Windows XP upgrade...virus?

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Guest

Two weeks ago I got a new Ipod Mini and tried to get my old Dell
866mhz (Windows 2000) machine to recognize it. It wouldn't. I tried
my dad and sister's lap top and it recognized it find on there's.
So, I figured it was a Windows 2000 thing.

So, I went to Drexel's FTP site and downloaded the Win XP upgrade. (NOTE: Only because someone on another messageboard accused me of hacking. The Drexel University FTP site is free for all students and faculty and you have to enter in your student ID and password to get in. I would have NEVER upgraded to Windows XP if it was bootlegged or from some individual person who had an FTP. This was put up by Drexel, so if I did get a virus from it, it baffles me.)

I got the upgrade and tried the Ipod. It still didn't work.
Frustrated, I left for vacation.

When I got back there were many problems. I'm not sure if it's a Win
XP thing or if I have a virus now--

Windows Update will not work. I click on it and nothing happens.
Early on I would click on it and it would go to a blank page.

I can't reinstall Norton Antivirus or uninstall it. In fact, most
programs will not be uninstalled or installed.

I've tried installing other virus programs, one of which I'm
currently fond of and using: Karespky (or something like that). I
have it on that machine, HOWEVER my computer will not allow it to get
the updated virus database. I installed it on the laptop I'm typing
to you on now and it had no problem pulling the software updates.

I can't copy and paste ANYTHING. I can't even move icons around on
my desktop. I can't drag and drop things into folders at all.

In Outlook Express, when I hit reply to an email, it gets an error
and I can't do anything.

When I try to install most everything, I get a Windows Installer
error saying, "The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed.
This can occur if you are running Windows in safe mode, or if the
Windows Installer is not correctly installed. Contact your support
personnel for service."

I've even tried one of those online virus scans, I think one of them
found something, but even after the fact, I am still having trouble...

I would just say, "Put all my data on my external harddrive and
reformat", but I cant even move data on here.

On top of all of this, I can't even revert back to Windows 2000,
despite having a disk, because the computer tells me it won't allow
me to revert back to an old operating system.

So, I'm out of ideas on what to do. My next plan is to download the
virus software and get all the updates on this laptop and then send
it to myself via AIM and see if that program will run on my
computer...but, I dunno...
 
Bobby

You have possibly 2 issues.
1. Norton Antivirus - the version running under 2000 may have caused problems with XP during the installation. You should have had messages regarding the need to install or update Norton files.

Before going too far down un uncharted road, may I recommend.

1. Remove Norton's.
for Internet Security 2004 follow this link - http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPOR...88256e2f00781416?OpenDocument&src=bar_sch_nam
If it's another version find the correct one after arriving at this page.

2. Do an oline virus check with Nortons site.

Reinstall XP - use the Repair function, at the second time it is given as a choice: don't worry, if you choose the first one, you will find that you are basically at a command prompt and everything is waiting for your input. Just reboot and choose Reapir the second time.

3. When this is done, you should be able to browse your own PC or an internet site. Do not attempt to retrieve any email yet.

3. Make sure everything is working properly and then reinstall Norton's.
 
It may be a little late to mention this, but Microsoft offers a free Upgrade
Advisor, that will pre-screen your PC for compatibility with XP. It check
both hardware and software, then makes suggestions about what to do. Things
it found on my old Gateway (450 MHz, running 98 first edition) included:

1. Needed newer BIOS, one with Y2K fix.
2. Needed to uninstall all Norton products, get newer version, and
re-install. Note: even if you have the latest Norton, what it installs
under 2000 could be different than waht it installs under XP. Ditto for
McAfee and related types.
3. Needed to uninstall Easy CD Creator, then re-install plus XP patches.
Ditto for Nero, if you have that.
4. Outlook 97 (part of Office 97) would not work, and there was no patch.
Outlook Express is installed with XP ans does mot of the same functions.
The rest of Office 97 worked OK, but then I had already installed SP-2 for
Office 97.
5. My internal hardware was PCI-based, which XP supports directly, with
built-in drivers, real plug and play. XP does not provide the same level of
support for ISA-based hardware. For that you need to check with the maker
of the hardware and hope that they have XP-drivers.

As for where you are, I agree with a previous reply that a "repair"
installation of XP may solve the problem. I also agree that you must
uninstall all of Norton first, and all other virus and system-like software.
If the add/remove programs control panel does not work, check with Symantec
on how to manually remove their software. This may involve some registry
editting.

Links to repair of XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315341



http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm



http://www.extremetech.com/print_article/0,3998,a=23979,00.asp



If nothing else works and you want to revert to 2000, first format the disk,
using the recovery console on the 2000 CD. Or, use a DOS floppy with FDISK
to firs delete all partition, then re-ceate them.

Bobby Miller said:
Two weeks ago I got a new Ipod Mini and tried to get my old Dell
866mhz (Windows 2000) machine to recognize it. It wouldn't. I tried
my dad and sister's lap top and it recognized it find on there's.
So, I figured it was a Windows 2000 thing.

So, I went to Drexel's FTP site and downloaded the Win XP upgrade. (NOTE:
Click to expand...
Only because someone on another messageboard accused me of hacking. The
Drexel University FTP site is free for all students and faculty and you have
to enter in your student ID and password to get in. I would have NEVER
upgraded to Windows XP if it was bootlegged or from some individual person
who had an FTP. This was put up by Drexel, so if I did get a virus from it,
it baffles me.)
 
Thank you BAR, you are the first person to actually offer advice. I will try out what you said and see what happens...
 
Thanks Bob. I'll be checking this all out soon. If I could just get Norton uninstalled!
 
Incredible.

Got rid of norton antivirus finally.

Did a virus scan.

Reinstalled Windows.

Worked better, I could drag and drop again.

Reinstalled norton antivirus. It wouldnt allow me to get the liveupdates and then it wouldnt allow me to go on the internet.

Now its back to the way it was again...
 
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