Help HJT please

[jholland1964]

I honestly don't know the costs. I did do some research on the HP/Compac site concerning your model of computer. It may be possible that you can order a set of recovery disks from HP...OR...there are instructions on how to make your own. Let me check with somebody a bit more knowledgable in this area and I will get back to you on that. But for now......
......here are the instructions given on THAT site, and it makes NO mention of using the disk...unless you have XP SP2 installed and then it says to reinstall SP2 but otherwise these are the instructions given in total;

To repair SP1 or earlier XP PCs, click Start , and then Run . Type sfc /scannow into the open field, click OK , and wait until finished.

No mention anywhere on the page about inserting your Windows XP disk at all...so try it and see what happens.

[jholland1964]

More research...
According to HP Website;

HP PCs that ship with Microsoft Windows XP and Compaq Presario Desktop PCs made in spring of 2003 and later already come with a hidden preloaded recovery partition. This hidden partition can be used to recover all of the original software in the event of a major problem by pressing the F10 key repeatedly when the computer is first started.
Recovery CD-DVD Creator software comes on HP and Compaq Desktop PCs made in Spring of 2003 and later. It is strongly recommended that you create a recovery disc set.
The Recovery CD Creator software can be used to make only one set of recovery CDs for the computer. The recovery CD set contains a complete set of the original operating system, drivers, and application software that shipped with the computer.

Here is the website with instructions for creating this disk. Not certain if there is a way just to go to that hidden partition and get just the IE files you need or not.
Also checked to see if you can obtain an actual recovery disk from them but it looks as though it is not available.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...cname=bph08097

[vancek]

What course of action do you now suggest?

The Start>Run>sfc /scannow or Pushing F10 at Start Up or are you still waiting word back from the more knowledgeable somebody?

Please let me know what you think is best?

[jholland1964]

First try the Start>Run>sfc /scannow and see what happens. I am still waiting to hear back from the others.

[jholland1964]

Well, concensus seems to be doing the F10 recovery. Mainly because it is obvious there is serious damage to the core files due to all these infections AND lack of updates (which helped bring in the infections) the damage is showing via the problems with Internet Explorer which is an integral part of the operating system. There are probably many more damaged files which you just aren't going to be able to fix one by one.
Many, many of these infections were/are infections which will take crucial system files and change them and use them as their own. You can remove the infection but the file damage remains, rendering key parts of the system unusable unless repaired. All ready the problem with Internet Explorer shows this, and this is a key portion of the operating system, you cannot do Windows Updates without Internet Explorer and the system is woefully out of date and unless the Critical Updates at least are applied, AND the update to XP SP2 is done, the infections WILL happen again.

I am truly sorry that we couldn't get the system clean and running without applying a recovery, this is what I had hoped for, though honestly doubted it was possible. But a super effort was given for sure.
What you need to do now is back up everything you wish to save...any documents, pictures, music you have on the computer should be saved to a CD. Export your Address Book to a CD, write down any programs you have on the computer that you want to have on there again. Locate any disks you may have for installed programs, because you probably will have to install them again. If you have downloaded programs on the system then make a note of their download websites so that you can download them again. You are going to need to make note of your Internet Configuration settings so that you can get back online when recovery is complete. You need your Norton disk so that you can reinstall, along with any paperwork you have that came with that program.
Now the instructions for performing a Recovery are found on this page;

Recovering from Windows XP

The steps given apply to both HP and Compaq computers.
There are various ways to do this....
Recover from Windows XP, Recovering during startup. There is also Recovery using the Recovery Disk but since you do not have these disks you will have to do one of the above. Please note that you MUST;
Disconnect all connected devices (such as the Personal Media Drive, USB drives, printer, and fax), remove media from drives, and remove any recently added internal hardward before beginning this procedure.

NOTE also:It may take a long time to complete Windows setup. This time varies and may take over several hours. BUT look at it this way, when you have completed this the computer should be restored to the way it was the day you took it out of the box.
Once complete then the next step will be found here;

Things To Do After Performing a System Recovery in Windows XP
Please note the very first sentence on that page;

After performing a normal or full system recovery, the computer is more open to security problems because it does not contain the most recent security updates.

which also tells you why the computer was so severely infected in the first place. Don't make that mistake again. Follow ALL the steps on that page because there are necessary updates you will have to do from HP/Compaq BEFORE doing the necessary updates from Microsoft.
Please remember we are here waiting to assist you in any way possible. If you have questions before beginning this process, ask them and we will answer to the very best of our ability.

[vancek]

With as much as you can do with a home PC, I unfortunately only seem to use mine to surf the internet and write the occasional paper when I was still in school. When I bought the PC, I had the best of intentions, but nothing ever came to fruition. In other words, I don't have a lot that I'll be losing.

I'm currently at home on my lunch break, but will give this a thorough going through tonight and tomorrow evening to make sure I don't lose something that I may need. Since today is Thursday, I'll probably try the F10 recovery over the weekend so I have more time to work with it. Sound like a plan?

Should I even bother trying the Start>Run>sfc /scannow?
Would it hurt anything since I'm planning the F10 recovery?

[jholland1964]

Try it for the heck of it. If it works then HOORAY, if not, well you know you have tried all then.
Please know we will absolutely be here if we can help any way possible. I am thankful you don't have a lot saved on the computer.
Since that is the case if all goes as it is supposed to then it will probably take you a couple hours to do this. Just be sure to write down all the necessary info concerning your internet hook up so you can get back on line asap. Will be waiting.
Judy

[vancek]

Judy,

I'm sure you can tell by now that my computer literacy isn't going to win me any contests. Therefore, I have to ask. What kind of internet info am I looking for? I have Road Runner as my ISP, but I have no idea what info I need to be tracking.

This might be something mundane to the average person, but I don't know what it is. Better to ask than to be sorry later.

[Gizmokid2005]

If you have roadrunner, most likely you don't need any special information. If you are unsure, find any documentation you got from your ISP, or just give them a quick call and see if you need to do anything special to get your computer connected.

[jholland1964]

Giz is right. Once the recovery is finished you should be able to plug in the RoadRunner cable and you should be back online. If you use Outlook Express or Outlook you will have to manually configure those to get your email going again but other than that you shouldn't have to do anything but plug in the cable.