Restored my computer, now it wont work... I need help!

[small700]

Okay, here is my problem.

A few weeks ago my computer (laptop, running XP) began to freeze up
every time I pressed a key. I went into device manager and next to my
keyboard there was a black exclamation point. I tried everything to
fix the problem and eventually I was forced to perform a system
restore...

I went to start my computer back up (after the restore) and it loads
up but I can't get to my main page (like with all my icons and such),
The screen just stays blue. I still cant use the keyboard, so I cant
boot up in safe mode (or can I?!)

I never made a back up CD or anything...

Is there any way of salvaging my computer?? Do I need to buy any
software to make it work?

I have another computer running XP (the one im on right now) it's a
dell, the laptop is an acer, is there any way to use one to fix the
other?

Thank you, I REALLY NEED THE HELP!

 

[Ron Martell]

Okay, here is my problem.

A few weeks ago my computer (laptop, running XP) began to freeze up
every time I pressed a key. I went into device manager and next to my
keyboard there was a black exclamation point. I tried everything to
fix the problem and eventually I was forced to perform a system
restore...

I went to start my computer back up (after the restore) and it loads
up but I can't get to my main page (like with all my icons and such),
The screen just stays blue. I still cant use the keyboard, so I cant
boot up in safe mode (or can I?!)

I never made a back up CD or anything...

Is there any way of salvaging my computer?? Do I need to buy any
software to make it work?

I have another computer running XP (the one im on right now) it's a
dell, the laptop is an acer, is there any way to use one to fix the
other?

Thank you, I REALLY NEED THE HELP!

Turn on the computer and start tapping the F8 key rapidly just as soon
as the first information of any kind shows on the screen. Keep
tapping until the Windows XP Startup Menu appears and then choose Safe
Mode from the menu. From there you can go back into System Restore
and undo your recent restore.

Note that if the Windows XP startup splash screen appears then you
have missed the startup menu and you need to shut down, restart, and
try the F8 trick again.

Post the results back here. There are other things we can try but
this is the best starting point.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[small700]

my keyboard still isn't working, I try pressing F8 but I get
nothing...

can I plug another keyboard into my laptop? or is that a rediculous
idea?

I have been reading up on some of these threads, looking for a case
like mine... alot of people mention windows XP sp2... will that help
me in my situation?

thank you so much for taking time to help

 

[Ron Martell]

my keyboard still isn't working, I try pressing F8 but I get
nothing...

A single press of F8 will not work, unless you manage to time it for
the precise instant when XP will respond to it at startup.

You have to tap it rapidly, so that one of the taps will "catch" XP at
the right point to bring up the startup menu.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Elmo]

my keyboard still isn't working, I try pressing F8 but I get
nothing...

can I plug another keyboard into my laptop? or is that a rediculous
idea?

I have been reading up on some of these threads, looking for a case
like mine... alot of people mention windows XP sp2... will that help
me in my situation?

thank you so much for taking time to help

If the laptop came with XP, it's new enough that a USB keyboard should
work. There may be a ps2 port for an external kb too.

You can also see if the ribbon cable between the kb and the mb is
accessible. Possibly unplugging it, and reinserting could help if it
has worked its way loose.

Can you press a key to get into the BIOS? If you can get there, the kb,
or at least some parts of it are working.

To get to the Startup menu, try F8, F5 or the Ctrl key. Click
repeatedly and hopefully you'll click at that magical time between the
POST, where the kb is checked, and the start of Windows. On some
systems, if you depress a key, you'll get a kb error with an option to
enter Safe Mode. That may be one way to enter the BIOS, as a test of
the kb.

 

[small700]

So, I got F8 to work, and booted in Safe Mode.. but I get an error
that says

This application has failed to start because SHLWAPI.dll was not
found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

How can I reinstall it?

 

[Elmo]

So, I got F8 to work, and booted in Safe Mode.. but I get an error
that says

This application has failed to start because SHLWAPI.dll was not
found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem.

How can I reinstall it?

Click Start, Run, type SFC /SCANNOW, click OK. If any files are damaged
or missing, they'll be replaced. You may need to reboot afterwards so
damaged files will be replaced.