Windows XP help

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jasonwaiheke

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#18788 23-Jan-2008 20:49

long story, i will try to keep it brief

turned on computer came up with the standard bios boot info, then the windows logo / starting windows xp home edition with the little green bars moving and stuff, then it goes blank for say a minute then it restarts.

so i formatted the hdd, reinstalled windows from scratch all worked ok, still be getting few errors though.

so i installed SP2, all seemed ok but no access to internet, when i checked the firewall settings it seemed like it wasnt there gave some errors cant remember them exactly. so using system restore i took it back to before SP2.

all seemed fine till i tried to switch user. when one user is logged on you cant 'flick' out then into the other user. you cant have two users on at the same time when one is logged on and you try to log on the other the screen just flickersthen sits at the welcome screen with the users listed you can go back into the user logged on then log off fully and the other user will work but whats with that.

no we get errors on and off, have a problem with my avg free edition and no other virus scanner that is current either.

any ideas what to do now?

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#106372 23-Jan-2008 21:04

jasonwaiheke: so i formatted the hdd, reinstalled windows from scratch all worked ok, still be getting few errors though.

What errors?

Always research the root of the problem. On a fresh system, there shouldn't be errors (unless it's way too cool for 2003 technology

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tonyhughes

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#106379 23-Jan-2008 21:20

have you enabled fast user switching?

jasonwaiheke

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#106387 23-Jan-2008 21:30

Yes fast user switching is enabled. And to above question; I dont understand the errors so I just click ok to them.

jasonwaiheke

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#106388 23-Jan-2008 21:32

Do you think its a windows situation or a virus?

freitasm

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#106390 23-Jan-2008 21:35

And do you gt the errors even after a fresh install of Windows XP without any other program installed?

Is this an original installation CD/DVD? A restore CD/DVD?

Have you installed all drivers after installing Windows?

jasonwaiheke

277 posts

Ultimate Geek

#106605 24-Jan-2008 20:32

Yes some still appear after a fresh install, some are new errors some are old errors.

and i am installing using my origional windows xp cd on a formatted hard drive.

i tried using the repair option instead of reinstalling but never seems to work. as it askes for the administrator password which i thought was nothing so i hit enter and it brings back c:/windows> and then process nothing further. so i did it again and typed administrator thinking it might have a default password but it said it was wrong.

i believe i have installed all the drivers.

when you log out as if you were just switching users not a full log out it used to say how many programs were running in the active user or just logged on if there was none. it does not do this now either.

manhinli

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#106609 24-Jan-2008 20:40

The "repair" function you were talking about is the recovery console. It's not just as a one step easy recovery of a system, but to use command functions to make XP to boot successfully... (and a little more but I don't need to go into that)

About fast user switching I need to look into it further as if you set it up as a workgrouped computer (or maybe the other one?) you are unable to use fast user switching as a result of it.

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jasonwaiheke

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#106614 24-Jan-2008 20:52

can you elaborate on the repair option.

and what is meant by what you said on fast user switching?

manhinli

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#106623 24-Jan-2008 21:37

I still haven't got a repair, as I haven't got enough info.

Fast User Switching is the log off, log on switching thing you were talking about. Try enabling it by going into Control Panel > User Accounts > Change the way users log on or off.

For the other errors, please describe them. No info = no help.

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jasonwaiheke

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#106771 25-Jan-2008 18:45

ok so fast user switching is enabled. still cant 'fast switch' between only one logged on at a time.

other wise programs work fine, do get the odd error but i just click ok and it goes away......

would a fresh install work again or is there some ohter diagnostic tool i can run?

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#106791 25-Jan-2008 20:17

If you don't tell us what "error" is this there's no way anyone can help you with your questions.

Details are needed. Details...

manhinli

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#106792 25-Jan-2008 20:21

As I said before - No info = No help.

Being ambiguous isn't really going to help.

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jasonwaiheke

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#106795 25-Jan-2008 20:32

the last 3.5 hours (since i have been home) have been error free, my wife does not note down the errors during the day. at this stage my main errorr is the issue of multiple users.

otherwise it will have to wait and see what happens over a day i guess.

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#106796 25-Jan-2008 20:37

I just looked on a Windows XP box around here and when I checked the user accounts it wouldn't allow Fast Switch if Offline Files are enabled.

Do you have thi option enabled?

Open Control Panel, User Account and click on "Change the way users logon and logoff" to check this. Uncheck Fast Switching, click ok and the try setting it again to see if the warning shows up.

manhinli

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#106798 25-Jan-2008 20:44

Because you said you recently formatted, I'm guessing you don't have much data there (unless you used a backup - which I should say can cause problems)

Therefore I would recommend wiping it and posting screenshots (and hopefully details =) ) throughout your journey. This would hopefully show us any possible problems which we can rectify.

This would begin with a complete journal of the install process (because screenshots can't be made, either very good detail or camera shots of prompts)

I usually do this to myself when I screw up my system (which happens often).

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