computer is on is last legs!

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EVERYTHING that could go with my computer has! my volume has gone (says it
has no audio mixer devices), my keyboard is writing in numbers, my mouse
highlights everything and I have no idea what is going on!
 
Rupe said:
EVERYTHING that could go with my computer has! my volume has gone (says it
has no audio mixer devices), my keyboard is writing in numbers, my mouse
highlights everything and I have no idea what is going on!
Click to expand...

Re-install Windows. When you do, allow the disk
to be formatted so that you start with a clean slate.
 
EVERYTHING that could go with my computer has! my volume has gone (says it
has no audio mixer devices), my keyboard is writing in numbers, my mouse
highlights everything and I have no idea what is going on!
Click to expand...

That screams viruses (or should that be virii?) and/or malware of
mixed and various sorts.

Wouldn't even think about trying to clean out - time for a clean
(re)install.
 
In addition to Pegasus answer;

Formatting HD for XP ; Clean install:

In order to do a very clean install you may want to download and create a
(FKA) Low Level Format diskette. You should be able to get a LLF (HD format
utility that writes 0's to the drive) utility from your HD manufacture:

IBM(Hitachi)
http://www.hgst.com/hdd/support/download.htm

Seagate
http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/utils.html

Maxtor
http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/index.htm

Fujitsu
http://www.fel.fujitsu.com/home/drivers.asp?L=en&CID=1

Samsung
http://www.samsung.com/Products/HardDiskDrive/utilities/index.htm
FAQ: Low level format

Western Digital
http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp

The reason is that some viruses and even Windows OS can leave traces of
itself on your HD, I have formatted numerous systems, set specificate
settings, re-formatted the unit using Windows XP OS and there it was most
settings where already set, this LLF utility will insure that the hard drive
be wiped clean for XP or any OS install. Be advised that this utility will
wipe all partitions from your drive so you will have to re-create them, no
biggy this is part of the OS installation process.

Insert XP CD into your CD-Rom drive (the BIOS must be set to boot from the
CD-Rom 1st), power down the PC. Before powering the PC on, unplug the
Internet connection, scanners, printers, any peripheral attached including
modems, wireless cards.

Power on PC, when windows starts create your partition(s) as desired
(example below), format your primary partition and install XP. Once the OS
has installed do not connect to the Internet, install your anti-virus and
firewall, connect to the Internet and do your live updates for your
anti-virus, firewall, then windows, after this has completed install the rest
of your SW and perform your updates to these.

Download the latest drivers for your peripherals, then install your
hardware, (note: some peripherals require that you first install the SW prior
to installing the hardware, consult your manufactures manual for
instructions).

Note: Partition creation suggestions, this example is for a drive of 40GB’s.

C: (3 GB), D: (28 GB), then I would leave the extra untouched in case I
would want to do testing, installing different OS like Linux or Win 2K/2003
server or any other OS. Install the OS on the larger drive (AKA Partition).
Install the OS to the D: drive.

Why 3 GB initial partition? It is because you may want to place your
pagefile on this partition most Windows OS’s work better when the pagefile is
on a different drive and since Windows accesses this file every time it is
used this would speed up file access, or file swapping. Another would be that
if for some unforeseen reason you have to format your PC you can place your
Data on this drive then format your boot partition drive safely.
 
Found this guide to installing XP on a forum, can't post a link to it since
it requires login.

"Quote:
CLEAN INSTALL FOR XP - IDE DRIVES

Preparation

get any xp drivers you may need prior to installation ie modem,
scanner, sound etc and put them on a disc -
there is nothing worse than not being able to connect to the internet
after install because xp lists your modem
as " simple communications device"

Set your boot order in the bios (hit delete or F1 when you switch on
pc) of the pc you are installing xp on to boot
1st cdrom 2nd ide0 usually found in advanced features and also make
sure time and date a set correctly
and turn off any aggressive/ overclocking settings or set to fail safe
defualts

I recommend removing things like modems, tv cards, pci sound cards and
any external usb devices before you install xp
especially on older systems, to avoid setup hanging when its searching
for hardware. once xp has installed you can put them back in and it will
find them and install the drivers

write down your serial key or better still a selection of keys ready
on a bit of paper

SETUP

1. Put the xp cd in cdrom drive and reboot the pc, it should then boot
from cd if set ok in bios, you will get a message saying "press any key to
boot from cd"

2. Press a key to boot from CD and Windows setup will begin. Windows
will start copying setup files to your computer.

3. You will be asked if you want to perform a new installation, repair
an existing installation, or quit. Select new installation.

4. You will be presented with the End User Licensing Agreement. Press
F8 to accept and continue.

5. Select the partition where you want install windows. ie c:\ 20gb

6. The next screen asks if you wish to use the NTFS file system.
Although this is the recommended file system i would stick with fat32 on
smaller drives but the choice is yours. ntfs is more stable and secure

7. Choose to format the partition to either FAT32 or NTFS. You'll also
see two additional choices to perform a quick format
of each option. Stick with doing a full format as it will verify all
the sectors on your hardrive.
When asked to start the format, press the "F" key. The formatting
process may take quite a bit of time.
YOU WILL LOSE ALL DATA ON THE DISC

8. The setup program will automatically start copying files after the
partition is formatted
and you will see a setup progress bar.

9. After this is complete the computer will restart. Leave the XP CD
in the drive but this time DO NOT press any key when
the message "Press any key to boot from CD" is displayed. In few
seconds setup will continue.

10. Windows XP Setup wizard will guide you through the setup process
of gathering information about your computer,
finding and setting up hardware etc.

11. Choose the region and language.

12. Type in your name and organization.

13. Enter your product license key which you wrote down earlier.

14. Name the computer, and enter an Administrator password. Don't
forget to write down your Administrator password.

15. Enter the correct date and time.

16. Choose workgroup or domain name.

17. Ignore the option to register with microsoft

18. Add users that will sign on to this computer.

19. Log in, to your PC for the first time.

20. Click start > then right click on my docs/my computer/my music etc
etc and select show on desktop

21. Right click on my computer>manage>services and applications >
services> and scroll down to messenger double click and disable. this will
stop annoying popups when connected to internet and has nothing to do with
messenger (n/a with SP2 Slipstreamed disc)

Now for a few tweaks to get the most from older systems

22. Right click on my computer>properties>advanced>performance>
settings and either tick the box "adjust for best performance" (you will
lose all visual xp themes) or untick any options you dont want ie Smooth
edges of screen fonts etc

23, Open any folder then tools>folder options>view and tick the box
that says "do not cache thumbnails"

24, Right click on recycle bin>properties>global and set the bin size
to 1%
as windows will automatically take 10% of your drive for the bin,
greedy swine

25, Right click my computer>properties>system restore> settings. now
either leave it as it is, turn it off or reduce the size
to what you want down to the minimum 200mb.


HARDWARE

26. Right click on my computer>properties>hardware>device manager and
see if anything has an exclamation mark, you may
need to update drivers etc etc

27. Shutdown and put back in any devices you removed and reboot. have
any driver discs ready

28, You now need to check the device manager again to confirm that all
the drivers has been loaded or if there are any conflicts.

29, I would now defragment at least twice before you install anything
else

30, Setup your internet if needed and update at windows and install
your other software

INSTALLATION ISSUES

Setup hangs or freezes,

31, usually hardware related, remove anything not essential, just have
motherboard, processor, memory,
graphics card, hard drive and one cdrom drive installed.

32, check all ide cables are in good condition and firmly fitted, any
doubt change the cable.

33, check your processor cooler and cooling fan are clean and not
clogged with crap

34, check your memory sticks are seated correctly, also if you have
more than one stick try leaving just one in for set-up.

35, Disc not present, failure to read from cdrom, random reboots. etc
etc .POWER SUPPLY. if you are installing a new
motherboard or bigger harddrive then it could be your power supply is
just not up to the job of powering todays devices.
in bios look for hardware monitor in advanced settings and check the
voltages, anything out by 10% can cause issues,
especially the 12v lines which power your drives. if the psu is a
generic one that came with your case they are usually
garbage imo. the power supply is the heart of your pc and often
overlooked when upgrading. get the best you can afford.
antec are the rolls royce of psu's. Q-tec are a good substitute, ive
been using them for 2 years or more in the systems i build with no problems.

36, faulty hardware. your hard drive could have bad sectors, or faulty
memory stick. try swapping and see if it solves your issue.


CLEAN INSTALL - SATA DRIVES

same as for ide but at step 2....

to install xp on a sata drive you need to do the following.......

firstly copy your sata drivers (usually supplied with motherboard
disc, or download them from motherboard site) on a floppy.
copy all files needed for the SATA controller you need to maintain the
directory structure when you do this as the
Win XP Setup program wont find the driver if you dont and it will keep
going back to the "insert diskette into drive A" screen.

Boot from the win xp disc and press any key when asked. when the blue
screen appears with windows setup at the top,
look at the bottom of the page and it will say "Press F6 if you need
to install a third party scsi or raid driver" Do So,
you will then be presented with a screen like below...

Windows Setup

Setup could not determine the type of one or more mass storage devices
installed in your system, or you have chosen to manually specify an
adapter.
Currently, Setup will load support for the following mass storage
devices(s):

* To specify additional SCSI adapters, CD-ROM drives, or special
disk controllers for use with Windows, including those for
which you have a device support disk from a mass storage device
manufacturer, press S.

* If you do not have any device support disks from a mass storage
device manufacturer, or do not want to specify additional
mass storage devices for use with Windows, press ENTER."

press S

you will then get the following screen


" Please insert the disk labeled

Manufacturer-supplied hardware support disk

into Drive A:

* Press ENTER when ready. "

Press ENTER

windows will then load the sata driver from the floppy you made
earlier and continue on loading setup files
and it will then show your sata drive when it comes to selecting
partition.

from then on continue as normal with set-up.

hope this helps you."
 
=?Utf-8?B?UnVwZQ==?= said:
EVERYTHING that could go with my computer has! my volume has gone (says it
has no audio mixer devices), my keyboard is writing in numbers, my mouse
highlights everything and I have no idea what is going on!
Click to expand...

fdisk/format/install fresh
 
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