Blank System Restore Screen and Missing Files

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Guest

The other day I installed a demo I got off www.gamershell.com and when I
finished playing it I went to uninstall it. Durring the uninstall process
there was an error uninstalling, but I'm not sure if this has anything to do
with my problems or not. I then right clicked my C drive to see how much
space I had and I noticed I had much more space then the last time I checked.
I also noticed the graphics appeared to be glitchy on the circle graph.

http://tinypic.com/fxz2ns.jpg

The next thing I noticed was that several programs weren't opening and
working like they should be. Norton was disabled and would not open along
with just about everything else. I then realized something was seriously
wrong so I went to do a system restore to before I installed the demo,
because I thought that was what caused it, but when I tried to open system
restore it didn't open. I then tried a 2nd time to open it and it opend to a
blank screen.

http://tinypic.com/fxz33s.jpg

I tried restarting, but it didn't help me at all. I then looked in program
files into some of the folders I have and realized that random files were
missing. My graphics cards drivers were also somehow old ones again and only
a handful of programs stayed on like MSN.

http://tinypic.com/fxz3h0.jpg

I tried doing "Error-Checking" under tools for C drives properties, but it
didn't say there were any problems. If anyone could help me I would really
apreciate it, thanks.
 
The other day I installed a demo I got off www.gamershell.com and when I
finished playing it I went to uninstall it. Durring the uninstall process
there was an error uninstalling, but I'm not sure if this has anything to do
with my problems or not. I then right clicked my C drive to see how much
space I had and I noticed I had much more space then the last time I checked.
I also noticed the graphics appeared to be glitchy on the circle graph.

http://tinypic.com/fxz2ns.jpg

The next thing I noticed was that several programs weren't opening and
working like they should be. Norton was disabled and would not open along
with just about everything else. I then realized something was seriously
wrong so I went to do a system restore to before I installed the demo,
because I thought that was what caused it, but when I tried to open system
restore it didn't open. I then tried a 2nd time to open it and it opend to a
blank screen.

http://tinypic.com/fxz33s.jpg

I tried restarting, but it didn't help me at all. I then looked in program
files into some of the folders I have and realized that random files were
missing. My graphics cards drivers were also somehow old ones again and only
a handful of programs stayed on like MSN.

http://tinypic.com/fxz3h0.jpg

I tried doing "Error-Checking" under tools for C drives properties, but it
didn't say there were any problems. If anyone could help me I would really
apreciate it, thanks.
Click to expand...

It's difficult to tell exactly what has happened to this computer and
when it happened. But clearly, the machine is in trouble and most of
the usual tools and strategies are not working. If you have an
external backup of the HD or an Image of the HD, then it's time to try
a restore. If you don't have those resources, then I don't have any
easy recommendations for you. At this point, I know I would consider
a format and re-install of the operating system.

I'd also consider an external HD with Image software so that you have
an exit should something like this happen in the future. I wish you
good luck on this issue.
 
There is an alternate method using which you can recover the registry hives
from a recent System Restore snapshot.

Example: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

Note that the article was written for a different problem, but it explains
the possibility of recovering the registry hives from a recent System
Restore point, when the unit was functioning well.

See also:

ActiveX controls may not load as expected in Internet Explorer due to
defense in depth changes introduced in cumulative security update 896688:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/olereg.htm

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com
 
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