[19OlllllllO41]

Does anyone know how to access system restore on windows XP right as the computer starts up? My moms computer has some type of problem that causes some strange spyware program to run right after the computer loads and if you try to do anything (ie. access the start menu) it shuts down and reboots. So I thought if I could access system restore right when I turn the comp on and do not let it get fully loaded, I may be able to restore it to a previous date? ANy ideas?

[YJbecauseIcan]

Try starting windows in safe mode to see if that makes a difference. To do that, start tapping the F8 key right after the bios screen. you should then be presented with a list of options. navigate to the "safe mode" option and press enter. what safe mode does is to boot windows with only the minimum files it needs to run. from there you should be able to go through the start menu to the system restore menu.

hope this helps.

[Kyoseki]

If that doesn't work you can always boot from the Windows CD and fix it in the recovery console, but that's a lot more fiddly.

[jwalters27520]

Originally Posted by thedirt

Of all the systems I've repaired, I've found system restore to be utterly pointless and it generally causes more problem than it solves.

Unfortunately, if she got infected with something, the only way to remove it is to format and reinstall. Sure, your free copy of "Norton Internet Security" might show that it's gone, but with nowadays technology and security holes, those types of stuff can so deeply bury itself that by truly removing it, you'll trash the OS.

Back up her data and make sure she can reinstall her apps and blow out that entire hard drive. If you know what you're doing, she'll be down for a few hours max. If not, then a day or two.

+1 with system restore...If it's in the registry then system restore probably has it in the snapshot as well..

[vadslram]

If you haven't created restore points regularly then it won't be easy.
F8 before the windows start but after bios run will give you the option to start in safe mode.

[19OlllllllO41]

Hey guys thanks for all of the advice. I got the computer running in safe mode, but the system restore does not seem to work. When I try to use it it basically says thats its unavailable. Also, the biggest problem is that the computer just keep restarting itself after runnin for a few minutes. So I never have enough time to try and really get the restore open or do anything else. Anyone know what is causing it to shut down repeatedly?

[19OlllllllO41]

Originally Posted by thedirt

If you go into your BIOS, and change where it says "Restart After Unexpected Shutdown" to "Turn Off" (or it'll look like that, could be worded differently), I'm curious to see if the computer stays off. When this happens, what does the computer say? Anything? Does it just completely restart without a word?

If when you change what I said to change, and it doesn't restart, but rather stays off, it could be a short in the motherboard or a fault in the power supply. Like I said though, if she's got even a hint of anything in her OS, format it and blow everything out. Data doesn't usually get infected, so her data should be bug free.

It just turns off without any warning or saying anything. It then restarts right away with out a word either. This is the only problem that is apparent right now, other than this it seems to be loading and working fine.

[laybackman]

Maybe she has a boot sector virus since the BIOS can not find the master boot record. Since she did not make an image of her HD I think she needs to do a clean install after doing a format of the C: drive

[jb4]

Originally Posted by thedirt

If you go into your BIOS, and change where it says "Restart After Unexpected Shutdown" to "Turn Off" (or it'll look like that, could be worded differently), I'm curious to see if the computer stays off. When this happens, what does the computer say? Anything? Does it just completely restart without a word?

If when you change what I said to change, and it doesn't restart, but rather stays off, it could be a short in the motherboard or a fault in the power supply. Like I said though, if she's got even a hint of anything in her OS, format it and blow everything out. Data doesn't usually get infected, so her data should be bug free.

that setting isn't in the BIOS its part of windows

right click on 'my computer' -> properties -> advanced -> settings under "startup and recovery" -> uncheck "automatically restart" under system failure

Originally Posted by TJeep 99

It just turns off without any warning or saying anything. It then restarts right away with out a word either. This is the only problem that is apparent right now, other than this it seems to be loading and working fine.

what have you installed recently? any updated drivers either via your own doing or through windows update?

what does the event viewer say under system and applications?

start -> run -> eventvwr

look for red circles with 'x' through them or yellow triangles with ! in them

how old is the computer? did you build it yourself? seems like it could possibly be a failing power supply, in safe mode you're loading a very basic set of drivers so you're not going to be pulling a lot of power....

[19OlllllllO41]

Nothing new installed lately, and as far as I know she has not updated anything unless it was some automatic update.

The computer is at least 6 years old I think, its an HP. It runs fine in Safe Mode, these problems occur in regular start up.

I will check out the event viewer and see what it says.

[laybackman]

Check the date stamp in the BIOS. If it is some date like OCT 14 1999 as opposed to a current date then the CMOS battery is dying and may need replacement.

[jb4]

Originally Posted by thedirt

Actually, it is part of the BIOS. What you are referring to is something else. System Failure is completely different than losing power.

In the case of a power failure (say the grid hiccups and your computer loses power momentarily), that means windows is no longer running (so how can it detect a power failure if it's off). The BIOS (CMOS) has a battery in it and is monitoring for things like that. It's the BIOS that will turn the system back on after a power failure, not windows.

no. a CMOS battery is solely used for providing power for internal date/time storage in the bios, and possibly non standard system configs (block size of hard drives, non standard boot orders, et al)

and we're not talking about a power grid issue we're talking about either a driver or psu fault, both of which will be logged in the eventviewer and will be seen by the hard lock....