No Shutdown or Restart

[D.H. Cesare]

WinXP Pro SP3
2GB RAM
1TB HDD
320GB slave drive used for storage only

The other day my machine quit responding to the Shutdown & Restart buttons.
Even using the Task manager, the Shutdown & Restart options do not work.
There are no other apparent problems with the computer. I've run just about
every security scan known to man with negative results.
I don't know where to find the Power Control Panel, and even if I knew where
to find it I don't know if the answer to my problem is there.

It seems as if a registry entry has been trashed, but I'm a computer
illiterate so I tread very lightly where the registry is concerned.

If someone could help me solve this problem I would really appreciate it.

Thanx

 

[Jim]

WinXP Pro SP3
2GB RAM
1TB HDD
320GB slave drive used for storage only

The other day my machine quit responding to the Shutdown & Restart buttons.
Even using the Task manager, the Shutdown & Restart options do not work.
There are no other apparent problems with the computer. I've run just about
every security scan known to man with negative results.
I don't know where to find the Power Control Panel, and even if I knew where
to find it I don't know if the answer to my problem is there.

It seems as if a registry entry has been trashed, but I'm a computer
illiterate so I tread very lightly where the registry is concerned.

If someone could help me solve this problem I would really appreciate it.

Thanx

System restore to when it was working ?

 

[D.H. Cesare]

That was a good idea except that I didn't think of it until it was to late,
past the last restore point. The pilot's a dummy.

 

[Gerry]

Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
Errors and Warnings and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
hours ago.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

Download and install the User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
Download details: User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
http://snipurl.com/5b61

UPHClean v1.6d readme.txt
http://snipurl.com/ko8m

Also see if anything in this link helps:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[D.H. Cesare]

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: USER32
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1073
Date: 4/4/2009
Time: 5:53:11 PM
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: COMPUTER-D
Description:
The attempt to reboot COMPUTER-D failed

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 00 00 00 00 ....

Is this what you wanted?

Have a look in the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for
Errors and Warnings and post copies here. Don't post any more than 48
hours ago.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

Download and install the User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
Download details: User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
http://snipurl.com/5b61

UPHClean v1.6d readme.txt
http://snipurl.com/ko8m

Also see if anything in this link helps:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[D.H. Cesare]

I installed the UPHCleanup application with negative results. Or at least
it accomplished nothing that I could detect.

Download and install the User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
Download details: User Profile Hive Cleanup Service
http://snipurl.com/5b61

UPHClean v1.6d readme.txt
http://snipurl.com/ko8m

Also see if anything in this link helps:
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[D.H. Cesare]

WinXP Pro SP3
2GB RAM
1TB HDD
320GB slave drive used for storage only

The other day my machine quit responding to the Shutdown & Restart
buttons. Even using the Task manager, the Shutdown & Restart options do
not work.
There are no other apparent problems with the computer. I've run just
about every security scan known to man with negative results.
I don't know where to find the Power Control Panel, and even if I knew
where to find it I don't know if the answer to my problem is there.

It seems as if a registry entry has been trashed, but I'm a computer
illiterate so I tread very lightly where the registry is concerned.

If someone could help me solve this problem I would really appreciate it.

Thanx

 

[Anna]

WinXP Pro SP3
2GB RAM
1TB HDD
320GB slave drive used for storage only

The other day my machine quit responding to the Shutdown & Restart
buttons. Even using the Task manager, the Shutdown & Restart options do
not work.
There are no other apparent problems with the computer. I've run just
about every security scan known to man with negative results.
I don't know where to find the Power Control Panel, and even if I knew
where to find it I don't know if the answer to my problem is there.

It seems as if a registry entry has been trashed, but I'm a computer
illiterate so I tread very lightly where the registry is concerned.

If someone could help me solve this problem I would really appreciate it.

Thanx

D.H.
(As an aside, it really would be best that when you post a message you
include the pertinent details of the issue involved (such as your original
query above which I'm now including here). Don't merely post a response,
comment, another query, etc. without sufficient background info., including
relevant prior posts (or extracts of such) from other responders to your
query. It's generally more productive if we don't treat this type of
newsgroup as an ongoing "chat room".)

Anyway, as to the problem you're experiencing...

1. I take it the only way you're now able to shut down the machine is to
simply power-off, right? And this problem arose "out-of-the-blue" so to
speak. One day the system worked perfectly - the next day the problem
existed, right?

So you have no clue why this problem may have arose, right? No significant
changes in your user's configuration just prior to the problem arising?

2. So what happens when you next power-up the PC? You're able to boot
without incident and the system functions without any problems until the
time comes when you want to shut down? And that's when the problem arises
again?

3. Assuming you have a working machine notwithstanding the shutdown problem,
you've checked for malware? Viruses & such?

4. Accessing Control Panel > Power Options...
Can you discern any setting there that might be amiss and causing the
problem you're experiencing? If Hibernation has been selected, uncheck that
box.

5. Is this an OEM machine? Do you have either a retail XP installation CD or
a non-branded OEM installation CD? Or just the recovery CD (or partition on
the HDD) should it be an OEM machine?

6. Assuming the machine is functional after you power-up, have you tried the
sfc /scannow and or chkdsk /r commands to determine whether the problem is
simply a mildly corrupted OS that can be corrected through one of those
utilities?

7. I note you have a 1 TB HDD (presumably your boot drive). We've been
experiencing some problems lately of various sorts with these very
large-capacity drives (especially Seagate's). Was that HDD recently
installed?

While the problem doesn't sound like it may be due to a defective HDD, it
might be a good idea to check out the disk with the HDD diagnostic utility
that's freely available (usually) from the disk's manufacturer.
Anna

 

[CesareDH]

D.H.
(As an aside, it really would be best that when you post a message you
include the pertinent details of the issue involved (such as your original
query above which I'm now including here). Don't merely post a response,
comment, another query, etc. without sufficient background info., including
relevant prior posts (or extracts of such) from other responders to your
query. It's generally more productive if we don't treat this type of
newsgroup as an ongoing "chat room".)

Anyway, as to the problem you're experiencing...

1. I take it the only way you're now able to shut down the machine is to
simply power-off, right? And this problem arose "out-of-the-blue" so to
speak. One day the system worked perfectly - the next day the problem
existed, right?

So you have no clue why this problem may have arose, right? No significant
changes in your user's configuration just prior to the problem arising?

2. So what happens when you next power-up the PC? You're able to boot
without incident and the system functions without any problems until the
time comes when you want to shut down? And that's when the problem arises
again?

3. Assuming you have a working machine notwithstanding the shutdown problem,
you've checked for malware? Viruses & such?

4. Accessing Control Panel > Power Options...
Can you discern any setting there that might be amiss and causing the
problem you're experiencing? If Hibernation has been selected, uncheck that
box.

5. Is this an OEM machine? Do you have either a retail XP installation CDor
a non-branded OEM installation CD? Or just the recovery CD (or partition on
the HDD) should it be an OEM machine?

6. Assuming the machine is functional after you power-up, have you tried the
sfc /scannow and or chkdsk /r commands to determine whether the problem is
simply a mildly corrupted OS that can be corrected through one of those
utilities?

7. I note you have a 1 TB HDD (presumably your boot drive). We've been
experiencing some problems lately of various sorts with these very
large-capacity drives (especially Seagate's). Was that HDD recently
installed?

While the problem doesn't sound like it may be due to a defective HDD, it
might be a good idea to check out the disk with the HDD diagnostic utility
that's freely available (usually) from the disk's manufacturer.
Anna

1. My system had been working perfectly. I was sitting and talking on
the phone while looking at the "Computer Management Console" when the
machine booted for no apparent reason and since that incident it does
not Shutdown or Restart normally, I have to use the buttons on the
front of the box.

2. The machine works perfectly until time to shutdown or restart. I
have retail XP PRO installed. I've checked the HDD with 2 different
utilities and it has come up clean and healthy.

3. I use a good anti-virus and a couple anti-spyware programs. I also
run STINGER and Malicious Software Removal Tool a couple times a week,

6. Assuming the machine is functional after you power-up, have you tried the
sfc /scannow and or chkdsk /r commands to determine whether the problem is
simply a mildly corrupted OS that can be corrected through one of those
utilities? I do not know how to do these things. Are they done through the CMD window? or the RUN box?

I was responding to the answers I was receiving and leaving the
previous messages in place, but I answered one of the respondents with
the information he asked for and never heard another thing; just left
me hanging. So even though I'm not quite perfect, no one else is
either. If I sound angry, it's cause I am. You're the second one to
admonish me for something I didn't do, and even though the first
person (DAAVE) has admitted being wrong and has apologized, everyone
needs all their ducks in the same pond before they start pointing
fingers. I'm here to try and get a problem solved and don't need
people acting like I'm some ignorant newbie. I ain't very smart, but I
ain't stupid either.

Now I'm confused about something else. How/why did I get here
responding to my original inquiry? Will this go into the newsgroup?
I deleted my original thread so will this still show up in the group?
Here is how I managed to get here:

Daave wrote:

D.H., Anna seems to be on the ball on this one, and I noticed you
didn't
answer her questions. Here's her post again in case you missed it:

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...p.help_and_support/msg/9a4455c6d8ac97dd?hl=en

Also, open Control Panel. Click on "Switch to Classic View" if you
are
currently in Category View. Double-click Power. In the new window,
you
will see four tabs. What are your settings, especially with regard to
Hibernation?

ANNA, will this show up in the OE usenet group I was posting in
originally, or will I need to come back into this GOOGLE thing. I
don't want my email address visible to everyone on the internet, as
I'm sure you can appreciate.

Thank you

 

[Daave]

ANNA, will this show up in the OE usenet group I was posting in
originally, or will I need to come back into this GOOGLE thing. I
don't want my email address visible to everyone on the internet, as
I'm sure you can appreciate.

I see you found the other thread D.H.! A helpful keyboard shortcut in OE
is Control+H, which filters out all threads except those that include
your posts. (It's the same thing as doing View | Current View | Show
replies to my messages.)

Everyone can see your e-mail address if you don't properly munge it if
they look at the headers. If you use Google Groups, it's best to use a
disposable e-mail address. Unfortunately, that's too late now. :-(

 

[Anna]

(SNIP)

Anyway, as to the problem you're experiencing...

1. I take it the only way you're now able to shut down the machine is to
simply power-off, right? And this problem arose "out-of-the-blue" so to
speak. One day the system worked perfectly - the next day the problem
existed, right?

So you have no clue why this problem may have arose, right? No significant
changes in your user's configuration just prior to the problem arising?

2. So what happens when you next power-up the PC? You're able to boot
without incident and the system functions without any problems until the
time comes when you want to shut down? And that's when the problem arises
again?

3. Assuming you have a working machine notwithstanding the shutdown
problem,
you've checked for malware? Viruses & such?

4. Accessing Control Panel > Power Options...
Can you discern any setting there that might be amiss and causing the
problem you're experiencing? If Hibernation has been selected, uncheck
that
box.

5. Is this an OEM machine? Do you have either a retail XP installation CD
or
a non-branded OEM installation CD? Or just the recovery CD (or partition
on
the HDD) should it be an OEM machine?

6. Assuming the machine is functional after you power-up, have you tried
the
sfc /scannow and or chkdsk /r commands to determine whether the problem is
simply a mildly corrupted OS that can be corrected through one of those
utilities?

7. I note you have a 1 TB HDD (presumably your boot drive). We've been
experiencing some problems lately of various sorts with these very
large-capacity drives (especially Seagate's). Was that HDD recently
installed?

While the problem doesn't sound like it may be due to a defective HDD, it
might be a good idea to check out the disk with the HDD diagnostic utility
that's freely available (usually) from the disk's manufacturer.
Anna

"D.H. Cesare" <[email protected]> wrote in message

1. My system had been working perfectly. I was sitting and talking on
the phone while looking at the "Computer Management Console" when the
machine booted for no apparent reason and since that incident it does
not Shutdown or Restart normally, I have to use the buttons on the
front of the box.

2. The machine works perfectly until time to shutdown or restart. I
have retail XP PRO installed. I've checked the HDD with 2 different
utilities and it has come up clean and healthy.

3. I use a good anti-virus and a couple anti-spyware programs. I also
run STINGER and Malicious Software Removal Tool a couple times a week,

6. I do not know how to do these things. Are they done through the CMD
window? or the RUN box?

ANNA, will this show up in the OE usenet group I was posting in
originally, or will I need to come back into this GOOGLE thing. I
don't want my email address visible to everyone on the internet, as
I'm sure you can appreciate.

Thank you


D.H.
First of all your email address has not been displayed in this MS newsgroup.

Although not absolutely definitive, it certainly would appear that the
problem you're experiencing is probably not due to some hardware issue.

For starters, it probably would be wise to invoke the chkdsk /r command. To
do this, click Start, then Run, and type "cmd" (no quotes) in the Open text
box. Press Enter.

At the command prompt type "chkdsk /r" (no quotes) and press Enter.

(You may get a message that chkdsk cannot run because "the volume is in
use". Type Y to confirm that you want chkdsk to run at the next boot.)

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265 for more detailed info on the
chkdsk command.

Hopefully, by running the chkdsk /r command, this utility will repair
certain problems it discovers on your HDD and possibly correct the problem
you're now experiencing.

One important thing before running the chkdsk command (or undertaking any
other process designed to correct the problem you're experiencing). You
should immediately make backups of any important data on your current
system. Do this without fail. Better yet would be to clone the contents of
your HDD to another HDD but this probably isn't practical in your situation.
So at the minimum make copies of the data you want/need.

While there are other courses of action that can be taken should the chkdsk
command not resolve the problem, it might be best for a computer technician
or someone who has experience building/maintaining/repairing PCs to
undertake a "hands-on" approach re your system.
Anna

 

[D.H. Cesare]

Everyone can see your e-mail address if you don't properly munge it if
they look at the headers. If you use Google Groups, it's best to use a
disposable e-mail address. Unfortunately, that's too late now. :-(

I don't know how I got back to this point, but it happened after you sent me
that link to Anna's input and I responded to it. Anyway, I'm back and I
still have the problem.
I'm going to try running that "chkdsk /r" but I don't think that's the
answer.
This machine runs too good with no problems except the Shutdown - Restart
glitch.

Anyway, thanks again.

 

[Daave]

I don't know how I got back to this point, but it happened after you
sent me that link to Anna's input and I responded to it. Anyway, I'm
back and I still have the problem.
I'm going to try running that "chkdsk /r" but I don't think that's the
answer.
This machine runs too good with no problems except the Shutdown -
Restart glitch.

Anyway, thanks again.

YW.

Chkdsk /r sounds like a plan. If that doesn't work, perhaps a Repair
Install might help. Just make sure your data is backed up!

 

[D.H. Cesare]

1. My system had been working perfectly. I was sitting and talking on
the phone while looking at the "Computer Management Console" when the
machine booted for no apparent reason and since that incident it does
not Shutdown or Restart normally, I have to use the buttons on the
front of the box.

2. The machine works perfectly until time to shutdown or restart. I
have retail XP PRO installed. I've checked the HDD with 2 different
utilities and it has come up clean and healthy.

3. I use a good anti-virus and a couple anti-spyware programs. I also
run STINGER and Malicious Software Removal Tool a couple times a week,

6. I do not know how to do these things. Are they done through the CMD
window? or the RUN box?

ANNA, will this show up in the OE usenet group I was posting in
originally, or will I need to come back into this GOOGLE thing. I
don't want my email address visible to everyone on the internet, as
I'm sure you can appreciate.

Thank you


D.H.
First of all your email address has not been displayed in this MS
newsgroup.

Although not absolutely definitive, it certainly would appear that the
problem you're experiencing is probably not due to some hardware issue.

For starters, it probably would be wise to invoke the chkdsk /r command.
To do this, click Start, then Run, and type "cmd" (no quotes) in the Open
text box. Press Enter.

At the command prompt type "chkdsk /r" (no quotes) and press Enter.

(You may get a message that chkdsk cannot run because "the volume is in
use". Type Y to confirm that you want chkdsk to run at the next boot.)

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265 for more detailed info on the
chkdsk command.

Hopefully, by running the chkdsk /r command, this utility will repair
certain problems it discovers on your HDD and possibly correct the problem
you're now experiencing.

One important thing before running the chkdsk command (or undertaking any
other process designed to correct the problem you're experiencing). You
should immediately make backups of any important data on your current
system. Do this without fail. Better yet would be to clone the contents of
your HDD to another HDD but this probably isn't practical in your
situation. So at the minimum make copies of the data you want/need.

While there are other courses of action that can be taken should the
chkdsk command not resolve the problem, it might be best for a computer
technician or someone who has experience building/maintaining/repairing
PCs to undertake a "hands-on" approach re your system.
Anna

Anna,
I've run the chkdsk command with negative results. This just baffles me.
As for taking it to someone; I build, repair and maintain computers for
myself
and for others. I'm not a technician but I've been able to diagnose and
repair problems
repair shops have been unable to deal with. And I do it free. This one is
above my paygrade
so I guess I'll just have to live with it, unless one of you have a better
idea.

I have slave drives that I keep all my pictures and other stuff on,
besides backing it up to 8.5GB DVD's every 6 months or so. It's cheap
and easy to install an extra drive or use an external HDD to store stuff on.
I recommend it to everyone.

Thank you

 

[D.H. Cesare]

1. My system had been working perfectly. I was sitting and talking on
the phone while looking at the "Computer Management Console" when the
machine booted for no apparent reason and since that incident it does
not Shutdown or Restart normally, I have to use the buttons on the
front of the box.

2. The machine works perfectly until time to shutdown or restart. I
have retail XP PRO installed. I've checked the HDD with 2 different
utilities and it has come up clean and healthy.

3. I use a good anti-virus and a couple anti-spyware programs. I also
run STINGER and Malicious Software Removal Tool a couple times a week,

6. I do not know how to do these things. Are they done through the CMD
window? or the RUN box?

ANNA, will this show up in the OE usenet group I was posting in
originally, or will I need to come back into this GOOGLE thing. I
don't want my email address visible to everyone on the internet, as
I'm sure you can appreciate.

Thank you


D.H.
First of all your email address has not been displayed in this MS
newsgroup.

Although not absolutely definitive, it certainly would appear that the
problem you're experiencing is probably not due to some hardware issue.

For starters, it probably would be wise to invoke the chkdsk /r command.
To do this, click Start, then Run, and type "cmd" (no quotes) in the Open
text box. Press Enter.

At the command prompt type "chkdsk /r" (no quotes) and press Enter.

(You may get a message that chkdsk cannot run because "the volume is in
use". Type Y to confirm that you want chkdsk to run at the next boot.)

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265 for more detailed info on the
chkdsk command.

Hopefully, by running the chkdsk /r command, this utility will repair
certain problems it discovers on your HDD and possibly correct the problem
you're now experiencing.

One important thing before running the chkdsk command (or undertaking any
other process designed to correct the problem you're experiencing). You
should immediately make backups of any important data on your current
system. Do this without fail. Better yet would be to clone the contents of
your HDD to another HDD but this probably isn't practical in your
situation. So at the minimum make copies of the data you want/need.

While there are other courses of action that can be taken should the
chkdsk command not resolve the problem, it might be best for a computer
technician or someone who has experience building/maintaining/repairing
PCs to undertake a "hands-on" approach re your system.
Anna

Anna,
I've run the chkdsk command with negative results. This just baffles me.
As for taking it to someone; I build, repair and maintain computers for
myself
and for others. I'm not a technician but I've been able to diagnose and
repair problems
repair shops have been unable to deal with. And I do it free. This one is
above my paygrade
so I guess I'll just have to live with it, unless one of you have a better
idea.

I have slave drives that I keep all my pictures and other stuff on,
besides backing it up to 8.5GB DVD's every 6 months or so. It's cheap
and easy to install an extra drive or use an external HDD to store stuff on.
I recommend it to everyone.

Thank you

 

[Daave]

I've run the chkdsk command with negative results. This just baffles
me. As for taking it to someone; I build, repair and maintain
computers for myself
and for others. I'm not a technician but I've been able to diagnose
and repair problems
repair shops have been unable to deal with. And I do it free. This
one is above my paygrade
so I guess I'll just have to live with it, unless one of you have a
better idea.

You don't *have* to live with it.

Try a Repair Install. That might do the trick. Otherwise, there's always
the Clean Install...

I have slave drives that I keep all my pictures and other stuff on,
besides backing it up to 8.5GB DVD's every 6 months or so. It's cheap
and easy to install an extra drive or use an external HDD to store
stuff on. I recommend it to everyone.

And what I recommend to you is to routinely image your hard drive. Then
if something like this ever happens again, simply restore the image and
all will be well.

 

[D.H. Cesare]

You don't *have* to live with it.

Try a Repair Install. That might do the trick. Otherwise, there's always
the Clean Install...


And what I recommend to you is to routinely image your hard drive. Then if
something like this ever happens again, simply restore the image and all
will be well.

How do IMAGE an entire drive? I mean you're talking about 124GB.

 

[Daave]

How do IMAGE an entire drive?

You image it with imaging software.

Norton Ghost is one such program. Acronis True Image is another (and
it's the one I and many others here use). If you are looking for a free
program. DriveImageXML is very good.

You may store the image archive wherever you wish: a series or CDs or
DVDs or on an external hard drive (my preferred method).

I mean you're talking about 124GB.

Actually, you're only talking about 124GB if the entire drive is filled
up. Otherwise, all that matters is the amount of data on the drive. Then
you also have the option of compressing the image. My C: drive is 232GB
(the advertised size is 250GB, but in reality, 232GB is the real size).
I have 51GB of data on it. My archive file is only 45GB, and I could
have compressed it even further had I wanted to.

Not too often, but still -- once or twice a year -- I wind up with a
hosed system. I merely boot off the CD-ROM that has my imaging program
on it. Within 40 minutes, everything is restored *exactly* as it was the
moment I made the image.

Here are some useful links:

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Note that there is a free trial. Also, if you comparison shop, you can
get this program for less than $50 (e.g., $40 at Newegg).

http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm

If you use DriveImageXML, you may boot off a Bart PE disk to perform the
restore. It can't make incremental images like Acronis, but it is
totally free.

 

[Anna]

Anna,
I've run the chkdsk command with negative results. This just baffles me.
As for taking it to someone; I build, repair and maintain computers for
myself and for others. I'm not a technician but I've been able to
diagnose and
repair problems repair shops have been unable to deal with. And I do it
free. This > one is above my paygrade so I guess I'll just have to live
with it, unless one of you have a better idea.

I have slave drives that I keep all my pictures and other stuff on,
besides backing it up to 8.5GB DVD's every 6 months or so. It's cheap
and easy to install an extra drive or use an external HDD to store stuff
on.
I recommend it to everyone.

Thank you

D.H. Cesare:
I may have misconstrued the level of your familiarity & experience with
PC's, thus the last paragraph of my previous post. When you responded that
"I do not know how to do these things. Are they done through the CMD
window? or the RUN box?", presumably referring to my query & suggestion
about running the sfc /scannow & chkdsk commands, I assumed you were an
inexperienced user of PCs and thought that under the circumstances it would
be best for a professional to examine your system. Perhaps your response was
in reference to another comment or suggestion I had made. Please understand
that in any event I meant no offense.

Anyway, since you indicate you are an experienced PC user, have you
considered running a Repair install of the OS? Again, I'm assuming the
possibility of nothing more than a corrupted OS that a Repair install might
correct.

And have you also run the sfc /scannow command I previously suggested?

As I recall I also suggested you check out the HDD with a diagnostic utility
on the off-chance you're dealing with a defective or failing HDD. Have you
done so?

It is conceivable, of course, that a hardware-issue is involved here, but I
would first eliminate the possibility of a corrupted OS or user
mis-configuration being the cause of the problem you're experiencing.

It's good that you maintain backups of your personal data on (I assume) a
current basis. But do you think backing up your "entire system every 6
months or so" to one or more DVDs is really sufficient? Might you not want
to *comprehensively* back up your entire system using a disk-cloning or
disk-imaging program on a more frequent basis than that? But of course, it's
your choice and if it works for you that's all that counts.
Anna

 

[D.H. Cesare]

You image it with imaging software.

Norton Ghost is one such program. Acronis True Image is another (and it's
the one I and many others here use). If you are looking for a free
program. DriveImageXML is very good.

You may store the image archive wherever you wish: a series or CDs or DVDs
or on an external hard drive (my preferred method).


Actually, you're only talking about 124GB if the entire drive is filled
up. Otherwise, all that matters is the amount of data on the drive. Then
you also have the option of compressing the image. My C: drive is 232GB
(the advertised size is 250GB, but in reality, 232GB is the real size). I
have 51GB of data on it. My archive file is only 45GB, and I could have
compressed it even further had I wanted to.

Not too often, but still -- once or twice a year -- I wind up with a hosed
system. I merely boot off the CD-ROM that has my imaging program on it.
Within 40 minutes, everything is restored *exactly* as it was the moment I
made the image.

Here are some useful links:

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Note that there is a free trial. Also, if you comparison shop, you can get
this program for less than $50 (e.g., $40 at Newegg).

http://www.runtime.org/driveimage-xml.htm

If you use DriveImageXML, you may boot off a Bart PE disk to perform the
restore. It can't make incremental images like Acronis, but it is totally
free.

Thank you