Help with System Recovery, please!!!

[Gail]

Hi,

I was having problems with my computer and tried to do a system restore. It
ended up telling me that it couldn’t restore it and no changes would be made.
I shut down computer and when I turned it on the next day, the icons were
huge on the desktop and I couldn’t access anything. There was no taskbar and
when I did a ctrl alt delete the task mgr came up very large and I was not
able to shut the computer down. I turned it off was going to try safe mode
but could not access it. Nothing happened when I hit F8 key so finally
decided to do a system recovery hitting the F10 key. I was aware that I
would go back to factory computer settings and would have do a lot of updates
and installs. It went through the process and welcomed me, etc. and then
went to Windows XP Home screen and said to wait. So I waited and waited and
I am still waiting. It doesn’t leave that screen. The hourglass will move
if I move the mouse, but otherwise, nothing is happening. I am afraid to
turn it off.

Can anyone help, please?

Thanks,

 

[db.·.. >]

it sounds like a
physical issue involving
faulty hardware
because a factory
restore would basically
override problems
with installed software.

 

[Gail]

Would it hurt to turn it off?

it sounds like a
physical issue involving
faulty hardware
because a factory
restore would basically
override problems
with installed software.

 

[Richard in AZ]

It won't get any worse.

| Would it hurt to turn it off?
|
| "db.·.. ><))) ·>` .. ." wrote:
|
| > it sounds like a
| > physical issue involving
| > faulty hardware
| > because a factory
| > restore would basically
| > override problems
| > with installed software.
| >
| > --
| >
| > db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
| >
| > | > > Hi,
| > >
| > > I was having problems with my computer and tried to do a system restore. It
| > > ended up telling me that it couldn't restore it and no changes would be made.
| > > I shut down computer and when I turned it on the next day, the icons were
| > > huge on the desktop and I couldn't access anything. There was no taskbar and
| > > when I did a ctrl alt delete the task mgr came up very large and I was not
| > > able to shut the computer down. I turned it off was going to try safe mode
| > > but could not access it. Nothing happened when I hit F8 key so finally
| > > decided to do a system recovery hitting the F10 key. I was aware that I
| > > would go back to factory computer settings and would have do a lot of updates
| > > and installs. It went through the process and welcomed me, etc. and then
| > > went to Windows XP Home screen and said to wait. So I waited and waited and
| > > I am still waiting. It doesn't leave that screen. The hourglass will move
| > > if I move the mouse, but otherwise, nothing is happening. I am afraid to
| > > turn it off.
| > >
| > > Can anyone help, please?
| > >
| > > Thanks,
| > >
| > >
| > >
| >
| >

 

[Gail]

Well, I turned it off and it says that the system is not complete and to run
setup again. Tried it again with same problem. Should I use the recovery
disks I made when I bought the computer? It is OEM and I did not get any
windows cd w/it. Any ideas, anyone?

Thanks.

 

[db.·.. >]

well,

what you might want
to try is to access the
disk system and run
a checkdisk.

as mentioned before
the issue you are having
sounds like a faulty
component and it
may be simply
disk errors.

go to the section called
command console here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

then run the command
chkdsk

then type exit
reboot and remove the
oem.

------------
if you are unable to
run a checkdisk, then
the harddrive may be
the cause of your headache.

wouldn't be a bad idea
to check inside the computer
and checkout the wiring and
ensure none are loose, frayed
bent or broken.

 

[Jon Breen]

Hi Gail,

What problems were you having with your PC before you tried a restore? Was
it running slowly beforehand and unresponsive? If so these sound like
either virus/spyware related issues or something more serious such as your
hard disk about to fail. Problem is a lot of viruses and spyware now get
into the system restore folder

Firstly though it will be helpful to know what those problems you were
having involved?

Thanks,
J

 

[Daave]

It sounds to me that you gave up on Windows' System Restore prematurely!

What is the make and model of your PC? I take it that pressing F10 at
bootup wipes your hard drive and lays down a fresh install. I hope you
have backed up all your data and settings.

If you have problems in the future, it would be wise to post here
*before* you try anything drastic! Very often, there are fairly
straightforward methods for dealing with PC problems (which usually stem
from some sort of malware infestation).

 

[Gail]

Actually, I couldn't find a way to get into system restore without the
ability to access anything, including a command line. You're right, I'm sure
someone else here could have found a way but I wasn't getting that answer
yet. I went ahead and tried the recovery disks I made when I bought the
computer and that worked! So I am just in the process of reinstalling
programs and back-ups and updates. Thanks to everyone that tried to help!