Windows Down (long post)

[Irvin]

I have an older (about 3 years old) HP desktop with Windows XP Media Center
that is having some major windows issues. I'll cover the background first.

First off, I was having some problems with a certain program running with
McAfee Antivirus running. I turned it off, but forgot to turn it back on.
So it had no virus protection for several months to a year. I don't use this
computer very often since it's my daughter's computer.

I've since activated McAfee Antivirus. A month ago, I noticed that it was
turned off again (mcafee). I turned it back on, but after rebooting it was
off again. Then I could not turn it on. Eventually, the Security Center did
not work. I could not access anything. I tried to reactivate the security
center service in the control panel, but it would not activate. So I
rebooted several times to see if that would correct the issue and allow me to
activate the security center. I assumed that I had a virus, rootkit, or some
external threat damaging and/or controlling the computer.

After reboot, I recieved an error indicating that my master boot record had
an error. When I purchased the HP desktop from Best Buy, I don't think I
received the Windows Media Center disk with the system. So to fix the MBR
error, I used a Windows XP Pro SP2 disc that came with one of my Dell
laptops. During bootup, I selected "R" to repair the OS. When I got to the
repair menu, it listed that my OS main path was in the i386 or minint
folders. It did not list the windows folderm which threw me for a loop. So
selected "1" which is the i386 folder. Nothing appeared to happen, so I
pressed "Enter" which apparently canceled the process and sent me to an i386
prompt. I tried to change the path to windows but it wouldn't let me. So in
the i386 path, I typed in fixboot, but I received an error message. I then
typed in fixmbr and received a warning but decided to continue. It went
through the process but did not help because I received the same MBR error
during bootup.

So now I am considering just reinstalling the OS. Again, I don't think I
have the original OS, Windows Media Center XP, that came with the computer.
So I plan to reinstall it with my windows XP pro SP2 or windows vista discs
that came with my dell laptops.

I have a few questions before I do this. First off, is this in compliance
with Microsoft's EULA? I do own the discs and am using it for personal use.
If I do install windows xp pro SP2 or windows Vista over my windows media
center OS, will it damage or erase my "My Documents" folder? I have a large
amount of files in this folder that I need access to. So I do not want
anything to damage, delete, etc. this folder. I do plan on updating to
Windows 7 in October and I want the upgrade to run smoothly. With this in
mind, would it be better to install windows vista? The computer is three
years old and I am hoping that Windows 7 will breathe new life into this
computer. It was not terrible, but not very fast.

Lastly, the HP desktop did come with a recovery partition, but I do not know
how to use this partition to help me correct the problem. Perhaps this is
the best way to correct the issue. I would appreciate any advice anyone can
give to help me fix my computer.


Thanks


Irv

 

[Bennett Marco]

[snip]

So now I am considering just reinstalling the OS. Again, I don't think I
have the original OS, Windows Media Center XP, that came with the computer.
So I plan to reinstall it with my windows XP pro SP2 or windows vista discs
that came with my dell laptops.

Nope. Can't do that. Don't even think about it.

I have a few questions before I do this. First off, is this in compliance
with Microsoft's EULA? I do own the discs and am using it for personal use.

You don't "own" anything. Read the EULA.

[snip]

Lastly, the HP desktop did come with a recovery partition, but I do not know
how to use this partition to help me correct the problem. Perhaps this is
the best way to correct the issue. I would appreciate any advice anyone can
give to help me fix my computer.

Look for an option on system startup. It will be a message telling you
which "F" key to hit.

Note that using the recovery partition will reset your computer to the
same condition it was in when it was first turned on. ALL data (My
Documents, etc.) and ALL programs that were installed since that time
will be GONE. Save them to an external drive before using the
recovery partition.

 

[1PW]

I have an older (about 3 years old) HP desktop with Windows XP Media Center
that is having some major windows issues. I'll cover the background first.

First off, I was having some problems with a certain program running with
McAfee Antivirus running. I turned it off, but forgot to turn it back on.
So it had no virus protection for several months to a year. I don't use this
computer very often since it's my daughter's computer.

I've since activated McAfee Antivirus. A month ago, I noticed that it was
turned off again (mcafee). I turned it back on, but after rebooting it was
off again. Then I could not turn it on. Eventually, the Security Center did
not work. I could not access anything. I tried to reactivate the security
center service in the control panel, but it would not activate. So I
rebooted several times to see if that would correct the issue and allow me to
activate the security center. I assumed that I had a virus, rootkit, or some
external threat damaging and/or controlling the computer.

After reboot, I recieved an error indicating that my master boot record had
an error. When I purchased the HP desktop from Best Buy, I don't think I
received the Windows Media Center disk with the system. So to fix the MBR
error, I used a Windows XP Pro SP2 disc that came with one of my Dell
laptops. During bootup, I selected "R" to repair the OS. When I got to the
repair menu, it listed that my OS main path was in the i386 or minint
folders. It did not list the windows folderm which threw me for a loop. So
selected "1" which is the i386 folder. Nothing appeared to happen, so I
pressed "Enter" which apparently canceled the process and sent me to an i386
prompt. I tried to change the path to windows but it wouldn't let me. So in
the i386 path, I typed in fixboot, but I received an error message. I then
typed in fixmbr and received a warning but decided to continue. It went
through the process but did not help because I received the same MBR error
during bootup.

So now I am considering just reinstalling the OS. Again, I don't think I
have the original OS, Windows Media Center XP, that came with the computer.
So I plan to reinstall it with my windows XP pro SP2 or windows vista discs
that came with my dell laptops.

I have a few questions before I do this. First off, is this in compliance
with Microsoft's EULA? I do own the discs and am using it for personal use.
If I do install windows xp pro SP2 or windows Vista over my windows media
center OS, will it damage or erase my "My Documents" folder? I have a large
amount of files in this folder that I need access to. So I do not want
anything to damage, delete, etc. this folder. I do plan on updating to
Windows 7 in October and I want the upgrade to run smoothly. With this in
mind, would it be better to install windows vista? The computer is three
years old and I am hoping that Windows 7 will breathe new life into this
computer. It was not terrible, but not very fast.

Lastly, the HP desktop did come with a recovery partition, but I do not know
how to use this partition to help me correct the problem. Perhaps this is
the best way to correct the issue. I would appreciate any advice anyone can
give to help me fix my computer.


Thanks


Irv

Hello Irv:

For less than $30USD, HP will send you a Recovery DVD.

Because of all the compound mistakes that have taken place, perhaps at
this point, it's the very best thing you can do for that system.

Best wishes to you.