Kccitystar Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 Well, I've had a few troubles with my laptop, and this is probably the one issue where I'm guaranteed to switch to linux. I have McAfee Antivirus installed, DC++, MS Office and basically all of the default software that came with my laptop. Anyway, I was busy on AIM chatting with my friends and I was in the process of deleting some pictures taken from my digital camera, and my laptop just froze. I restarted my laptop only to find out none of my icons show and my taskbar is GONE. I'm talking about a flat out generic desktop background. I'm talking about the stupid hilltop background when you first install windows XP. (then again I've had that for a while) I've tried everything from System Restore to manually launching Explorer but nothing launches, and nothing happens. Any suggestions would gladly be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krawhitham Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 reinstall windows and get rid of McAfee Antivirus, it is a resource hog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SloppyChris Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 I'll just throw this out there, I don't mean to imply anything. You sure you're logged in to the right account? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kccitystar Posted October 26, 2006 Author Share Posted October 26, 2006 Yes, I am logged in under my name, and because this POS laptop is a Dell, they did not include a system restore disc, which is just crap. I guess I'm SOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SloppyChris Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 Can one run Linux without working at the command line? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krawhitham Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 I love my dell, I dropped that ****** 25 feet once and it did not phase it You have newsgroup access? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kccitystar Posted October 26, 2006 Author Share Posted October 26, 2006 No I do not have newsgroup access Can one run Linux without working at the command line? Through a GUI, somewhat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SloppyChris Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 No I do not have newsgroup access Through a GUI, somewhat Got it, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred13 Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 They should have given you an OEM windows CD that supposed to onl;y work on your machine. My bro has a Dell laptop, He got one with his. Phone Dell, they'll probably mail you one, but that will probably take some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mav3rek Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 something similar happened to my laptop once. it just froze up, and then no matter what, everytime i rebooted it, it was just the background with no icons, or taskbar...nothing.... it was running windows media center edition (i think), but what i did to fix it was to restore the system with the system restore cd's that came with it... since you don't have those i'm not sure what you should do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kccitystar Posted October 26, 2006 Author Share Posted October 26, 2006 It's not that I don't have them it's the fact that Dell did not supply me with any discs to begin with Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCH3900 Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 ok what u can do... have you tried Safe Mode? have you contacted Dell? for future reference do ensure that the product your getting has an OS Install disc! my suggestion for the interm is just DL a copy of XP SP2 for now, if your desperite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCH3900 Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 Also have you tried the Load last good configuration option under Boot Selection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kccitystar Posted October 26, 2006 Author Share Posted October 26, 2006 did all of that, I'm trying out the SFC /scannow command line to see if it will clear anything up. I mean I wasn't even doing anything, just chatting and deleting pictures Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChicagoCubs720 Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 try holding down F8 right after the laptop starts up, and I think there's some choice about opening up in safe mode with a command prompt. In the command prompt, type 'start explorer' (I think). See if that works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicHands8686 Posted October 26, 2006 Share Posted October 26, 2006 You can reinstall windows. You need to either make the CD (they include a CD creator) or use the recovery partition (I believe you punch F11 right after the bios screen). Could be an HD error that caused the laptop to basically dump explorer, OR a virus. Can you launch internet explorer from task manager? If so type in control panel in the address bar, go to add/remove programs and remove McAfee. Then go to free.grisoft.com and download AVG free and install it. Update it, then perform a full system scan. As for recovering explorer you may need to find that app to create the windows install CD so you can run recovery console in the windows setup and reinstall explorer. Reason why I'm saying this is McAfee can be crap sometimes. Someone here at school I know had McAfee on her system and she got a virus. It activated, sent copies of itself through the whole school network to everyone on her AIM buddy list and IT shut down her port to stop it (she had to go get it reactivated later). Finally McAfee woke up and said "heeyy.... you got virus! What do you want to do?" Then "Oh, sorry, can't remove it!" - I'm loosely paraphrasing what it did I use AVG free and when the virus came over the network to me it stopped it cold and killed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkB Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 PC manufacturers are required by law to provide a copy of either the original CD (in your case, a retail version of XP) or a restore disc, like OEM companies usually do. If Dell didn't provide you with a restore disc (make sure it's not lying around with the paperwork they'll have dumped on you), you have a legitimate beef with them. Sounds like Jay has the one you should have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samoggi Posted October 28, 2006 Share Posted October 28, 2006 Had that issue.... Download Tweak UI Powertoy Google it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAM Posted October 30, 2006 Share Posted October 30, 2006 there should be a restore striped on the hard drive. no physical cd but what looks like an extra HD on your laptop thats usually where the restore files are. most companies don't include physical discs anymore- it's all stored like i just mentioned- theoretically it's "safe" but can screw up. if not- try hirens boot see if that helps. google it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.