Tweaks.com Forum / General Windows Support / Windows Support

Should we update to XP SP3

karbo1 — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:54:32 GMT

Today, Windows Update just informed me SP3 was available for download. Should I update? I'm afraid of bugs and driver problems. Remember when SP2 came out ?:crazy:

Thanks

Windows Security Alert : Auto Updates Turned Off but they are not!

fairlite — Fri, 16 May 2008 12:29:25 GMT

This one's strange, I've tried turning them on and it shows them on but I keep getting the alert! Thanks

Numerous Infections, Numerous Scans but not Fixed Yet...

fairlite — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:47:31 GMT

I've swept with CounterSpy, Kaspersky, XoftSpy ad SpyNoMore. Avira and SpyNoMore both found infections and removed them but I am still experiencing a very sluggish PC and constant pop-ups. What is the secret to getting rid of the rest? Shall I post HiJackThis log in the HTJ forum? Thanks.

Boot options

karbo1 — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:05:10 GMT

After installing XP Pro on my laptop, at every boot up, I always get a menu asking me to select an operating system. If I don't select anything - since I have the choice between Windows XP Pro and Windows XP Pro?!? - a countdown of 30 seconds will complete and the computer will start normally. Is there a way of getting rid of that menu at startup? It's of no use to me and it's annoying.

Thank you

shift+tab

pchelp? — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:09:16 GMT

HELP!! I CAN'T USE THE SHIFT+TAB ANYMORE. IT WON'T LET ME MOVE BACK. WHAT HAPPENED? I LOVED THIS SHORTCUT. CAN ANYONE HELP ME FIX IT? I HAVE WINDOWS XP. PLEASE HELP.

Garbled Windows start up tune, hanging windows and more:(

RIK — Thu, 15 May 2008 03:25:42 GMT

Hi there all:)

I have some major weirdo problems with my fiance's Laptop...

I'll try to be as clear and concise as possible:

-The Laptop is a Packard Bell Intel Celeron M CPU 410 @ 1.46GHz.

-It has a Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (2002) build to it and has Service Pack 1 installed on it. I always run and make sure that Windows Update is active and that we're downloading the critical updates asap.

About 2 weeks ago it started to act up. The windows were hanging a lot and the whole system was groggy, slow-sluggish like a wet sponge(I love 'Airplane!').

To start up Windows it would , and still does, take around 2-3 minutes, whereas before it took oh a good minute.

I figured it may be due to a mass of files and folders on the desktop, so I moved them accordingly into 'My Documents', so the Desktop is now clear and has only shortcut icons.

I ran a full antivirus scan, and it took too long-nearly 6 hours.

I ran a CHKDSK and found out that 4kb were of bad sectors.

I defragged and freed up as much memory as possible, deleting internet caches, etc.

On the system I've installed:

-Kaspersky Antivirus (6.0.2.678)

-Keygold Secrue

-Windows Defender

and the month trial of Tune Up Utilities 2008.

I've run the Tune Up Utilities many times to try to correct any problems with the Laptop and it find errors on the Registry, Application files, etc and always corrects them, no 'unsuccesfulls'.

The Laptop now works Ok, but it still is uber slow at starting up and when Windows does finally appear, the start up jingle is really garbled.

I've tried to do a 'System Restore', and it did work once, but now it doesn't want to work for some odd reason. I figured I'd try to go back before the weirdness began.

Also, if it helps anyone, when I listen to a radio station online, and open up a window, or open a document, it too garbles.

If anyone can help please do!!!!!!It's driving me nuts!!!!

Rik:)

Microsoft Product activation on the media center PC Error: 00110003

jimr1234567890 — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:50:37 GMT

Due to a recent virus/trojan I was force to refresh the entire system (absolutely no hardware changes). I have been using the Linksys Media Ranger Extender (WMCE54AG) for a few years now and it has work flawlessly on the hardware. I had all the Windows updates and hardware updates installed.

I did a full refresh (format c:) of the system and upon the first attempt I used the System restore CD for the system. The Linksys Media Ranger Extender (WMCE54AG) did not initially work but I continue the windows up. The error on the Media Ranger Extender (WMCE54AG) said: failed Microsoft Product activation on the media center PC Error: 00110003.
After all the updated the Media Ranger Extender (WMCE54AG) still did not respond.

I tried all sorts of things and still no luck. So I pulled about the Windows XP 2005 install disks and re-installed the OS again from scratch (format c: time!). Again no luck through out the process.

All I get is the failed Microsoft Product activation on the media center PC Error: 00110003 message.

I have looked at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center
and the Ident is 3.1

I looked at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media
Center\Service\Recording
and it has the C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Recorded TV

So I am at am not sure what next to try.

Any ideas?

Slow Performance in Programs Where There Was No Slow Performance Previously

PV — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:23:36 GMT

Hey,

I've been trying to figure out this problem and I'm completely lost now. There are programs, mostly games, that previously used to run just fine on my computer(Halflife, MOH, MOH: PA, CnC, etc), and suddenly now, I get sluggish and choppy performance in all of them, to the point where some of the games are completely unplayable. I even get sluggish installation of programs on my computer(some taking almost two hours for what used to take 20 minutes).

I know my system meets all the necessary requirements for the games, especially since they used to run just fine. I frequently Defrag my system, and run Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad-Aware to keep my system clean. I've also recently run an anti-virus scan which found no problems. I've previously posted a HijackThis log in another forum, and there were no issues found in the log.

I don't know what to do at this point? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

My system is:

Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

3.20 gigahertz Intel Celeron

1014 Megabytes Installed Memory(2 512mb chips)

Intel(R) 82945G Express Chipset Family [Display adapter]

SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC

250.06 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
68.37 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

SP3 un-install files?

chilly willy — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:10:16 GMT

I updated to SP3. I went my C drive>Windows, I don't see all the SP3 un-install files, like after I Installed SP2. I have show hidden files & folders enabled. Did SP3 not leave a bunch of files like SP2?

gpedit.msc

scott02919 — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:49:21 GMT

I have Windows XP and I'm trying to free up that 20% bandwith that windows hogs up. I type in gpedit.msc (also just gpedit) from my start menu and it doesn't work. I can get a DOS edit box just by typing edit. Any suggestions?

I need help, really quickly

destia — Mon, 12 May 2008 06:20:43 GMT

Hello there

Today I decided to try dual booting

I downloaded Windows XP from internet (torrent...) and installed it, and now I cant boot into Vista anymore

I downloaded EasyBCD but it wont work

Is there a way to uninstall XP ?

i might also be able borrow Vista CD from my friend so I can fix the bootloader or whatever, but Im not sure if he will borrow it to me

Please, help me!

'Open with' -> 'Choose Program...' Opens a Notepad for all file types

chat_patta — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:23:28 GMT

[font=Times New Roman][size=6]
Hi Gurus: :)

I am running on Desktop, Win XP Professional, [b]SP3[/b] Ver:5.1.2600.5512

Till yesterday this option worked fine, today only i noticed that if I

Right click on [u]any file type[/u] (e.g. MP3, DLL), Open with -> Choose Program.. Opens Notepad automatically :crazy:

Does not allow me to choose a program as it used to before, I am using SP3 since two weeks now, but only today, this weird selection started happening. Is it that i am hacked??? :sick:

I did use nlite to generate an .iso for backup purposes, never used this .iso file. In this nlite I opted

Tweaks Section -> General Tab -> Explorer -> Associate additional file types with notepad (explanation - Open LST, CFG and NFO files by default).

I do not think it has any significance, but wanted to mention anything i did related to notepad association. ;)

So any help in this regard is greatly appreciated by me and my kids and my grand kids.... :D
[/size][/font]

WINDOWS XP will not start up in Normal Mode

BigDan8 — Sun, 11 May 2008 12:28:20 GMT

My computer will not start up in Normal Mode at all! I tried Safe Mode and it loads fine. This has been building for several weeks now as I have had to turn the computer off and back on several times before it would start to load. I have tried (using last known good configuration) and the like but to no avail.

I had someone work on the computer recently and they reloaded Windows XP on it. They had to go back and load a sound-card because I had no sound. After that, this problem started occurring.

I have read several articles but none really seem to pertain to what I am facing. Could someone PLEASE help me????? I can load in safe mode but I have no internet.

Oh, and another problem is my mouse "lags" at times too. I had 1 GB of RAM installed as well and before they put in the sound card it was SUPER fast. Now the computer is lagging like I had none installed.

Thanks.......

Dan

No Sound from P.C.

adieboyes — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:16:58 GMT

I installed the sharing program 'Limewire' on 02/05/08 - with 'Java(TM)6 update 5'. I then downloaded a few song thru Limewire, which played fine. I then downloaded a program ('SmartDraw 8.0') again thru Limewire, and thats when my problems began.

The first thing that I noticed was that 'SmartDraw 8.0.exe' wouldn't upzip, so I gave up trying. I then notice that I had no sound from the PC whatsoever. I checked the speakers on another device - working fine. I went thru the troubleshooting menus in 'Sound & Audio Devices' in Control Panel, and according to that everything was okay - but I still had no sound from my PC. Next I installed a new sound card & drivers - but still no sound.

Frustrated, I then performed a full system scan using Norton - this uncovered a virus in 'SmartDraw 8.0.exe' which Norton removed from my system, and I deleted all asscociated files - But still I had no sound!!

My last option was to try a system restore, there are various dates highlighted to use as restore points, but having tried several, none will let me restore the system.

What I have noyiced though, is that every time my system has been shut down over the past few weeks, it doesn't shut down imediately, but goes to an 'installing updates' screen, before shutting down automatically up to 5 mins later. This is supported by the restore points, which show a 'Software Distribution Service 3.0' being installed everytime the sytem has been shut down as far back as 30/03/08.

Meanwhile - I still have no sound from the PC.

I am running XP Home SP2 version 2002, on a Pacard Bell 2.50GHz motherboard,

Can you shed some light on my sound problem??

missing ntdsapi.dll not a valid windows image...

bewaniuk — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:54:23 GMT

Im having a problem with another pc dell 4400 windows xp home edition since you been very helpful and resolving my issues and i know you been the best help and great knowledge can you see what i have to do with this issue?
when i start windows it saids this error: ntdsapi.dll not a vaild windows image.
i have the file burned onto a disk.
i cant even go to safe mode all i get is a black screen.
can you help me in this issue i cant seem to get it running.
Thanks for all your help
Ive tried everything it goes to safe mode then black screen.

BOB