Compter hangs when trying to access "Programs"

[Paul (Bornival)]

Hi,
I got an annoying problem which is that the computer hangs when clicking on
Start --> Programs. By examining the matter in more details, I noticed that
could no longer aces the folder C:\Documents and settings\All users\Start
up\programs\Administrative Tools. I tried to copy this folder (in order to
overwrite it theereafeter with the copy) and correct a mino reading problem,
but I could not copy the folder.

I guess that the folder is corrupted but do not know how to correct the
situation (apart from reinstalling Windows from scratch.

Any advice ?

Kind rgegards,

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Paul (Bornival)]

Thank you for your prompt reply.

The link you sugegsted is interesting but I wonder whether this will solve
my problem. A "repair" will indeed repair all windows files but will leave
intact the "Documents and Settings" folder (which is the purpose of the
"repai"r vs. a "resintall".

Now, my problem is that the computer hangs (or open VERY slowly) because
something is obviously wrong with the subfolder "Administrative Tools" in
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs" (it looks as if
Windows has a difficulty to read that folder: when I try to pen with Windows
Explorer, I get a the "wait" icon for about 1-2 min then the folder
eventually opens and I can access all subfolders except the "Administrative
Tools" [if I try to open it, I get the "wait" icon didefinitely and I have to
kill Windows Explorer by Ctrl/Alt/Del to regaincontrol).

Thus, if I make a "repair", I'll leave this problematic folder intact, and
the problem will not be solved. making a "reinstall" may solve the problem
.... but since I'll have a new installation, I'll need to reinstall all
applications ...

Any suggestion.

Any specific virus I should be looking for ?

Kind regards,

Paul.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

A repair will probably fix it, and not disable any applications.
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Mark L. Ferguson

Thank you for your prompt reply.

The link you sugegsted is interesting but I wonder whether this will solve
my problem. A "repair" will indeed repair all windows files but will leave
intact the "Documents and Settings" folder (which is the purpose of the
"repai"r vs. a "resintall".

Now, my problem is that the computer hangs (or open VERY slowly) because
something is obviously wrong with the subfolder "Administrative Tools" in
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs" (it looks as if
Windows has a difficulty to read that folder: when I try to pen with Windows
Explorer, I get a the "wait" icon for about 1-2 min then the folder
eventually opens and I can access all subfolders except the "Administrative
Tools" [if I try to open it, I get the "wait" icon didefinitely and I have to
kill Windows Explorer by Ctrl/Alt/Del to regaincontrol).

Thus, if I make a "repair", I'll leave this problematic folder intact, and
the problem will not be solved. making a "reinstall" may solve the problem
... but since I'll have a new installation, I'll need to reinstall all
applications ...

Any suggestion.

Any specific virus I should be looking for ?

Kind regards,

Paul.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--
Was this helpful? Then click the "Yes" button below. Voting helps the web
interface. http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPost

Mark L. Ferguson

 

[Paul (Bornival)]

Thank you for your help.
While trying to solve my problem, I decided to copy the disk to a new one
using DriveCopy. It failed and I receiced e message that the folder "System
Volume Information" was corrupted.
Any idea what I should do ?
Paul.

 

[Paul (Bornival)]

Dear Mark,

I wish to keep you informed about the follow-up of my problems, beause it
may be interesting.

The bottom line is that the disk was defective !

Here is how I found it:

- I tried to copy the disk with Drive Copy and it hanged, pointing to a
major disk problem.

I ran chkdk which found several problems and corrected them.

Yet, this did not solve the main problem (computer hanging for a long time
when logging in...

Finally, and after several other attempts, I tested the disk with a
diagnostic tool from the disk manufacturer (Maxtor/Seagate) and this showed
that the disk had at last two errors... Attempts at correcting them was
unsuccessful (as were attempts to correct the problems by running chkdsk).

I was eventually able to copy all files to a new disk using Drive Copy after
having removed the corrupted "Administrative Tools" folder and bypassing the
verification steps.

When this new disk was used for booting the computer, the "Administrative
tool" was reconstitued and everyting bas normal (fast boot up and fast
logging in).

The new disk works fine now since then and the older one has been sent to
Seagate for under warranty replacement...

The lesson of this incident is that running a disk diagnostic tool could be
a fast and useful step chen adressing "bizarre problems" with Windows...

Regards,

Paul.

A repair will probably fix it, and not disable any applications.
--
Was this helpful? Then click the "Yes" button below. Voting helps the web
interface. http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPost

Mark L. Ferguson

Thank you for your prompt reply.

The link you sugegsted is interesting but I wonder whether this will solve
my problem. A "repair" will indeed repair all windows files but will leave
intact the "Documents and Settings" folder (which is the purpose of the
"repai"r vs. a "resintall".

Now, my problem is that the computer hangs (or open VERY slowly) because
something is obviously wrong with the subfolder "Administrative Tools" in
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs" (it looks as if
Windows has a difficulty to read that folder: when I try to pen with Windows
Explorer, I get a the "wait" icon for about 1-2 min then the folder
eventually opens and I can access all subfolders except the "Administrative
Tools" [if I try to open it, I get the "wait" icon didefinitely and I have to
kill Windows Explorer by Ctrl/Alt/Del to regaincontrol).

Thus, if I make a "repair", I'll leave this problematic folder intact, and
the problem will not be solved. making a "reinstall" may solve the problem
... but since I'll have a new installation, I'll need to reinstall all
applications ...

Any suggestion.

Any specific virus I should be looking for ?

Kind regards,

Paul.

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
--
Was this helpful? Then click the "Yes" button below. Voting helps the web
interface. http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm#RateAPost

Mark L. Ferguson


:

Hi,
I got an annoying problem which is that the computer hangs when clicking on
Start --> Programs. By examining the matter in more details, I noticed that
could no longer aces the folder C:\Documents and settings\All users\Start
up\programs\Administrative Tools. I tried to copy this folder (in order to
overwrite it theereafeter with the copy) and correct a mino reading problem,
but I could not copy the folder.

I guess that the folder is corrupted but do not know how to correct the
situation (apart from reinstalling Windows from scratch.

Any advice ?

Kind rgegards,