SP3 install attempt destroyed security

[Robert Willhite]

Three weeks ago I attempted to install SP3 on SP-PRO with an access denied
failure. I followed Microsoft's suggestion to reset the security, and then
everything started going wrong. I continually had denial of access on
startup programs and unfortunately when I went to restore from a backup, I
found that my full last backup failed with a disk error on my external drive.
Eventually by searching the web and implementing some registry changes and
security changes, my system stabilized and I was able to boot up
successfully. Then two days ago everything messed up again and when I
re-booted my docs and settings/administrator folder was empty, thus losing
all of my setttings, email, favorites, etc. I ran a chkdsk with no errors
found, reset security again, looked in my recycle bin, even tried to recover
deleted files with GetBack Data for NTFS, performed every possible recovery
procedure on my disks to no avail.

Now under the Dos and Settings folders I see 4 additional admin folders that
were created by the system somehow being unable to access my profile. I also
see temp user folders that have been created. And on top of that, whenever I
reboot, it thinks I am starting XP for the first time and tries to reinstall
softare and Norton AV fails.

Any suggestions?

P.S. I have been a computer programmer for 25 years and have never
encountered this before!

 

[Twayne]

Three weeks ago I attempted to install SP3 on SP-PRO with an access
denied failure. I followed Microsoft's suggestion to reset the
security, and then everything started going wrong. I continually had
denial of access on startup programs and unfortunately when I went to
restore from a backup, I found that my full last backup failed with a
disk error on my external drive. Eventually by searching the web and
implementing some registry changes and security changes, my system
stabilized and I was able to boot up successfully. Then two days ago
everything messed up again and when I re-booted my docs and
settings/administrator folder was empty, thus losing all of my
setttings, email, favorites, etc. I ran a chkdsk with no errors
found, reset security again, looked in my recycle bin, even tried to
recover deleted files with GetBack Data for NTFS, performed every
possible recovery procedure on my disks to no avail.

Now under the Dos and Settings folders I see 4 additional admin
folders that were created by the system somehow being unable to
access my profile. I also see temp user folders that have been
created. And on top of that, whenever I reboot, it thinks I am
starting XP for the first time and tries to reinstall softare and
Norton AV fails.

Any suggestions?

P.S. I have been a computer programmer for 25 years and have never
encountered this before!

You didn't bother going to MS and reading the SP3 install
recommendations, did you<g>?
Best to start over with a clean install and redo it all from scratch if
you dont' have backups on DVDs or somewhere safe and an emergency
recovery CD. You first priority when it's back up running should be to
learn how to backup and protect yourself from catastrophes like this.

HTH,

Twayne

 

[Robert Willhite]

Twayne,

Actually I did read and perform all of the Microsoft recommendations prior
to SP3. As I stated I do know how to perform backup and recovery, and do a
full backup weekly and an incremental nightly. It was only after attempting
to restore from backup that I realized there was a disk error on my backup
drive.

But thanks for responding.

Rob