Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chiaa]

Here are the symptoms (read all please):

1. My windows firewall thing is no longer showing up next to the clock like it always did. Other programs that would load there at start up are not there either. The only things that load on start up now are my virus scanner and my quick link to my graphics driver software (ATI).
2. When I minimize a window, it does not go to the task bar. I have to ctrl, alt, delete and double click it in task manager. Then it comes up.
3. I get this error when trying to use add/remove programs (When this problem happened, I thought it might be a good idea to clean things up and this would perhaps fix it.
4. The major program I use for this computer I get this error code when running one of the tasks "System Error. Code: 1722. The RPC server is unavailable."
5. I cannot copy and paste (just found this out when I went to google the error code in #4).
6. My language bar has suddenly decided to go next to the start button, not to the far right.
7. I keep my task bar on double thickness. When I reboot the system it no longer is that size and I have to resize it.
8. I just tried to go into add remove programs to see if I could replicate the same error when removing a different program. I cannot even get into add/remove programs. I can get into other programs in the control panel though.

I am running windows xp pro with sp2. Yesterday the puter was running fine. No programs or anything have been installed. There have been no changes at all.

I have system restore turned off

I know that I can format, but I would rather not. The store's inventory is on here and I do not feel like redoing it.

[Demophobe]

I will go over the problems in more detail later...need some time to think.

For now, try booting the computer without a network....disconnect the net from the back of the system, turn off the modem...something to kill the net.

Tryu that first....not saying it's the answer, just curious. It can't hurt.

[thorin]

Doesn't sound good. You should back up your inventory ASAP while you can still boot.

[redbird]

I agree with them. This sounds like a big problem.

Demaphobe's idea of booting into safe mood is a good place to start. If there is some conflict among drivers or something like that, that might save you some headaches. But, like Dem, I don't think that's going to solve this.

It could be some huge Windows malfunction and you could try re-installing the operating system if you have the software for that. Back up as much of your stuff as you can first.

But I'm guessing virus or malware here. What were the last three things you installed? If it's a virus or malware-- and those symptoms aren't reminding me of any specific virus-- you'd still be better off reinstalling the operating system. If you don't have the original software, you could try some stuff off the net, but it never seems to completely take care of it.

I know it sounds like a cop-out to suggest reinstalling software or the OS whenever there's a problem like this, but sometimes it's a lot faster than actually figuring out what the root of the problem is.

[Derrek]

What program is the inventory saved in?

You can always unplug the HD and plug it into another computer's extra IDE port. Leave the 2nd computer's original HD still plugged into the same place, of course!

You can now copy the information off of the HD onto the 2nd computer's HD. I've done this more than once.

Just don't format that drive until you're sure you've copied everything you need back over.

I am guessing you need to do this, then format the drive and reinstall windows from scratch.

[jazblanc77]

I have had this problem exactly on my laptop for about the last month. It doesn't really matter that your restore option is truned off anyways because it might not have worked. I am pretty sure that this problem is caused by an XP update. This problem started for me on the day that I allowed a batch of 9 Windows updates to be installed on my computer. I haven't been able to figure this out and I am savvy enough with computers to have been able by now. People have suggested that this is a virus or malware but I am certain it is not since the removal of update files fixed it for me.

If it isn't a Windows update problem, I will be very surprised but, I have also noticed that the problem gets worse when you screw around with the langauge and quicklink bars in the taskbar. For a temporary fix, try turning off your quicklink bar on your taskbar. This will send your anguage bar back to the right where it belongs and allow you to minimise stuff again. You should also see if you have installed any updates lately and start removing them one-by-one and see if there are any differences in the behaviour of your computer.

I was able to fix this after I finally got my restore option to work again though, it came back once temporarily about a week ago. If you are able to figure this problem out, please PM and tell me what you did because I am really at odds over this.

[chiaa]

I figured out the problem. My hard drive is on its last leg. I think a couple of blocks died and the blocks that died has some important sections to the OS on it. I figure the drive is about to die because during one of my many boots I got some Smart thing or another telling me that it was going to die in the next week.

I was able to get the things I needed off the drive by hooking it up to a second puter. It seems to run just find as a slave. Perhaps because the OS is not loading.

Thanks everyone for all your help.