Massive problem with Windows 2000 and my computer

[David Berch]

It all started when I bought a copy of Civilization 3:
Conquests. The game wouldn't work so I e-mailed the makers
(Atari) about it hoping they could fix my problem. What
they suggested what I do was this:

"Attached to this email is w2kmscfg.zip which contains an
executable (msconfig.exe) for system setup. Unzip this
file to a safe location on your computer and double-click
it. In the System Configuration Utility, change the system
to Selective Startup and uncheck Load Startup Items.
Switch to the Services tab and check the Hide All
Microsoft Services box. Uncheck any services left in the
list and Apply the changes. Reboot your system when
prompted.

Go to www.windowsupdate.com and download the latest
critical fixes for your machine. After doing so, download
and install the latest drivers for your video and sound
card from your computer manufacturer (the video and sound
card drivers from www.windowsupdate.com will not suffice.
Once that's done download and install the latest version
of DirectX from www.microsoft.com/directx/ and reboot as
necessary."

So I did what they said to do and then rebooted my
computer. However, upon restart, I was greeted with a
screen of vertical colored lines. I rebooted my computer
again and again the same problem occurred. I figured that
maybe it had been the windows updates I just downloaded so
I went into safe mode and removed all of the "Windows Hot
Fixes" with the add/remove software program on the control
pannel. I rebooted again, but the vertical colored lines
remained. I then went into safe mode again thinking it
might be the msconfig.exe but I couldn't even reach safe
mode because now I was getting .dll and explorer.exe
errors, presumably because I touched the windows updates.

The problem is now I can't even access my computer right
now. I tried different options like one of the debugging
restoration modes and even a "load from last saved setup",
neither of which worked. The debugging restoration mode
led to a screen with horizontal blue lines. I have no idea
what I should do now, I frantically searched for my
windows 2000 disc but couldn't find it anywhere. I have a
lot of important files on this computer for school and I'd
like to be able to access my hard drive again without
completely reformatting. Does anyone have any advice or
solutions for me? Thank you.

 

[Guest]

DON'T FORMAT THE DRIVE - install a 2nd installation of Win2K to a different folder, this will allow you to recover your data, etc

Another alternative, is to take a ghost image of your C drive to a portable device or CDR/RW, then you could use ghost explorer to recover the data later.

 

[Carl Fenley]

It sounds like Atari has sent you the boiler-plate troubleshooting regimen.
Did you download the new video drivers? The problem sounds like a
configuration issue on the video or monitor settings.

My suggestion would be to beg, borrow, or steal a startup floppy to get to
your hard drive. That would be a start.

- carl

 

[KWW]

As an emergency measure.... find a friend with Win2k on his/her computer
that has a spare "slave" position (and either a CD burner or some other
removable storage setup). Set the jumper on your hard drive to "slave" and
connect it in. You can then get to your important files, copy them off to
the removable media and have them to work with/on. This way, if you do mess
things up and/or have to reformat, you won't lose all that data.
KWW
The opinions expressed are my own, based on my own experience.... utilize at
your own risk.