Unable to load MS Word after XP Home Edition Istallation

[Guest]

I originally upgraded from Millennium to XP Home Edition. Today, I had to
re-install XP and used the same Upgrade Version 2002 disk as "new
installation". Then installed MS Word from the MS Works CD. It installs MS
Works Suite 2001 MS Works 6.0. Then the installation is interrupted and
unable to complete because either not enough memory or
another program is running. Yet, when I upgraded originally (about 2 yrs
ago) all of the programs were working. Now, it seems to be a clean slate and
I can't install any other programs (except the printer and internet). I do
get "End
Program: rundll32.exe when shutting down - I don't know what that means.
I have Windows ME Emergency Recovery CD. Could I re-install ME and Upgrade
from there? I don't know how to get any of the programs back.

Would appreciate any suggestions!! Thanks

 

[Jan Alter]

I'm guessing that you're using an OEM install disk that came with your
computer, such as Dell, Gateway, etc. Quite often these disks have the
additional necessary drivers included for a propriatory motherboard so you
don't have to go searching for them. What happens when you want to do a
clean install of a new operating system, such as XP on a clean disk is that
you may have to go searching for those drivers on the Internet from the
manufacturer's site or you may get lucky and they'll be included on your XP
disk that MS includes.
Sometimes the software that you get from the OEM also is tied to the
original operating system version (Millenium) and you can't install it for a
newer OS directly. You might have to install Millenium again, then MS Works
and then upgrade to XP; which is unfortunate because of the extraneous code
that gets carried over from Millenium, but may be the only way you can get
to reinstall your MS Works program, unless you go out and buy a newer
version that will also specify that it'll run on XP.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for reply --
Yes, I am using the CDs that came with the computer for the applications
that were pre-installed. Before I use the ME emergency recovery boot CD
which I bellieve will wipe out everything and return computer to factory
settings, right? Is there any way that my work is still there now, even
after the New Install of XP? I don't know where to look.
Also, why do I always have to "End Program: rundll32.exe" everytime I go to
shut down?

 

[Jan Alter]

Without knowing whether or not the XP install was an upgrade or fresh
install I can't tell you if there's any possiblity that your work is still
available. If you were upgrading with the XP install disk then your work is
probably still there. though now very inaccessible because you don't have a
working Operating system that will even allow you to access it. In this case
I would remove your disk from the computer and attach it to a second
computer that is running correctly in either XP (preferably) or ME and that
would most likely allow you access to any of your files. This is not a
terribly difficult thing to do but you need to know a little bit about what
you're doing.
It is unfortunate that you do not make a practice of backing up your files
daily or weekly in the first place. What you are kind of doing is like
driving a car across the country without a spare tire. Sooner or later you
get the flat and wonder what's going to happen to get you going again.


If you were doing a fresh or clean install with the XP disk then XP may or
may not have wiped out your partition, depending on how you told it to
proceed and there is a possiblility that your files are gone.
For the future I would recommend that you get yourself an external USB
drive that will allow you to back up your data. There are some excellent
back up programs available as well as imaging programs such as Acronis True
Image.

As far as you using the ME recovery CD; it may allow more than one install
method. One method may simply write over the Windows System files while
keeping "your work" and another may completely wipe out the partition or
minimally reformat the partition which in both cases will remove all data.
You would have to see when and if you try it.

As far as rundll32.exe goes here's what id does.

Process File: rundll32 or rundll32.exe
Process Name: Microsoft Rundll32

Description:
rundll32.exe is a process which executes DLL's and places their libraries
into the memory, so they can be used more efficiently by applications.This
program is important for the stable and secure running of your computer and
should not be terminated.

Note: rundll32.exe is also a process which is registered as the
W32.Miroot.Worm. This Trojan allows attackers to access your computer,
stealing passwords and personal data. It is a registered security risk and
should be removed immediately. Please see additional details regarding this
process

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jan, I will probably purchase Word for XP rather than install ME
again.
And, yes, agree all work should be backed up.
But now concerned about rundll.32.exe that may be w32.miroot.worm. How
would I know, and then where would I get more details of process to remove it?
Thanks!!!!!!

 

[Jan Alter]

I wouldn't worry about it being a worm. It is most likely the program
rundll.32.exe; the program that was not completing a shut down because of
another program that would not relinquish memory. Besides, if you start
fresh, either delete the partition and create a new one and then have XP
format the partition there will be no possiblitiy of any viruses.
What you want to do is make sure you have some decent anti-virus program
running once you get the OS installed and update the definitions on a weekly
basis.

Once again to answer the question of how would you know if you had a virus-
you would need to start your computer with a disk that had an AV program on
it to check your hard drive or you could remove the hard drive, attach it to
another computer that has an AV program installed on it already and run it
through its paces. It's hardly worth the effort if you're starting fresh.

Good luck

 

[Guest]

Norton AV located Bloodhound.w32.1 virus in c\windows\shost.exe file and
cannot delete or quarantine the file. Now, I keep getting a pop up window
advising of this security risk. When I try to access the internet, any
search mode brings up:
www.ad-w-a-r-e-.com/cgi-brn/PopupV3?ID=(9173AF81-33F-DD53-6369-SC180D9FB523)type=normal
.. I close it before the loading completes because I don't know what this is.

If I use the ME Emergency Recovery CD, will it fix this or is this something
that has to be resolved before I install ME?
Then, if I should install ME, do d I UNinstall XP first, along with printer
and Norton AV?
Thanks for your input, time and patience!!!