XP recovery help

[simbasgang]

Hi there,

I have XP on a Compaq Presario that was running very slow and freezing a lot for the last few weeks. I followed advice from the magazines re msconfig to improve startup time (which was taking as much as 30 mins). As i wasn't sure which progs to remove from startup, I did a basic startup. That's when things went wrong!

I was faced with a very minimal screen and white task bar, and nothing worked. I tried system restore but all restore points had vanished and nothing worked. I tried everything from the F8 key to reboot but it was completely dead so I had to do a recovery.

This has apparently worked , and I have managed to reinstall several of my programmes and AOL.

But on startup I now get 3 error messages:

 

1. Your webshots desk top is corrupted and needs to be reinstalled

 

2. One or more system DLLs could not be loaded-ESApp.dll

 

3. Easy share needs reinstalling.

 

I have reinstalled webshots and easyshare and still get the messages. and I have no idea what the DLL is!

 

Can anyone please enlighten me?

 

Thanks in advance.

[RandyL]

Hi;

 

1. Uninstall Webshots and leave it uninstalled. I know what it is. I've tried it. Never again.

 

2. ESApp.dll is part of the Easyshare program from Kodak.

 

3. Uninstall Easyshare. If you think you must have it install the Latest Version. Make sure you read the System Requirements and Installation Instructions.

[simbasgang]

Thank you Randy, I use webshots a lot and have never had any trouble before...now you are making me wonder........ I reinstalled it as on recovery there was no webshots left on my PC to uninstall, even though I was getting this message. Thought reinstall might get rid of the message. same with Easyshare but maybe there it is my Kodak disc that is out f date?????

 

I wonder if there is still something wrong with my system as I cannot update my drivers...getting the message "Driver Detective Installation wizard was interrupted before it could be completed. Your system has not been modified" ????????

[Plastic Nev]

Hi,

I think it might be best to go back to the start again and maybe do a full recovery again before you install anything more.

Once the recovery is complete, only re install the AOL I assume that is your ISP?

 

Then check if Windows firewall is activated, if it is, it will be safe enough to go online to Microsoft and get all the windows updates.

 

This should bring you up to service pack three level, plus any major windows based drivers should be available or even installed during the update process. It will take some time!

 

Let us know what messages you are presented with at that point before installing anything else.

[RandyL]

I think Plastic Nev is right that you might be better off doing a full reinstalllation.

 

It sounds like you have restored from a Vista backup. This of course would leave you with the originall backup faults. Driver Detective for instance is a third party program too. Not one I'm particulary fond of either.

 

Backup everything and do a full reinstall. Save your favorites, mail, contacts, files, etc.

 

Reinstall by using the compaq/hp disks you made or by tapping F11 at startup.

 

If you have any questions before you start feel free to ask.

[danzil]

i agree with RandyL make a backup, then do a format and re-install.....will save time in the long run.

regards

danzil

[simbasgang]

Hi guys,

Thank you all for taking the trouble to help me.

 

I have run a recovery, installed AOL, been to Microsoft and installed IE 7. Not sure what else to do on Microsoft...will it update automatically? It is set for that.

 

Still getting these messages on startup:

 

1. Easyshare---could not boot the application.

 

2. Runner Error---runner file name (LogitechDesktopManager.exe) lacks a '-' (the app.id separator)

 

3. Critical error--Your Webshots installation is corrupt----you must reinstall it.

 

I haven't attempted to do anything about these yet.

 

By the way, this is my old PC running Win XP..not my newer Vista one, but I am more comfortable with it!

[RandyL]

What you need to do is FULL reinstallation of Windows. This will format the drive, set up new partitions and cause a complete loss of data, files and programs. In essence your machine will be exactly as it was when you took it out of the box.

 

The fact that you still have these remnants of programs indicates that you have not.

 

Exactly what type of recovery have you run?

 

A System Restore?

A system repair?

Reload windows without formatting?

Restore a backup image of your computer?

[simbasgang]

When it first started to go wrong---freezing more and more frequently, and taking up to 30 mins to start up----I followed the instructions in Computer Active for start-up problems. I typed 'msconfig' but couldn't identify the programmes so only removed 3 that I knew I didn't need. Of course that didn't help so I tried Safe Mode with only necessary programmes. Thats when everything went wrong! I lost the blue task bar--it turned white--and the curser didn't work, nor did Ctrl+Alt+del. I went to system restore and there were no restore points! After fiddling about with it for a bit, I turned it off and then attemped to boot up with the Backup disc I made when I first bought the PC, from the instructions from the screen. When I tried to install IE the PC froze again so I did a recovery from F10. That left me as I am now. I have just done the last recovery from F10 also.

I am not experienced enough to do the format as I am not sure of it and don't want to make things worse.

I have taken off all my files and programmes etc to an external hard drive before I did anything with the system.

[RandyL]

I assume you mean you did a recovery from F11 which is what compaq and hp computers use to recover from the partition. F10 is how you access the BIOS.

 

Compaq and HP are owned by the same company so yours should be similar to my HP.

 

When you did that it would first give you the option to select Recovery Manager. Press Enter. Next it would ask you to select yes or no to do a System Restore. After selecting no and clicking next it would ask you to select if you wanted to do a System Recovery. Select yes and click next.

 

The next screen would throw up a warning that continuing would restore you to the original factory condition and that all programs, files and data would be lost. That is the one you want.

 

When you first got your computer it probably prompted you to do two different things.

 

1. Make a set of Recovery disks.

2. Make a backup of the computer and everything on it.

[simbasgang]

I agree with what you say about Compaq and HP...our other one is a Packard Bell which is supposed to be the same company too, but the startup screens are different...I noticed that when we first got it. It was definitely the F10 that I used though. While it was starting recovery, a dialogue on the screen also said...."if you wish to recover again, press F10"

I made a recovery disc as per instructions when we bought the PC and used that the first time but it wouldn't work again...that's when I used the F10. F8 is the key to startup modes.

I have never seen any instructions as you state.

I don't want to use any more keys in case I mess it up again...it seems to be not too bad ATM.

The very first time I recovered , it said on screen that this was a 'non-destructive 'recovery, and I would keep all data.

This last time I recovered, I have lost all my saved emails....which is strange as everything else is there. I have searched but to no avail, and everything was backed up. I'm not too bothered though as there was nothing I can't get again...just some graphics sent to me. I was just wondering why it was only missing after this last recovery and not before.

There is a recovery folder already in the system, as well as the disc I made ( which appears to be a one time use only).

I was quite prepared to return it to factory condition as I have all my files etc on an external hard drive.

 

I feel as if I'm missing something here, but as it's working OK now can the file remnants harm it? And would CCleaner work? Or should I just let it be for now?

 

Sorry to be a pain, but I thank you for all your advice.

[RandyL]

As I said you seem to be doing the non-destructive recovery. That is why everything is still there including the remnant files. Except for your emails of course. If a non-destructive recovery caused a loss of your emails this time that would seem to imply a hard disk problem as it did not save them during the recovery.

 

The recovery disks you made can be used anytime. It's just that you can only create the disks once.

 

What is the model number of your Presario and I'll see if I can find their exact recovery procedure?

 

On a side note look at the Computer Vendor section at this BIOS page. F10 is the bios entry keys. I'm very familiar with Compaqs.

 

If I were you I would do a hard drive check and if it passes do a complete destructive recovery.

[simbasgang]

I have a very minimal instruction leaflet that was in the box with the PC. i went to the recovery page and it says use F10....i took a picture of the page but don't know if there is somewhere to load it onto this site.....you really had me thinking!!!

It says: " starting system recovery if the PC is not responding"....which it wasn't at the time. There is also the previous paragraph: "starting system recovery if the PC is responding"...Start>All progs>PC help and tools>compaq system recovery.

These both come under the section: System recovery using the hard drive partition.

 

I have never had to do anything like this before, so that's why it is being such a problem. Also How do I check the hard drive?

 

In the System info from the control panel, it is only telling me it is a: Compaq Presario, Intel pentium 4 3.00GHz 2.79GHz, 512 MB RAM

 

There is nothing on the front , only Compaq presario. There may be a plate on the back..I can only get the tower out when it is turned off, so I'll look tomorrow.

[RandyL]

No problem. F10 it is then. I believe you. You never know what these manufacturers are going to change.

 

Look on the lower left of this Compaq support page. You'll see How do I find my product number?

 

I really want to see if I can find a manual for your computer.

 

As for a drive check I prefer to run the drive manufacturers tools but you could run Chkdsk.

 

By the way are you sure you only have 512MB of RAM? That's really low.

[simbasgang]

OK, here we go...

 

Model: SR 1429 UK

Product: PX629AA-ABU

Memory installed: 512 MB Max allowed: 4 GB (requires replacement)

 

There is a load of other info as well if needed.

 

For future reference, the product can be found by pressing ctrl + alt + S....you never know when that may come in useful!!!!

 

As you can see, there is not a lot of memory and I do keep getting reminders that "windows is low on memory" which is why I got the external hard drive and several flash drives as well. It seems upgradeable but that involves getting in the back!!...I don't think so..!!!.........at least not at this stage. I really should use the Vista PC more but it is on my husband's desk and I am comfortable with my old one.

I do disk cleanup frequently so there always room on the hard drive.

 

Just downloaded chkdsk help....so be back later to let you know how I get on!!

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Err

 

You "downloaded" chkdsk help?

 

This is a command prompt Simba not a download.

 

You need to double the amount of Ram you have at least, if not more, and to be brutally frank AOL is not the best ISP in the world as it is a massive system resource user.

[simbasgang]

Hi Wolfey, I followed the 'chkdsk' link which took me to a page of info and a green panel that said "Download Guided Help". I clicked that and it went to a page that said you could do the check manually or click the first few boxes that come up and then it went to blue checking page....this I have done before but from the system tools in the accessories.

 

So far there are no problems there.

 

I know I need more RAM....but what is the simple way to do this? I don't want to be taking the back off the tower yet!!

 

I have been with aol for 6 years now, and I have had problems in the past with them. I complained several times and they have given me a good deal for 12 months. I was beginning to even wonder if it was their software that was causing the problems in the 'puter, but I have reinstalled the whole package and it seems much better......I didn't know it was a drain on the system though, although I have noticed that they have a very big file. Not having any other ISP to compare though, I wasn't aware they were any worse than the others.

[RandyL]

Thanks for the information.

 

Looking at the FAQS for your model I found this related article. It's for HP and Compaq.

How to Perform an HP System Recovery in Windows XP.

 

It explains how to do it from the Desktop and from the disks you made.

 

I noticed that to do a full destructive recovery you have to click on Advanced at a certain point to get the option. I think that's why you missed it and just did normal recoveries.

 

Read the whole thing carefully as it explains to remove devices first, backup data etc. Remember this will be like day one when you are done. Unfortunately that means that pesky Norton will be installed again.

 

Good luck.

[simbasgang]

Thanks for that Randy....will start to back up tomorrow again and try that. Pesky Norton already reinstalled itself at the last recovery......only 60 days though.....!!!!! It'll have to go then.