Can't defrag or install anything

[-mick-]

Hi all.

My laptop running xp won't defrag or install anything. The windows defrag doesn't do anything when I click 'analyse' or 'defrag', it just sits idle. The buttons seem to work ok just whatever functions they call don't happen. The cpu monitor shows everything at idle too.

No worries I thought I'll install a 3rd party defragger and run that except now when I try to install ANYTHING I get an error saying "Windows Installer couldn't be found - this can happen when in safe mode or installer not correctly installed. Contact your administrator"

I think I have a problem! I want to save everything now while it still runs acceptably (slowly getting worse since I can't defrag). Anyone help?????????

[ski]

Do a system restore to a date that precedes the problem.
If that does not work, then do a "Last known good configuration".
If still no luck, then do a repair install.
The instructions for the last 2 suggestions are in the following link(click on "Repair XP" in the "Help Section") -
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/

[-mick-]

thanks very much I'll give it a try this weekend :)

[Paul Komski]

slowly getting worse since I can't defrag
Defragmentation is unlikely to be at the root of your problems particularly if you are using the NTFS format. Things slowing down and windows not working right is more likely to be malware related or Windows corrupt for some other reason. I think your installer problems could even be a Windows Update/Windows Genuine Advantage related issue (http://pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=56290).

I want to save everything now while it still runs acceptably
A very good idea and a very good idea to get into a backup routine before you join the ranks of the very disappointed. There are a wide range of backup strategies which you can consider and one thing common about most such strategies is to backup onto removable media such as an external Hard Drive or CD/DVD or Flash Memory (Thumb/Pen/Key) Drive or somewhere on the internet.

Do you want to just backup a few personal data files or everything on the PC? Usually the most irreplacable stuff is data and that can be simply copied to a cheap Thumb Drive or burned to a CD until you decide on a long-term strategy.