Can't RESTORE to previous date or remove some programs in Add/Remo

[dev328]

Had to remove an extra AOL program, but the Add/Remove stalls and says that
there was an error and had to close (says something about app conflict in
info sent to Microsoft). I believe that the program I wanted to uninstall is
the problem, but not sure. Then I went to RESTORE my computer state to a
previous time that was good, but it goes through all the steps to restore
only to state that it is unable to restore to any previous date. What is
going on? How can I fix these issues?

 

[Rich Barry]

I would rt click MyComputer>select System Restore>check the box that
say's Turn off System Restore on All Drives click on Apply, Ok. Restart the
Computer and reverse the procedure you just performed. Then Open MyComputer
rt click on Drive Icon and select Properties>Disk Cleanup>More
Options>System Restore-Cleanup. Say yes to all. At that
time you can also click on Installed Programs-Cleanup and try to remove
the unwanted AOL program again.

 

[db.·.. >]

you might try using
the system restore
via safemode.

 

[dev328]

Thanks Rich, I'll try that and then to reverse the steps if it makes any
difference, because I already did a full disk clean-up, defrag, tried going
in on safe mode, etc. Will let you know if it worked.

 

[dev328]

Thanks db, but I already tried that, also went into msconfig and tried
through diagnotics & disabled many unnecessary start-up programs. Any other
suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[db.·.. >]

well, if the system restore
feature is functional, then
perhaps the system files
have become corrupted.

sometimes, the anti virus
prevents the system from
being modified, like returning
it back to a prior state.

in any case, perhaps you
might try a repair installation
with your windows cd, that
way any missing or corrupted
files on your hd can be replaced
with genuine ones from the cd.

the method above will also
create a new restore point
too.

 

[dev328]

hat sounds more like what I might have to do, but since I have never done
this before on XP, is the repair the same as a full format where everything
gets wiped out, or will it keep my files there like My Documents and some
programs I have installed? I remember with previous MS OS programs like W98
& W95 we could just insert the cd and just write over everything and it would
not wipe out or harm anything else on the computer. Will the repair do the
same thing? Also, when I had to reformat another XP computer recently I
don't remember a repair button, only a reformat, how do I find or do a repair?

 

[nass]

Why you don't give us the Error message exact Verbatim and we may can help!
Did you scan the machine for malware and virues?
What Anti-virus and anti-malware you have installed on this machine?

Open a Notepad, customize or minimize to the taskbar as you will need it
later for this step to copy the error message on it.
Open a run command and type in:
eventvwr.msc click [OK] you will get the Event viewer control Panel.
click on each of these:
Application
System
Security
Look in the right Pane/window for error message with red (X) or Yellow
exclamation mark /!\ , double click each one to get more info about the
causer.
On the Event error properties message you will see:
Up Arrow
Down arrow
Two pages
Click on the two pages to copy the error message then bring up the Notepad
you opened earlier and right click on the first line and select Paste from
the list, this will paste the error message on a Notepad.
Please don't duplicate the error message one of each kind will be sufficient.
HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

Please we need just the error messages with Red (X) and don't repeat the
error, just one of each kind and post them back in your next post.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310353
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/en-us

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

HTH.
nass

 

[db.·.. >]

sure. its not hard:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

the process only focus's
on windows system files
to ensure your system is
complete.

the caviate is that your
o.s. version must be the
same as the cd, eg
win on hd sp2= sp2 cd

 

[dev328]

I checked all of categories in eventviewer and the only one that had any red
Xs or Yellow exclamations was the application event view. (mostly red Xs)
for "Access Violation error occurring when Terminal Service Info is
corrupted" and "Failed extract of third party root list from auto update cab
at WIN Update - data is invalid". I saw that iexplore.exe had many problems
also, so I will reinstall that 1st (if I am able to. If not, then I guess my
only option will be to do a repair or if all else fails, then (gulp!) I'll
have to bite the bullet and do a reformat. I want thank you for all your
valuable help! I learned a lot today! Thanks again!

Why you don't give us the Error message exact Verbatim and we may can help!
Did you scan the machine for malware and virues?
What Anti-virus and anti-malware you have installed on this machine?

Open a Notepad, customize or minimize to the taskbar as you will need it
later for this step to copy the error message on it.
Open a run command and type in:
eventvwr.msc click [OK] you will get the Event viewer control Panel.
click on each of these:
Application
System
Security
Look in the right Pane/window for error message with red (X) or Yellow
exclamation mark /!\ , double click each one to get more info about the
causer.
On the Event error properties message you will see:
Up Arrow
Down arrow
Two pages
Click on the two pages to copy the error message then bring up the Notepad
you opened earlier and right click on the first line and select Paste from
the list, this will paste the error message on a Notepad.
Please don't duplicate the error message one of each kind will be sufficient.
HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

Please we need just the error messages with Red (X) and don't repeat the
error, just one of each kind and post them back in your next post.

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310353
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/en-us

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

HTH.
nass
-----
http://www.nasstec.co.uk

hat sounds more like what I might have to do, but since I have never done
this before on XP, is the repair the same as a full format where everything
gets wiped out, or will it keep my files there like My Documents and some
programs I have installed? I remember with previous MS OS programs like W98
& W95 we could just insert the cd and just write over everything and it would
not wipe out or harm anything else on the computer. Will the repair do the
same thing? Also, when I had to reformat another XP computer recently I
don't remember a repair button, only a reformat, how do I find or do a repair?

 

[dev328]

Thanks so much db! I really appreciate all your advise and the links you
provided! It appears that I have some corrupted files (per event viewer) and
will need to do the repair! Thanks again!

 

[db.·.. >]

you're welcome.

 

[Rich Barry]

Before you attempt a Repair Install if you havent already begun you could
try a system file check. Go to Start>Run type: sfc /scannow Have
your WinXP CD in the drive before
starting this.