restore

[Terry Kangas]

Hi,
I hope someone can help me, my brother-in-law is running XP and had his
computer crash during a lightening storm. He couldn't get it to operate
properly , so he used System Restore. But he said that after running it, he
had to reinstall most of his programs, including Microsoft programs, but XP
won't let them be reinstalled. Plus when he logs on, the screen looks
different. He also thinks the computer seems slower than before. I'm not too
familiar with XP yet, but I think the power surge did some damage beyond
what Restore can fix?

thanks, Terry

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi,

How far back in time did he restore the system?

 

[Terry Kangas]

I believe back to when he bought it. I don't know that he knew you can
choose a restore point. He also said that when he tried to reinstall
Microsoft office, it wouldn't accept his key code.

Terry

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Ask him to try a more current Restore Point

 

[Pop`]

That almost sounds like he chose a point in time from before he installed
those programs? If that's the case, or if he used a CD to restore, it might
well explain why none of those programs work any longer; they will need to
be reintalled.

Why XP won't "let" him install them though is a little confusing.
If there are any Restore Points left, I'd suggest he try those and see
what happens. Start with the latest one and then work backwards until it
starts to work again; IF that's possible. Come back with the exact wording
of any error messages that occur.

Lightning seems to be a likely suspect for sure, and it may or may not have
caused physical damage to the computer. Just as likely, it may or may not
have simply messed up a data spot on the drive. It's very hard to say. For
the uninitiated it's pretty hard to tell. In other words, damage can range
from nothing to a software problem created during a write operation when the
hit occurred to actual physical damage to components within the computer.
Usually a modem is the first hardware damaged, but may also be power supply.

If the computer passes POST (the initial self test, usually ending with a
"ding" sound, just before the operating system starts to load, then at least
the important components are very likely OK. It sounds like that's
happening, so the computer -should- be able to boot, which it also sounds
like it can do.
That said, if Restore Points are no help then try reinstalling some of
the programs. Come back here and give the exact error messages that appear.
Worst case, try a Repair install of XP. No data is lost, but those are
famous last words if he doesn't follow instructions exactly. If that fails
or a Repair install isn't possible then it's probably time to reinstall XP
and start from scratch.
If that succeeds, then it's still possible the modem may not work and
could have suffered line-side damage, but at least it's only one component
which is replaceable. If it doesn't succeed, it's probably time for a trip
to the shop.

Pop`
--
--
Healthy as a horse,
Stong as an Ox,
and Happy like a Rabbit

 

[Bert Kinney]

Or have him launch System Restore and choose the "Undo my last
restoration" option.

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org