or vice versa. Choose the better question since these things stay up. ;)
Thankewe. You're just doing SO great. I appreciate this SO very much. You and the others have no idea what a bonanza I think EE is!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
I'll close this but first let me say I have NO idea how to get a replacement CD. Never heard of "media kits." My serial number is just a straight through number, no OEM in the middle although I bought it from a consultant (he rather forced me into things without much consulting so I don't go there anymore). I just had wanted him to save some files on my hard drive (trojan hit). All he had to do was copy and burn to CDs (very few). But no, he had to make it a big deal, charge me money I couldn't afford and then never supported me correctly. And people wonder why I no longer trust consultants around here. He was one of several! UGH.
I'll see you at the other question to make this more simple.
Thanks again.
Lindsay
I'll see you at the other question to make this more simple.
Thanks again.
Lindsay
1. Reapply the latest service pack for your machine.
2. Reinstall IE6
3. Reinstall all the security updates for the machine.
4. Go to windows update and make sure your machine is up to date with all the latest security features.
Lets see where that gets you