PC is kicking my butt

LunchBox

LunchBox

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Orange County, California, USA
Greetings,

I think my brain was burnt out while at the client and could no longer think straight.

PC = Compaq Presation S4210NX Desktop PC
OS = Windows XP Home SP2

The client had to go to work so I could not finish and he would not let me take it home.

Symptoms
PC hangs at "applying computer settings" which is right after the windows splash screen that has the status bar at the bottom but before the logon screen.

The client pressed the power button (forced shutdown) to turn if off after some virus\sypware started to download.

PC boots OK any any safe mode.
Last good know does not work.
For some reason he only has 1 restore point which was created after the PC the forcibly shutdown.

I should have scan it for virus first but I ran chkdsk /f then /r (f has errors). I wanted to run sfc /scannow but in safe more it can't be done. If there is a way please let me know.

Restoring to the only point did not resolve the issue.

In safe mode I disabled all apps in msconfig.
Disconnect everything except the keyboard and mouse.

While is safe mode there are no indicators of virus\spyware. I know not to trust thing but just informing incase it helps.

The client had to go to work so I was not able to finish.

I cant re-install because he lost the CD and the PC wont boot into the system recovery to re-install windows.

I need to go back tomorrow to finsh.

Does anyone have any suggestions? All what I find pertains to XP in a domain environment.

Also I have a set of CD for a Presario SR1620NX Desktop. As far as I know I have been able to use same CDs with the PC is a similar model. (at least this is true with dell). Does anyone know if I can use the CD's on my clients PC?

I don't want to re-install unless I have to and I would really like to know why the freaking PC hangs at applying computer settings. I have been able to get to the desktop only once in normal mode. I could mode the mouse but nothing would respond.

Thank you

I would have numbered the items but I am still upset because I have fixed this issue many times before (long ago though)
 
If you can boot into safe mode, run the clean-up scripts found on this forum, then try a chkdsk -r and see if you can't just restore the files xp is hanging on. If that doesn't fix it, nuke and pave. If still receiving errors, it may be time to start thinking hardware issue. An original Dell OEM XP install disk should work fine on any Dell (same OS obviously) so long as you have a valid COA.
 
If it's an XP Home OEM version install you can use a standard XP OEM disk to reinstall. Check the HDD for a backup partition too. Usually HP's will have one. That would probably be much faster than figuring out the problem, and fixing it assuming there isn't a lot to backup.

Just make sure you backup the two files starting with "wpa" in the System32 folder. You'll have to call Microsoft support to activate if you don't.
 
I have an XP home but I dont know if its OEM or what. I use it only for repairs and I dont have a key for it so I would not be able to install to find out.

The HD has a backup partition but when I tried it through windows it asked for the CD's\DVDs which the client did not have. At this point I would have to re-install to save me the time. I with there was a way to get into the backup via manual method.

I forgot about the wpa file. I'll be sure to save those.
 
Sometimes after ie7 or ie8 install, the computer will hang on applying settings. When it hangs, use alt/ctrl/del to bring up task manager. Kill the (I can't remember what the process name is, but you'll see it). Then start new task: explorer.
 
angry_geek said:
Sometimes after ie7 or ie8 install, the computer will hang on applying settings. When it hangs, use alt/ctrl/del to bring up task manager. Kill the (I can't remember what the process name is, but you'll see it). Then start new task: explorer.
Click to expand...

I tried the ctrl\alt\del but but did not bring up anything. The only time I was able to get into the desktop I could move the mouse but I could not click on anything. The keyboard caps lock could make the light go on and off but other than that windows would not respond to any keyboard shortcut.

Why me . . . .why . . . . why, I just want PC's with normal issues even with a nasty virus.
 
LunchBox said:
I have an XP home but I dont know if its OEM or what. I use it only for repairs and I dont have a key for it so I would not be able to install to find out.

The HD has a backup partition but when I tried it through windows it asked for the CD's\DVDs which the client did not have. At this point I would have to re-install to save me the time. I with there was a way to get into the backup via manual method.

I forgot about the wpa file. I'll be sure to save those.
Click to expand...

You can use UBCD4Win to pull of their pre-install key, and then use your XP Home disk to reinstall. There is a high probability it's an OEM disk. With the pre-install key and wpa file you shouldn't have any problems. Just make sure to image the drive before attempting the reinstall. Worst case you'll find out your XP disk is a retail version that wont' work, and you can replace the image so you're just back to where you started.
 
My hologram SP1a disk says something about OEM licensing in a small paragraph off the side.
 
Mine is a burnt copy what I made long ago. I cant remember what the original said. I crated an ISO so I could burn it is a CD got damaged.

What sucks is that I have searched google for 2 things I they result are too generic (which I've tried).

By any chance when running combofix in safe mode have you seen an error stating that windows cant find grpconv and then on the next box another error stating that the procedure could not find sfc.dll
 
I have had this same problem, I found the solution to be when the user had a mapped drive in his My Computer folder. I had to get in a delete it and then the Pc would boot normally
 
LunchBox said:
Mine is a burnt copy what I made long ago. I cant remember what the original said. I crated an ISO so I could burn it is a CD got damaged.

What sucks is that I have searched google for 2 things I they result are too generic (which I've tried).

By any chance when running combofix in safe mode have you seen an error stating that windows cant find grpconv and then on the next box another error stating that the procedure could not find sfc.dll
Click to expand...

http://www.webtree.ca/newlife/windows_xp_tips.htm
 
Galdorf said:
Why not just scan it with an updated UBCD4WIN?
Click to expand...

I tried I wanted to run combofix and got an error. I even copied it from my flash drive and got the same error

Error = Windows can't find GRPCONV make sure your typed the name correctly and try again.

The second message = The procedure could not be located SFC.DLL

Has anyone received the error message when running COMBOFIX in safe mode? I have seen it before but was able to run malwarebytes to resolve the issue.
 
Grpconv.exe & sfc.dll

I've not seen those errors after running combofix, but if they're missing or corrupt (or in the case of sfc.dll, the registry entry may be missing or corrupt also). If you have a portable usb enclosure (empty) and a laptop that you can take to the customer's site, pull the customer's hard drive, put it in the usb external enclosure and connect it to your laptop, where you have already copied grpconv.exe and sfc.dll from a known good working XP machine. Copy them off-line to the appropriate location on the customer's hard drive. You could also do a chkdsk /f and/or an offline virus/rootkit scan while you've got the drive out. Reinstall the hard drive in the customer's machine and boot to safe mode. run regsvr32 and re-register the sfc.dll. If all goes well, those errors should go away.

However, I don't think those two errors are the original root cause of why the PC won't boot in normal mode. Could be a hardware issue, but it smells more like registry corruption and without a restore point prior to the glitch, I'm afraid you're going to have to bite the bullet and reinstall the OS (after backing up and imaging the hard drive first).

You can order restore CD's for most Compaq PCs from HP if you have the model and serial number of the PC. Cost is about $20 (add a bunch more if you want overnight or 2nd day shipping). Or, you can buy an XP SP3 OEM disk and license and use that instead. XP Home SP3 OEM is currently running about $85, but you might be able to find it for a bit less. The advantage of using an off-the-shelf OEM install (not HP or Compaq) is that you don't get all the crapware and trialware that often comes with a full Compaq/HP restore CD. You'll also need to download all the hardware drivers you'll need before you start.

Good luck!
 
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