I Really Need Help!!!!!!!

[Guest]

Hi, I am trying to help a friend out with her computer, but I am having big
problems. When I switch it on you get a screen up saying that it has unable
to find the floppy disk and to press F1 to continue or something else to go
into set up. If you press continue, it goes into a another screen and then
says that it is searching and then it says it is correct. Then it goes into
another screen which is blank with a white line which goes across the bottom,
as though the computer has been in stand by, and then you get windows XP up
and then the welcome screen, etc. It then brings up a screen saying
something about the desktop and would you like to restore it, but also the
mouse is frozen and then all these different programs come up and I can't do
anymore because I can't use the mouse and I don't know how to manoeuvre all
of the different screens without a mouse. I have tried a system restore back
to before the computer went wrong, but the problem is still the same. Is it
a virus????? How do I get rid of it????? Do I need to start from scratch
and put the original software in again (Windows XP Pro) (Will that get rid of
a virus?) I'm really at a loss and all I'm trying to do is help a friend.
Can anyone help???????

 

[Guest]

It sounds like a virus. I'm no expert, I just came here to ask for help
myself but I can offer a tiny bit of help.

To switch between screens without a mouse press down alt and tap the tab
key, each time you tap it will switch to another window. You can also
usually use tab to scroll through each clickable object in a window.

You could try starting the computer in safe mode (tap F8 a lot whilst the
computer boots up)...see if the problem remains. Also see if you can run a
virus scan in safe mode.

In my experience reinstaling windows to get rid of a virus is 50-50. You
might have to boot up with the XP CD in, format the hard drive and then
instal windows again. (this will definatly get rid of any viruses, but is a
last resort...if you get to this stage there are steps you can take to save
data from the hard drive before formatting...for example, I put my hard drive
into another computer, move the files I want to keep across, then change the
hard drive back and format it).

It is strange that the problem starts during bootup though, so try
disconnecting the floppy drive and starting the pc up too.

Sorry I couldnt be of more help.
Alex

 

[Guest]

how did you manage to do a system restore if yuo can't navigate w/o a mouse?

 

[Ron Sommer]

Can you get into the Bios?
Are all devices being detected?
Have you checked for loose cables?
What is the device boot order?
Can you boot to the XP CD?

 

[logan]

Lou,
You are going to make things worse in front of this "friend" of yours. You
prob told her your a prime nerd, and can fix this thing.....please avoid the
embarassment YOU are going to suffer, and take that PC to a local
shop......don't touch it....
Take this "friend" (right) out to dinner instead....


I choose Polesoft Lockspam to fight spam, and you?
http://www.polesoft.com/refer.html

 

[Guest]

is that the advice poeple give you