OS Might Be Corrupt

F

Fruit2O

I have enough problems with my system that it might be corrupt - in more
than one place. This is just a guess. However, I have over 100 apps
installed and would hate to have to reinstall all of them with their
specific settings.
1. How can I tell if my system IS corrupt?
2. If it is, what is the EASIEST way to get back to where I was before
it became corrupt?
3. Is there a way to un-corrupt my system without reformatting and
reinstalling the OS?

I've been very careful to install only legitimate software and I've
faithfully run anti-malware programs and Norton Internet Security. I
also have backups of my whole system. I'm hoping that there's some way
to determine what my problems are and fix them without a fresh install.
After all, if a system can become corrupt this simply, what good is it -
especially if it can't tell me what's wrong and what needs to be fixed?
 
M

Mr. Arnold

Fruit2O said:
I have enough problems with my system that it might be corrupt - in more
than one place. This is just a guess. However, I have over 100 apps
installed and would hate to have to reinstall all of them with their
specific settings.
1. How can I tell if my system IS corrupt?
2. If it is, what is the EASIEST way to get back to where I was before
it became corrupt?
3. Is there a way to un-corrupt my system without reformatting and
reinstalling the OS?

I've been very careful to install only legitimate software and I've
faithfully run anti-malware programs and Norton Internet Security. I
also have backups of my whole system. I'm hoping that there's some way
to determine what my problems are and fix them without a fresh install.
After all, if a system can become corrupt this simply, what good is it -
especially if it can't tell me what's wrong and what needs to be fixed?
Click to expand...

You run System File Check -- sfc /scannow at Command Prompt.
 
A

Al

From your post "... I have enough problems with my system ..." - and those
problems are--???
 
N

Nil

1. How can I tell if my system IS corrupt?
Click to expand...

There are many many many many many many many many many many many many
possible kinds of "corruption". Some can corrected from within the OS.
Some can't. Since you give us no clues as to what is going on, there's
really no way to answer your questions.
 
F

Fruit2O

From your post "... I have enough problems with my system ..." - and those
problems are--???
Click to expand...
Here they are with all the info I have to go with them................


HP Tech Support Issues (Telephone number from Louie: 800-652-6672)
HP Tech Support: 800-474-6836 (24/7)
Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv5 Notebook PC Rev 1
HP Pavilion dv5t-1000 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC

Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2 (build 6002)
P/N KQ574AV
S/N CNF84816H3
BIOS: Hewlett-Packard F.21 08/20/2009
Windows Product ID: 89578-OEM-7332157-00061
Have run Norton Internet Security, Avira free version, Malware Bytes
Anti-Malware, Ad-Aware, CCleaner, chkdsk, SUPERAntiSpyware and Spybot
(over and over again) without finding a problem.
The bios and all drivers are up-to-date.
======================================================================
Windows Vista Problems:
======================================================================
No sound anywhere - not even at Startup
Failed to play test tone (Playback Device)

Can't install Microsoft "FixIt" Powershell for "no sound"

Run: Mats_Run.AudioRecording.exe
Fix It Troubleshooter cannot continue because an error occurred
We're sorry, but PowerShell failed to install. Please try again later.
Problem with playback devices
======================================================================
Can't get microsoft updates (Code 8024402F)

Task Scheduler: The task image is corrupt or has been tampered
with.User_ Feed_Synchronization-{722327AC-5712--4164-B619-A0CC4141E4F3}
The task image is corrupt or has been tampered
with.GoogleUpdateMachineUA
GoogleUpdateTaskMachineCore
mcupdate
======================================================================
chkdsk /R - finds the same problems every time it's run
Everything runs OK except for multiple instances of:
Recovering orphaned file xxxxxxx.xxx into directory file xxxxxxx.xxx
======================================================================
Can't run SFC /scannow (only goes to ~53%)
======================================================================
Screen flickers occasionally
======================================================================
When I run Avira A/V, it finds 5 unsigned system files
======================================================================
Volume bar on screen doesn't show up
======================================================================
Windows Explorer frequently stops working and must restart
======================================================================
Focus shifts by itself
======================================================================
HP Total Advisor & HP Support don't work
======================================================================
Card Reader doesn't work
======================================================================
Can't open default midi output device
======================================================================
Will this system run Windows 7?
======================================================================
Unable to load 'PMHook.dll' (Password Manager XP)
======================================================================
Want original Cyberlink YouCam back again (Can't remove new version)
======================================================================
 
F

Fruit2O

There are many many many many many many many many many many many many
possible kinds of "corruption". Some can corrected from within the OS.
Some can't. Since you give us no clues as to what is going on, there's
really no way to answer your questions.
Click to expand...


Here they are (again).....

HP Tech Support Issues (Telephone number from Louie: 800-652-6672)
HP Tech Support: 800-474-6836 (24/7)
Hewlett-Packard HP Pavilion dv5 Notebook PC Rev 1
HP Pavilion dv5t-1000 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC

Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 2 (build 6002)
P/N KQ574AV
S/N CNF84816H3
BIOS: Hewlett-Packard F.21 08/20/2009
Windows Product ID: 89578-OEM-7332157-00061
Have run Norton Internet Security, Avira free version, Malware Bytes
Anti-Malware, Ad-Aware, CCleaner, chkdsk, SUPERAntiSpyware and Spybot
(over and over again) without finding a problem.
The bios and all drivers are up-to-date.
======================================================================
Windows Vista Problems:
======================================================================
No sound anywhere - not even at Startup
Failed to play test tone (Playback Device)

Can't install Microsoft "FixIt" Powershell for "no sound"

Run: Mats_Run.AudioRecording.exe
Fix It Troubleshooter cannot continue because an error occurred
We're sorry, but PowerShell failed to install. Please try again later.
Problem with playback devices
======================================================================
Can't get microsoft updates (Code 8024402F)

Task Scheduler: The task image is corrupt or has been tampered
with.User_ Feed_Synchronization-{722327AC-5712--4164-B619-A0CC4141E4F3}
The task image is corrupt or has been tampered
with.GoogleUpdateMachineUA
GoogleUpdateTaskMachineCore
mcupdate
======================================================================
chkdsk /R - finds the same problems every time it's run
Everything runs OK except for multiple instances of:
Recovering orphaned file xxxxxxx.xxx into directory file xxxxxxx.xxx
======================================================================
Can't run SFC /scannow (only goes to ~53%)
======================================================================
Screen flickers occasionally
======================================================================
When I run Avira A/V, it finds 5 unsigned system files
======================================================================
Volume bar on screen doesn't show up
======================================================================
Windows Explorer frequently stops working and must restart
======================================================================
Focus shifts by itself
======================================================================
HP Total Advisor & HP Support don't work
======================================================================
Card Reader doesn't work
======================================================================
Can't open default midi output device
======================================================================
Will this system run Windows 7?
======================================================================
Unable to load 'PMHook.dll' (Password Manager XP)
======================================================================
Want original Cyberlink YouCam back again (Can't remove new version)
======================================================================

If any more info is needed, I'd be glad to get it!!!
 
N

Nil

chkdsk /R - finds the same problems every time it's run
Everything runs OK except for multiple instances of:
Recovering orphaned file xxxxxxx.xxx into directory file
xxxxxxx.xxx

If any more info is needed, I'd be glad to get it!!!
Click to expand...

No, I think that's enough information to say that I think your Windows
installation is hosed beyond repair. From the above, I'd say that the
file system is heavily corrupt. Running CHKDSK has compounded the
problem by "recovering" the files and turning them into unusable file
fragments. It probably was too far gone to be saved anyway.

If (and that's a big "if") it could be repaired, it would take many
tedious manual hours of trial and error by someone who knows what
they're doing - it certainly would not be practical for you to try to
fix it by consulting a newsgroup.

I think it's time for you to make backup copies of all your important
data files, if you haven't already, and reformat your disk and re-
install Windows. If I were you, I would buy a brand new hard disk and
install to that. Then when you have your system working again, I might
examine the old disk closely and see if it is safe to use again. But
for now, I wouldn't trust it.

I went through a similar exercise several months ago. Windows started
acting flaky, my primary disk started showing errors, and CHKDSK just
made the problem worse, finding more and more errors each time it was
run. I never got any SMART errors, though, which usually signal a
mechanical disk failure. The file system itself was corrupt beyond
repair. I managed to make a viable image of the data on the disk and
was able to restore that to a brand new one. With some heavy-duty
tweaking I was able to get it working as it was before. The old disk
required a low-level format using the manufacturer's utility. It's now
back in the computer and being used as an extra storage disk. For a
long time I avoided putting anything on it that I couldn't afford to
lose, but it's been almost a year now and it's working fine, so I guess
I trust it now. I'll never know what happened the first time - maybe it
could have been a power failure at just the wrong time.

All hard disk drive WILL fail. It's not a question of "if", it's a
question of "when".
 
N

Nil

The thing is: Everything else (besides what I listed) works well.
Click to expand...

For now. I predict the whole thing is slowly down the toilet. The fact
that CHKDSK finds continual errors and can't fix them is telling. You
may be able to fix various symptoms here and there, but others will pop
up, and more frequently, until one day you will not be able to boot up.
 
B

Billns

The thing is: Everything else (besides what I listed) works well.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid you are being overly optimistic here. I've got to agree with
Nil that your system is in pretty bad shape. Getting your data off of it
onto flash drives, CD's, an external hard disk, online storage, etc. is
your first order of business.

You can try a system repair once you've backed up your stuff.

Bill
 

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