laptop XP problem

[Philippe Gautier]

Hi, I thought I might try here to get some advice. Since yesterday, I
have big problems with my laptop (Windows XP up to date). I think it my
have started when I tried to remove Windows Defender which started to
give me errors message everytime I started the computer since January (I
think the version failed to update). Since then, I have the following
problems: Firefox and Internet Explorer: the program starts (I can see
the process in the Task Manager), but no window appears and it stay
stuck like that. Microsoft programs like Money or Media player: open but
crash fairly quickly. Microsoft Installer failed and get stuck everytime
I try to use it to remove programs like Defender. Windows update don't
seem to work anymore either. System restore doesn't work either (nothing
happens).
The network and internet link are fine since I can ping website or use
telnet or ftp and can see my home wireless network.
I tried to restart in safe mode and all of the above seems to work. I
could then go back to a previous restore point from December, but it
doesn't change anything.

Now, could someone give me some advice here or point me to some internet
help (I tried to google but these problems are so vague it's difficult
to find something precise)? I think now the only thing I can do is
reinstall XP, but not looking forward to that!

Thanks

Philippe

 

[smlunatick]

Have tried to download the new Defender? The one you had previous may
have been a Beta version, which has recently exipred.