Very Odd XPSP2 behavior...

[Corey]

I'm working on a XPSP2 Pro Dell box (came with SP2) that is exhibiting
very strange behavior. I have run anti-virus and anti-spyware apps on
it and have found nothing.
Most programs will not run properly. System functions (like search and
system restore and system information, etc) will not run or show blank
screens. Files can not be copied in any way (can't drag, r-click copy
and paste, send-to) in either normal OR safe mode, to anywhere including
the desktop, a flash drive, between folders or even dragged around a
single folder. Copy and paste LOOKS like it is gonna work as the items
will highlight, but when you go to paste them the paste option is grayed
out. Many programs (like MS A-S) won't install complaining that
"windows installer service could not be accessed."
Some things DO work. With My Computer OR windows explorer I can move
around the drive and LOOK at any directory folder or file. I can browse
the internet. Acrobat runs fine. Spybot and AdAware run fine (and find
nothing). Some programs will uninstall (AOL did). Most items in the
control panel appear to run.
I gave up on this box and went to do a repair install. Strangely, it
was not offered. Giving up on the data (it is a sata drive and I have
no sata controller to plug it in to) I decided to restore from a backup
image that Dell has on a separate partition that one accesses with a
ctrl-F11. Would not work. Possibly because it is a USB keyboard and
USB is not active early enough. (no ps2 ports)
Short of wiping the drive and manually reinstalling from CDs (which I
will have to wait for from Dell as they didn't include them), does
anyone have any thoughts? I have never seen anything like this before...
BTW I have run CHKDSK and SFC.

 

[R. McCarty]

Just a suggestion - Try creating a new profile and log in. If issues aren't
present, then it's profile specific. If you still have the same conditions
you'll need a repair install or restore.
About keyboard - you probably need to change BIOS settings. If the
PC doesn't have PS/2 then it should support Legacy USB for both the
mouse and keyboard. Can you access BIOS setup on the computer?

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

I'm working on a XPSP2 Pro Dell box (came with SP2) that is exhibiting
very strange behavior. I have run anti-virus and anti-spyware apps on
it and have found nothing.
Most programs will not run properly. System functions (like search
and system restore and system information, etc) will not run or show
blank screens. Files can not be copied in any way (can't drag,
r-click copy and paste, send-to) in either normal OR safe mode, to
anywhere including the desktop, a flash drive, between folders or
even dragged around a single folder. Copy and paste LOOKS like it is
gonna work as the items will highlight, but when you go to paste them
the paste option is grayed out. Many programs (like MS A-S) won't
install complaining that "windows installer service could not be
accessed." Some things DO work. With My Computer OR windows explorer I
can move
around the drive and LOOK at any directory folder or file. I can
browse the internet. Acrobat runs fine. Spybot and AdAware run fine
(and find nothing). Some programs will uninstall (AOL did). Most
items in the control panel appear to run.
I gave up on this box and went to do a repair install. Strangely, it
was not offered. Giving up on the data (it is a sata drive and I have
no sata controller to plug it in to) I decided to restore from a
backup image that Dell has on a separate partition that one accesses
with a ctrl-F11. Would not work. Possibly because it is a USB
keyboard and USB is not active early enough. (no ps2 ports)
Short of wiping the drive and manually reinstalling from CDs (which I
will have to wait for from Dell as they didn't include them), does
anyone have any thoughts? I have never seen anything like this
before... BTW I have run CHKDSK and SFC.

"The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error Message When You
Add or Remove Program
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[Corey]

I appreciate the suggestion. User accounts is a blank window so I can't
create a new user. Can't do a repair install as it is not offered where
it normally is. Booting from the CD and following prompts only offers a
reinstall. BTW, I have run the dell diagnostics and got no hardware errors.

 

[R. McCarty]

One more - Have you tried booting to one of the Safe Mode(s), like
Last Know Configuration ? If you can get to Safe mode, you should
be able to create a new user - Providing the Administrator account
is still available.

 

[Corey]

"The Windows Installer Service Could Not Be Accessed" Error Message When
You Add or Remove Program
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315346

Thanks, Frank. Actually, the inability to install new software is way
down on my list of concerns here. Do you think corrupted msi files
might be causing other of these problems? If not then I think this is a
symptom rather than the root problem and unless I need to install some
other tool to fix this I will hold off on this for now.

 

[Corey]

Yeah, "Last known good..." did run but didn't change anything. The UI
for creating a new user in control panel is blank (in normal and safe
mode), but if there is a way to do that without the UI I would give it a
try. Both users on this system are admins.

 

[R. McCarty]

O.K. Here's a last gasp suggestion. Boot it to Safe Mode & run
the Microsoft Management Console. Right Click My Computer,
Left Click Manager - Users and Groups - Right Click in Users &
you should be able to create a new User.

 

[Corey]

Okey Dokey, I was able to create a new user. Unfortunately it suffers
from the same problems as the other users.

Thanks for the help, tho.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP]

Thanks, Frank. Actually, the inability to install new software is way
down on my list of concerns here. Do you think corrupted msi files
might be causing other of these problems? If not then I think this
is a symptom rather than the root problem and unless I need to
install some other tool to fix this I will hold off on this for now.

Did your computer come with a WinXP CD (not a restore CD)? If so have you
tried a Repair install (not the first "R" choice)?

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

 

[Corey]

Did your computer come with a WinXP CD (not a restore CD)? If so have
you tried a Repair install (not the first "R" choice)?

The repair install isn't offered. Only a reinstall.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE]

See http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/