Guest GaryG Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 My system (XP Home upgraded from Me 4 years ago) has become slow booting, extremely slow shutting down, and sluggish otherwise. I've unwisely used registry cleaners for several years and maybe I've caused the registry to be part of my problem. I investigated the possibilty of a repair install using the XP upgrade CD (have looked at the MikeStevens Web site), but I can't boot from the CD, nor can Windows Explorer find anything on it. Maybe I have to run setup and change my boot device order? Don't understand. Can someone help me get a handle on what I'm missing here? -- Gary
Guest AJR Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 Re: XP Repair Have you performed "Disk Cleanup", "Defrag" and Start > Run > %Temp% to unclutter the computer? Consider installing Windows Defender (free from Microsoft) to eliminate spywaware/malware. You need to enter BIOS setup - select the CD drive as first boot device. Boot from the XP CD - bypass repair via Recovery Console - setup will detect the XP installation and offer to repair it - select OK and setup will do an upgrade installation - product key required. Although it's an upgrade - backup critical data.. "GaryG" <GaryG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:4E7D9AAB-0F6B-4FD1-ACAC-46345387FDB4@microsoft.com... > My system (XP Home upgraded from Me 4 years ago) has become slow booting, > extremely slow shutting down, and sluggish otherwise. I've unwisely used > registry cleaners for several years and maybe I've caused the registry to > be > part of my problem. > > I investigated the possibilty of a repair install using the XP upgrade CD > (have looked at the MikeStevens Web site), but I can't boot from the CD, > nor > can Windows Explorer find anything on it. Maybe I have to run setup and > change my boot device order? > > Don't understand. Can someone help me get a handle on what I'm missing > here? > -- > Gary
Guest Ronaldo Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 Re: XP Repair Try another CD Drive... if Windows Explorer doesn't read the Windows XP CD your device is probably damaged. Can your CD Drive read other CDs?... you could try and clean the drive laser lens with a laser lens cleaner or open the drive cover and clean the lens... a little dust is all it takes for the drive to not be able to read or write. To boot from the WXP CD (w/any CD Drive), you may need to access the BIOS and rearange the startup order for the CD Drive to start first. Check the Mike Stevens website for your particular keyboard access key or combination to access the BIOS. If this doesn't help you can be sure the problem is the CD Drive. http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm ----------------------------------------------- "GaryG" <GaryG@discussions.microsoft.com> escribió en el mensaje news:4E7D9AAB-0F6B-4FD1-ACAC-46345387FDB4@microsoft.com... > My system (XP Home upgraded from Me 4 years ago) has become slow booting, > extremely slow shutting down, and sluggish otherwise. I've unwisely used > registry cleaners for several years and maybe I've caused the registry to > be > part of my problem. > > I investigated the possibilty of a repair install using the XP upgrade CD > (have looked at the MikeStevens Web site), but I can't boot from the CD, > nor > can Windows Explorer find anything on it. Maybe I have to run setup and > change my boot device order? > > Don't understand. Can someone help me get a handle on what I'm missing > here? > -- > Gary
Guest Ken Blake, MVP Posted October 13, 2008 Posted October 13, 2008 Re: XP Repair On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:01 -0700, GaryG <GaryG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > My system (XP Home upgraded from Me 4 years ago) has become slow booting, > extremely slow shutting down, and sluggish otherwise. I've unwisely used > registry cleaners for several years and maybe I've caused the registry to be > part of my problem. > > I investigated the possibilty of a repair install using the XP upgrade CD > (have looked at the MikeStevens Web site), but I can't boot from the CD, Why not? What happens when you try? > nor > can Windows Explorer find anything on it. You mean that when you don't try to boot from it, it's telling you that the CD is blank? If so, either there's something wrong with the CD or your CD drive. > Maybe I have to run setup and > change my boot device order? If you haven't done that, it's likely that that's why you can't boot from it. But if you CD drive is incapable of reading something on the drive, that's also the problem. > > Don't understand. Can someone help me get a handle on what I'm missing here? > -- > Gary -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Guest GaryG Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Re: XP Repair I have done Disk Cleanup, CHKDISK, Defrag, cleared browser cache. But I haven't used %Temp%. I'll give that a try. Thanks for the suggestion! I looked in setup and the device is the first boot device. I have an Optorite CD/DVD Reader/Burner and a few months ago I couldn't read DVDs, although CDs worked fine. I installed a Cineplayer Decoder Pack and now DVDs play fine, but CDs don't. I don't think Optorite is a mainstream mfgr, so I tried to see if I could find a new driver or any clues. Nothing helped. I don't want to lose DVD reading capability so I think I'll look in an old PC I kept around for spare parts. If there's a name brand CD device in it, I'll put that in my spare slot and see if I can use it strictly for CDs. I use ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite so I have virus/spyware protection. Some expert named Mike Stevens has a Web site with a complicated procedure for a repair installation. Is a repair install simply a matter of doing what you said, or is it necessary to make slipstream CDs, etc? That sounds like something I'm not prepared to tackle. -- Gary "AJR" wrote: > > > Have you performed "Disk Cleanup", "Defrag" and Start > Run > %Temp% to > unclutter the computer? Consider installing Windows Defender (free from > Microsoft) to eliminate spywaware/malware. > > You need to enter BIOS setup - select the CD drive as first boot device. > > Boot from the XP CD - bypass repair via Recovery Console - setup will > detect the XP installation and offer to repair it - select OK and setup will > do an upgrade installation - product key required. Although it's an > upgrade - backup critical data.. > > > "GaryG" <GaryG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:4E7D9AAB-0F6B-4FD1-ACAC-46345387FDB4@microsoft.com... > > My system (XP Home upgraded from Me 4 years ago) has become slow booting, > > extremely slow shutting down, and sluggish otherwise. I've unwisely used > > registry cleaners for several years and maybe I've caused the registry to > > be > > part of my problem. > > > > I investigated the possibilty of a repair install using the XP upgrade CD > > (have looked at the MikeStevens Web site), but I can't boot from the CD, > > nor > > can Windows Explorer find anything on it. Maybe I have to run setup and > > change my boot device order? > > > > Don't understand. Can someone help me get a handle on what I'm missing > > here? > > -- > > Gary > > >
Guest GaryG Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Re: XP Repair Something is wrong with my CD/DVD Reader/Burner. It's an Optorite, not a name brand, and won't read any CDs - data or audio. A few months ago I had a problem reading DVDs, so I installed a Cineplayer Decoder. Now DVDs work but CDs don't. I looked in setup and the device is the first boot device. Something is wrong with the device, so as I replied to the previous post, I'm going to scavenge a CD drive from an old PC, plug it into a spare slot, and see if that will work for me. Mike Stevens' Web site has a complicated procedure for a repair installation. In your opinion, is it necessary to make slipstream CDs, etc? That sounds like something I'm not prepared to tackle. Or is is possible just to simply tell my box to do a repair install (after backing up my data files and being prepared to reinstall my apps)? -- Gary "Ronaldo" wrote: > Try another CD Drive... if Windows Explorer doesn't read the Windows XP CD > your device is probably damaged. Can your CD Drive read other CDs?... you > could try and clean the drive laser lens with a laser lens cleaner or open > the drive cover and clean the lens... a little dust is all it takes for the > drive to not be able to read or write. > > To boot from the WXP CD (w/any CD Drive), you may need to access the BIOS > and rearange the startup order for the CD Drive to start first. Check the > Mike Stevens website for your particular keyboard access key or combination > to access the BIOS. If this doesn't help you can be sure the problem is the > CD Drive. > > http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm > > > ----------------------------------------------- > "GaryG" <GaryG@discussions.microsoft.com> escribió en el mensaje > news:4E7D9AAB-0F6B-4FD1-ACAC-46345387FDB4@microsoft.com... > > My system (XP Home upgraded from Me 4 years ago) has become slow booting, > > extremely slow shutting down, and sluggish otherwise. I've unwisely used > > registry cleaners for several years and maybe I've caused the registry to > > be > > part of my problem. > > > > I investigated the possibilty of a repair install using the XP upgrade CD > > (have looked at the MikeStevens Web site), but I can't boot from the CD, > > nor > > can Windows Explorer find anything on it. Maybe I have to run setup and > > change my boot device order? > > > > Don't understand. Can someone help me get a handle on what I'm missing > > here? > > -- > > Gary > > > > > > > >
Guest GaryG Posted October 14, 2008 Posted October 14, 2008 Re: XP Repair When I try to read a CD from the device, the activity LED blinks for a minute or so, then stops. Absolutely nothing else happens. Windows Explorer displays a completely blank right pane, as if there isn't a thing on the CD. I'm convinced that something is wrong somehow with the drive, but as I mentioned to the other two who posted replies for me, I'm going to install a saved CD reader into a spare slot and see if that will give me CD reading capability. Then I can use my existing device for DVDs and won't lose that capability. Not a high tech fix, but I'm not an expert and I don't have a lot of time for a better way. Once I can read the Win XP install CD, what's your opinion re: doing the simple repair install versus the Mike Stevens LONG version? -- Gary "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: > On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:01 -0700, GaryG > <GaryG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > > > My system (XP Home upgraded from Me 4 years ago) has become slow booting, > > extremely slow shutting down, and sluggish otherwise. I've unwisely used > > registry cleaners for several years and maybe I've caused the registry to be > > part of my problem. > > > > I investigated the possibilty of a repair install using the XP upgrade CD > > (have looked at the MikeStevens Web site), but I can't boot from the CD, > > > Why not? What happens when you try? > > > > nor > > can Windows Explorer find anything on it. > > > You mean that when you don't try to boot from it, it's telling you > that the CD is blank? > > If so, either there's something wrong with the CD or your CD drive. > > > > Maybe I have to run setup and > > change my boot device order? > > > If you haven't done that, it's likely that that's why you can't boot > from it. But if you CD drive is incapable of reading something on the > drive, that's also the problem. > > > > Don't understand. Can someone help me get a handle on what I'm missing here? > > -- > > Gary > > -- > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience > Please Reply to the Newsgroup >
Guest Ronaldo Posted October 15, 2008 Posted October 15, 2008 Re: XP Repair "GaryG" <GaryG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > Something is wrong with my CD/DVD Reader/Burner. It's an Optorite, not a > name > brand, and won't read any CDs - data or audio. A few months ago I had a > problem reading DVDs, so I installed a Cineplayer Decoder. Now DVDs work > but > CDs don't. > > I looked in setup and the device is the first boot device. Something is > wrong with the device, so as I replied to the previous post, I'm going to > scavenge a CD drive from an old PC, plug it into a spare slot, and see if > that will work for me. I recently repaired three CD Drives, two CD-RWs and a DVD-Rom... and found that a little dust in the lens or lack of lubrication in the laser rails is enough to make them have trouble reading CD/DVDs. It seems that the laser needs to slide normally to read normally and the laser is weak enough that a little dust interrupts it. I used just a little dab of vaseline on the wire rails (just enough to make it slide normally but not drip) and cleaned the laser lens with a soft cloth with a little alcohol... that was all they needed to start working again, the three of them are working, two still have other unrelated problems, but none was working before. > Mike Stevens' Web site has a complicated procedure for a repair > installation. In your opinion, is it necessary to make slipstream CDs, > etc? > That sounds like something I'm not prepared to tackle. Or is is possible > just > to simply tell my box to do a repair install (after backing up my data > files > and being prepared to reinstall my apps)? > -- > Gary You don't need a sliptreamed WXP CD but you need at least the same update version as installed, to do a repair installation. If you find the slipstreaming complicated you can do it with the help of "AutoStreamer". The slipstreamed WXPSP3 CD is not absolutely necessary but it saves a lot of time you would spend later intalling the SP3 Update.
Guest Daave Posted October 15, 2008 Posted October 15, 2008 Re: XP Repair "GaryG" <GaryG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:1AEDEE3F-0B27-4C20-8D63-7B01B0A11410@microsoft.com... > Once I can read the Win XP install CD, what's your opinion re: doing > the > simple repair install versus the Mike Stevens LONG version? There is only one way to perform a repair install of Windows XP, and Michael Stevens does a very good job outlinining the procedure. When you say "simple repair," what exactly do you have in mind? Also consider that a repair install may not have any impact on a system's sluggishness. But for your own peace of mind (since you unfortunately ran registry "cleaners", which can sometimes screw up a system), go for it and perform a repair install; it's a good learning experience if you have the time. Just make sure you back up all your data first -- just to be on the safe side. If after performing the repair install, you are still experiencing sluggishness, read on... Here are the most common causes for PC slowness: 1. Malicious software (malware) 2. Certain programs that are designed to combat malware (e.g., Norton and McAfee). Ironically, they can slow things down because they simply use way too many resources. Sometime they cause conflicts with other programs. And their default mode is to scan your entire hard drive each time you boot up. 3. Too many of *certain types* of programs always running in the background -- with or without your knowledge. Use these sites to determine what these programs are and to learn how to configure them not to always run at startup: http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php#THE_PROGRAMS http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/startups/ http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm Sometimes it is recommended to use msconfig to configure the programs to not run at startup. A better, more thorough program is Autoruns: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx 4. Not enough RAM, which causes the PC to overly rely on the pagefile. A quick way to determine if this is happening is to open Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Del) and click the Performance tab. Then note the three values under Commit Charge (K): in the lower left-hand corner: Total, Limit, and Peak. The Total figure represents the amount of memory you are using at that very moment. The Peak figure represents the highest amount of memory you used since last bootup. If both these figures are below the value of Physical Memory (K) Total, then you probably have plenty of RAM. Otherwise, you may want to explore this further by running Page File Monitor for Windows XP: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_pagefilemon.htm 5. You might also want to check that your hard drive's access mode didn't change from DMA to PIO: http://www.technize.com/2007/08/02/is-your-hard-disk-cddvd-drives-too-slow-while-copying/ and http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/
Guest GaryG Posted October 15, 2008 Posted October 15, 2008 Re: XP Repair Ken, OK. I found an old CD-ROM drive and plugged power and signal cables to it. It reads my CDs ok, but I only have one sound card so I don't think I can play audio CDs without adding an additional surplus sound card and plugging it to a surplus set of speakers. So I'm in a position to Win XP repair-install now. Could you help me with another question? My Optorite CD/DVD reader-burner used to play CDs just fine. But I couldn't get DVDs to play, (although I could burn DVDs to backup my data files). So I installed Roxio's Sonic CinePlayer DVD Decoder Pack and DVDs started playing as they should. I didn't think to test CD operations at the time. Does a CD/DVD combo device typically use the same read/write components (lenses, etc) for CDs and DVDs? If not, I probably need to clean the CD-specific components. But if they do, I suspect my problem could be either the CD-related hardware in the device, device driver, or whatever other software the device uses. (I don't know quite enough about computers to understand whether a device needs anything besides its driver to work correctly.) Would you advise replacing my CD/DVD device with a name-brand that may prove more dependable? Incidentally, I used %TEMP% to delete files that I may not have been deleting via the other cleanup methods I've used. I also installed Microsoft's latest updates as well as SP3. Performance seems to have picked up a bit. So I don't have a compelling reason to repair-install at this time. Your opinion? (If it ain't broke, don't fix it?) -- Gary "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: > On Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:00:01 -0700, GaryG > <GaryG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > > > My system (XP Home upgraded from Me 4 years ago) has become slow booting, > > extremely slow shutting down, and sluggish otherwise. I've unwisely used > > registry cleaners for several years and maybe I've caused the registry to be > > part of my problem. > > > > I investigated the possibilty of a repair install using the XP upgrade CD > > (have looked at the MikeStevens Web site), but I can't boot from the CD, > > > Why not? What happens when you try? > > > > nor > > can Windows Explorer find anything on it. > > > You mean that when you don't try to boot from it, it's telling you > that the CD is blank? > > If so, either there's something wrong with the CD or your CD drive. > > > > Maybe I have to run setup and > > change my boot device order? > > > If you haven't done that, it's likely that that's why you can't boot > from it. But if you CD drive is incapable of reading something on the > drive, that's also the problem. > > > > Don't understand. Can someone help me get a handle on what I'm missing here? > > -- > > Gary > > -- > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience > Please Reply to the Newsgroup >
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