blank desktop - help needed

[marydiv]

Not sure why, but when my computer was trying to load, i got a screen saying unable to continue due to system 32 ,config sys error or corrupt file.
I i managed to get windows to load now, but when it does, my desktop has absolutely no icons. Right clicking mouse to get hidden icons etc. does nothing. The only thing I can do is press ctl, alt, del to get task manager. it shoes about 10 processes running and that's it. I tried to push the "start" key on keyboard, nothing happens. I tried to start internet, nothing happens. Ive started in safe mode, can't do anything. Would this mean that everything on my hard drive is gone? I tried to load in safe mode with command prompt, but then i'm not sure what to do next. I hope there is something I can do to get back the desktop.

[Rick]

When you reach the blank desktop
Then CTRL-ALT-DEL

Now under task manager
Go to the Application tab and use the "NEW TASK" button
Browse to EXPLORER and start it
The desktop should return

After you get it running
Do a normal complete shutdown

Then restart

Windows should start up again as normal

[marydiv]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for your response. I've tried doing that but the minute i hit the browse button, the task manager window disappears. It doesn't allow me to do anything. Here is a list of the processes that are listed when windows loads if it helps:

wuauclt.exe system
spoolsv.exe system
svchost.eve local service
svchost.exe network service
svchost.exe system
svchost.exe system
lsass.exe system
services.exe system
winlogon.exe system
csrss.exe system
smss.exe system
taskmgr.exe my name
system system
system idle process system

Do you think all my programs and doc's are gone?

[Rick]

I don't think your doc's are gone

Most likely just a problem with a driver

Have you tried to start it in safemode ?
Or safemode with command prompt ?

If you can get to the command prompt
Then enter explorer

[marydiv]

whenever i go to taskbar, new task and enter anything the taskbar box disappears....won't let me do anything

[marydiv]

i can get safe mode with command prompt, it reads:
c:\doc and settings\administrator >

now what do i do?

[Whyzman]

Any chance you have a floppy drive on this computer?

[marydiv]

yes i do although it doesn't always work but worth a try.

[marydiv]

Also have a flash drive that i started using since floppy was unreliable.

[Whyzman]

I'd suggest running the harddrive diagnostics. These can be downloaded from the harddrive manufacturer's website. Hopefully, the floppy will come through...

[Rick]

At the command prompt you should be able to run a few commands

One would be to see what IF anything is in that "config sys" file

Depending on the version of windows you are running
It should be in C:\
if you type in the "CD" then enter your prompt should change to C:\
Then you can use the old DOS type command
"type config.sys" and enter
This will type out the file content to your screen

Again depending on your version of windows the file will be shown as No found or it will display little or nothing

try it and let us know what you find in it

[marydiv]

rick, i did as u said, and when i hit enter after typing config.sys, the screen goes blank and i loose my command prompt. Then i can't do anything but bring in task manager with ctl,alt,del. if i run a new task, i loose the screen too.

[marydiv]

whyzman, r u saying that running the diagnostics on the harddrive might fix floppy or problem i'm having now, cause right now, i can't access the internet or anything else. If it might fix the floppy, once i get it up and running, i'll try that. thanks

[Rick]

whyzman is asking you to download the utility to the computer you are using now and make the disk on it

Then us it to test the other systems hard drive
you can make the disk into a floppy or cd and boot from it

When I asked you to type in a command TYPE and Config.sys
The TYPE is the command and the config.sys is the file it should type
OLD dos commands..

TYPE CONFIG.SYS

That is the complete command line above and should be typed exactly as shown

[Paul Komski]

If you are still getting nowhere then I suggest that you first boot to the Recovery Console and run
chkdsk C: /r
and after that if still a no go try a repair installation (http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm) over the old one.

[marydiv]

ok when entered "type config.sys" nothing happens, i get my c:\ prompt back.

[Rick]

That means the file is empty or the video driver is among the corrupt files

I agree with Paul the next thing to do is run checkdisk with the command he gave in the post above

and If needed run the repair installation

[marydiv]

ok i'll try that but i think i had tried this before. So i have the xp cd in drive, and loaded. options are 1)set up windows xp now 2) repair a windows xp installation using recovery console and 3) quit setup without installing windows xp. so i used option 2. i don't have and admin password so i press enter. the i get a "c:\windows>" prompt. What would i do here?

[marydiv]

ok, got recovery console going, completed and said that it found and fixed one or more errors on the volume. and "c:\windows>" prompt is back. is that it in recovery console. do i restart computer and see what happens or do i need to continue here?

[marydiv]

i restarted the computer and everything was same. desktop with no icons. tried to bring up task manager, to get explorer but nothing changed. So now to run the repair installation, do i use the xp cd or how do i do it? Does it just reinstall over the old?

[mjc]

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[marydiv]

does this need to be done from administrator account or can i use my user account

[Paul Komski]

It's done from the CD and is like a new installation except that it retains your original data and programs. It behaves like installing windows but reinitialises the registry and all the hardware, etc. It runs from the "setup account" and not from any user or admin account per se.

[marydiv]

Paul, i just finished, ran it from my account. Didn't work. Don't know how to get to the setup account. And it didn't work. Still desktop with no icons. Is it still worth trying to do it from a setup account, please explain how to get there. thanks....slowly getting hopeless..i hope i can recover my files if they are still there.

[Paul Komski]

Boot to the CD.

Choose New Installation.

Dont use the first R for Repair option that takes you to the recovery console.

Prior to choosing where to do a new installation, setup should discover that an existing installation or existing installations exist and prompt you to repair. Follow the prompts to do this.

Read the warnings on the Michael Stevens site before beginning.

[marydiv]

i think i did it right. any more suggestions?

[marydiv]

I dl the updated bios to the desktop of this computer that i'm working from. If I could save it to a floppy or cd, should i try to update the bios on that computer, since i read that it could fix problems? If so, how would i update it since i can't go start "run".

[mjc]

NO!!!!!!

You definitely don't want to go introducing another factor into a system that is not currently working correctly!

Your problem is not BIOS related, anyway. It is a problem with Windows, your hard drive, malware or some combination of those three.

Have you run the drive diagnostics? (Whyzman post #10)

From one of your earlier posts you ran the recovery console...and now you said you think you've correctly run the repair install, but that hasn't helped, either?

At this point, I'd suggest using some other form of accessing your drive, like a boot disk, a Linux LiveCD or drive imaging software. Something that can give you access to your data...retrieve your data and then think about wiping and reinstalling Windows.

I'm not sure which is more likely, drive failure or malware, but there is something definitely 'off'...and it is not BIOS related.

[marydiv]

ok, i'll try making a diagnostics cd and running it. I had tried doing a system restore as well before but no changes were made to the computer and i couldn't go back further than the date the problem had started. So i don't think system restore is an option either. Once i've done the diagnostics and reported, i wll try the drive imaging software you mentioned. That is totally new territory for me so i'll have to read up on how to do that. In the meantime, thanks for your patience and everyone's help!

[Paul Komski]

I agree that a HDD diagnostics is a priority since it is known there was a corrupt file system (errors with chkdsk) and though they may have been corrected if the underlying cause is a dying HDD then only the symptoms and not the cause have been treated. If you have important data then back it up ASAP; even backing up a courrupt drive by imaging when one still can will allow data recovery access long after a HDD has totally failed and become inaccessible.

[marydiv]

I hope it's not that the hard drive is useless, i just bought it last year. Would i be able to copy startup disk to a flash drive? is imaging complicated to do for a novice?

[marydiv]

ok...had too much trouble trying to figure this out. So I bought another hard drive, installed it, got it going and then put the troubled drive back in. My folder with my documents and settings, said "access denied". So I went and loaded up in safe mode, got in as administrator and took over folder permission. Now i found that when i click on my folder, it shows 0 bytes. So something must have happened to it. Is there anything more I can do to try and reclaim those documents?

[Paul Komski]

Since you can access the drive to some degree as a slave it would probably be worth running GetDataBack (http://www.runtime.org)for FAT or NTFS as appropriate. It costs you nothing to scan the system and if it finds your data by scanning your HDD then to attempt recovery of each file one by one for free. If that works continue on a one by one basis or consider buying the software.

If there are enough bad sectors to prevent GDB for doing its work then about the only effective approach I have used successfully is to use dd_rescue from a Live Linux CD (http://paulski.com/zpages.php?id=1913). It's a long winded approach because the whole bad drive must be copied to a good one first and then recovery software run on the resulting clone; a clone that may have some or a lot of corrupt data but on a functional HDD.

If the data is very valuable and you think it worth using professional recovery that is another approach but it will cost into four figure sums.

[marydiv]

Paul,
If i read the getdataback correctly, it will only identify the files, but you have to buy the software to actually recover.

"GetDataBack comes in two versions:
Note: We recommend that you download the demo version of GetDataBack first to see if your files are recoverable. The demo version allows you to perform the data recovery and to see and verify your recovered files.

A license key is then required to actually save these files. Once you have a license key for the software, you don't have to run the program again, just enter the license key in the demo version to enable the copy function."

Also, if the drive i'm recovering from had a power surge, is this still worth trying? I did try the live linux cd, and it doesn't work for me. I'm not sure if i'm not making the cd right or what.

[Paul Komski]

Possibly they have slightly changed things. For a long time now, if one could first detect the relevant files one could use GDB to open the file in an application that could use that file type. For example open a word doc in Word or a jpg in Paint. You could then save a copy from the application anywhere you liked. This meant doing everything file by file and not in batches, for which you needed to purchase the license.

If nothing else running the scans and exploring the virtual explorer tree should give one a very good idea whether GDB would recover the files or not.

I did try the live linux cd, and it doesn't work for me.Did you burn the data to disk or did you burn the image to disk. Imgburn and BurnCDCC (http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/downloads-free-software.htm) are both good programs dedicated to burning images.

[marydiv]

I'm so happy!!!!! I ran GDB, although the first time, i ran the drive they showed as 2nd, thinking it was the bad one. When i saw the files, i was convinced it was my good drive so i just exited. I don't think that does any damage since it is read only (i hope). Then i ran it on the bad drive, and there they are! I am able to view files, pics etc. I see what you mean about opening one by one, and then saving. I tried to do this to a pic and it worked. Same with a doc and it worked. It will be tedius and time consuming but i guess it is worth it. A good time to get rid of my "junk". Thanks so much for all the help. When i'm done recovering the files, then i'll wipe the drive and do a fresh windows install.

As for linux, i burned the image to cd, although maybe i choose the wrong file. i went to slax.org, dl for cd. then when there were the files, there wasn't one that read "setup or .exe" so i wasn't sure what i needed to copy to the cd. I probably chose the wrong thing. When i boot with the cd in the computer, nothing would happen.

Also, if you get a chance to view the HJT file in my post under "Applications and Utility Software" which is for the other computer, i'd appreciate it.

[Paul Komski]

That sounds just great.

The most common file type used as an image file used for creating a CD are .iso files such as this direct link for the English version of Knoppix v.5.1.1 (ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/dist/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V5.1.1CD-2007-01-04-EN.iso).

The most common mistake made when burning these files to a CDR or CDRW is to burn them just as one would burn any data file. They must be burned using an application that has been configured to burn an image and not to burn as a normal file. An .iso file is just one of such image files.

Which application were you using to create the CD? If you open the CD in My Computer and you only see the .iso file that you downloaded then you have burned the file as data and not as an image.

[marydiv]

ok....i used nero to burn the image. It was image iso...... I have to cd's that i tried. Now when i did as you said and put them in my drive and check properties, then when i look at bytes - it says 0 bytes. I don't understand that cause both times it came back saying copied successfully. So i take it that i didn't actually burn anything onto these cd's. i will have to try it again because if i can image the drive and not have to go through each individual pic or doc, that would make things much easier for me. I let you know how i make out with this.

[Paul Komski]

I would try brncdcc or imgburn if yoy have had problems. If there's still a bad result it could be your burner or your media. CDR are generally more successful in my experiece than CDRW if that's what you used.

[Sylvander]

ImgBurn (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/ImgBurn/1128426215/1) is REALLY GOOD! :)

It also comes integrated as part of DVDflick (http://beginwithsoftware.com/videoguides/dvd-flick-guide.html).

I normally burn to CD-RW disks and never have any problems. :cool:

[Paul Komski]

The only reason for mentioning CDR v CDRW was that there has been some sort of a problem. If it's not a software/hardware issue it implies a problem with the media used so if using CDR try CDRW and vice versa.

[marydiv]

ok, i dl imagburn to desktop. I have 2 questions. first do i need to carry out this procedure in safe mode, first obtaining permission rights to the files on that corrupt folder or will the image allow me to open the files anyway if i burn the hard drive image from my new hard drive.

Second, when i start imgburn, which option do i use, there are so many:
write image to file disc?
create image from file disc?
write files/folders to disc?
create image file from file/folders?

They sound similar. Also when i add the file, would i add.....the whole drive which is now F on my computer? or do i need to individually choose what i want imaged?

[Paul Komski]

ImgBurn like so many apps has got more elaborate as time has gone by. Although it has been a good program if you want simplicty try BurnCDCC.

Basically you want a functional operating system (and no safe mode would not be necessary) but you should, on the other hand, be doing this stuff from a good PC with admin capabililties.

The simple answer is that you want to write an image file to disk (CDR or CDRW).

An image file, is if you like, a clone of the CD but as a complex archive type of file; it therfore contains within itself all the files that would be found on the original CD itself. When burning an image every sector is copied sector by sector and not file by file but when all the data has been copied it can show up the file system since the data is an exact copy of the original. "Normal" burning copies file by file.

[Sylvander]

Here's how I burn the Knoppix 5.1.1 ISO file to a CD-RW disk using ImgBurn:
The numbered text steps below should accompany the screenshots below in the same order.

1. Save the Knoppix 5.1.1 ISO file to a handy folder on one of your HDD partitions.

2. [Assuming ImgBurn is already installed]
Run ImgBurn in normal Windows [not Safe Mode] with Admin capabilities.
If there is no [recordable or re-writeable] optical disk in the optical burner [drive], ImgBurn will tell you of this as shown.

3. Put a CD-r or CD-RW disk in the drawer and close it.
ImgBurn will tell you that the device is in the process of becoming ready [nice feature].

4. When the disk has been fully detected in the drive, ImgBurn will display that the device is ready and the disk symbols will colour up.
The disk is now ready to have the ISO file burned to it, so in the next step you need to navigate to and choose the ISO file.

5. Click on the little folder symbol to begin the navigation to the "Source" [the ISO file].

[Paul Komski]

They sound similar. Also when i add the file, would i add.....the whole drive which is now F on my computer? or do i need to individually choose what i want imaged?
Just to be clear there are two very different uses of imaging mentioned in this thread.

1. Is to create a DIY burned CD from an ISO (a type of CD image file).

2. Is to create an image file of a hard drive partition so that one has a copy of a partition that can be reinstated/restored to the hard drive at a later stage.

There are many programs and methods for making image files of partitions (http://paulski.com/zpages.php?id=1917). The original version of ImageForDOS is probably the simplest to use but it is run from outside windows from a boot CD or a boot floppy diskette, which has to be created and then booted to.

[marydiv]

Oops, i realize i was confused there for a bit..I must first try to create the live cd which i am now working on....and then i will need to copy the f drive.
i'll post back asap

[Sylvander]

Bit of a delay for a couple of hours while I downloaded a copy of the Knoppix 5.1.1 ISO file.
To continue...

6. Navigate to the ISO file, highlight it, and click Open.

7. The "Source" [the ISO file] has now been chosen.

8. Click on the "Ready" disk icon/image to begin burning the ISO file to the burnable CD in the burner.

9. Tick the boxes to have the Burner tray open and the ImgBurn program close when the burn is complete.

10. Watch the progress bars if you like, otherwise leave it to complete.
You can even tick the "Shutdown Computer" box if you decide [you may want to begin the burn last thing before going to bed and leave it running].

[Sylvander]

That burn to a previously erased CD-RW disk completed successfully.
One of the nice features of ImgBurn is that if the disk had content, ImgBurn would warn and ask if the disk was required to be erased before the proposed burn was started.

11. Here's the content as shown by Windows Explorer.
When ImgBurn is running, Windows Explorer is unable to read the disk, and "Autoplay" doesn't work with the disk either.

12. When I restart ImgBurn with the disk in the burner, ImgBurn shows that the disk has content and therefore needs to be erased before any new burn.

13. If I choose to burn to the disk [perhaps the same Knoppix 5.1.1 ISO, or some other], the 1st thing ImgBurn does is to erase the existing content.

14. Or else I could manually erase any rewritable disk that had content, whether intending to burn to it or not.

15. What isn't shown in image 14 is that there are 2 erase choices = "Quick" or "Full".
.

[marydiv]

SUCCESSFUL!!!!!!!! I'm a happy camper now! My files have been recovered. Thanks to all of you for your help on this one. One last thing I have to do is find the kink on this new drive with a device. My computer will randomly start with this message: .


Blue screen error caused by a device or driver

You received this message because a hardware device, its driver, or related software has caused a blue screen error. This type of error means the computer has shut down abruptly to protect itself from potential data corruption or loss. In this case, we were unable to detect the specific device or driver that caused the problem.

[marydiv]

One last thing, just running down my device manager, it shows my processer listed twice. What could that be about?

[mjc]

I didn't see the actual specs for your machine anywhere in this thread, but if it is a dual core processor then the double listing is perfectly normal...a quad core would be listed four times and a tri-core Phenom, three.

[Sylvander]

"Blue screen error caused by a device or driver"
How to solve Windows system crashes in minutes (http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/041105-windows-crash.html?page=1).