From: Daave on
garyr wrote:
> "Daave" <daave(a)example.com> wrote in message
> news:u1UviFAFLHA.5500(a)TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> garyr wrote:
>>> First, thanks to all who replied to my June 1 post; I learned a few
>>> things but not quite enough. My computer is still ailing: occasional
>>> restarts and hang-ups, BSOD when attempting to start in Safe Mode.
>>> Restart with everything
>>> but the mouse and keyboard connected does not change anything - Safe
>>> Mode still generates a BSOD. Also, now I'm unable to update Norton
>>> Antivirus software; following a download an error message is
>>> displayed. I removed the program and reinstalled it and ran
>>> LiveUpdate but the update again failed. I have done complete scans
>>> by Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and SUPERAntiSpyware which only
>>> turned up a few tracking cookies.
>>> No new hardware has been installed in over a year.
>>>
>>> I'm thinking of taking the girlish approach (according to Jose) and
>>> reformat the C drive and reinstall XP, as painful as that would be.
>>> To reformat C: I should open the Command Prompt and enter
>>> FORMAT C: /FS:NTFS /X - is that correct?
>>>
>>> After XP has been installed will the Windows Update site prompt me
>>> to download SP2 in addition to all the security updates? Should I
>>> udpate Norton AntiVirus before or after updating Windows?
>>>
>>> Thanks for your help
>>> GaryR
>>
>> In the future, if you are referencing an old thread, it would be
>> helpful to post a link to it because many people will not know what
>> you are talking about otherwise.
>>
>> Here's the link:
>>
>> http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support/browse_thread/thread/86d01f1d0269c502/e7e66bb6b0feaea1?hl=en&q=
>>
>> I don't believe you ruled out a hardware problem. If one of your
>> hardware components is bad, a Clean Install will be of no use.
>>
>> In the event you do want/need to perform a Clean Install, you must
>> boot off the XP installation CD and do it that way.
>>
>> Do you have an XP installation CD? If so, what SP level is it at?
>>
> My XP installation CD includes service pack 1a. I installed SP2
> several years ago.

The good news if you have to perform a Clean Install is you can bypass
SP2 completely and install SP3.


From: Db on
there a many causes for system
instability and unfortunately
many people over react and
believe that malware is the
cause but is not always the
case.

perhaps, norton acerbated a
problem and may not have
had anything to do with an
infection.

while on the one hand I think
a clean install will be the easier
way out,

you will likely loose all your
doc's, pic's and emails in the
process.

however, if you did choose a
clean install, then I would use
the disks you have and worry
about the updates later.

also to consider is that if the
system instability is initially
due to faulty hardware,

then reinstalling the o..s will
will not work.

on the other hand you might
be able to repair what you
have now.

for example, if you can boot
up the recovery console,

then perhaps, you can run
a couple of commands and
regain the system.

at the recovery console, you
can also replace the current
registry hive with a basic
one stored in the system folder.

restoring the basic registry
hive is a little tricky but you
may look at the process as
enlightening.

further, if you did choose to
do a clean install of the o.s.,

then it would create a basic
registry hive to start the
operating system.

the above are just some
thoughts to consider.

--
--
db���`�...�><)))�>

DatabaseBen, Retired Professional

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This NNTP newsgroup is evolving to:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/default.aspx


"garyr" <news.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:OeYl#j9ELHA.3732(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> First, thanks to all who replied to my June 1 post; I learned a few things
> but not quite enough. My computer is still ailing: occasional restarts and
> hang-ups, BSOD when attempting to start in Safe Mode. Restart with
> everything
> but the mouse and keyboard connected does not change anything - Safe Mode
> still generates a BSOD. Also, now I'm unable to update Norton Antivirus
> software; following a download an error message is displayed. I removed
> the
> program and reinstalled it and ran LiveUpdate but the update again failed.
> I
> have done complete scans by Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and
> SUPERAntiSpyware which only turned up a few tracking cookies.
> No new hardware has been installed in over a year.
>
> I'm thinking of taking the girlish approach (according to Jose) and
> reformat the C drive and reinstall XP, as painful as that would be. To
> reformat C: I should open the Command Prompt and enter
> FORMAT C: /FS:NTFS /X - is that correct?
>
> After XP has been installed will the Windows Update site prompt me to
> download SP2 in addition to all the security updates? Should I udpate
> Norton
> AntiVirus before or after updating Windows?
>
> Thanks for your help
> GaryR
>
>
>
>
>