Trying to fix my friend's computer (PC)

[Kryptonite]

Ok, so my friend has a Compaq Presario, ~1.4gig Pentium 4. Windows ME

I ran ad-aware and spybot S&D on it (Safe mode and "regular" mode). As well as Norton WinDoctor from the disk. Between these 3 programs, close to 1000 issues were found. If you ask, I have no idea WTF he's doing to his computer.

I go to install SystemWorks (SW) 2004, and it scans for anything that may cause an issue during install. It's ok.

I tell SW2004 where to install and what to install and it's OK. Then it goes to initalize the install and the CD drive won't read. I did this in both CD drives, the regular one and the CD-R drive.

If it comes down to it, I can run the windows me upgrade CD without losing anything, can't I?

Other than that, anyone have an idea?

[-cman-]

First, ME totally sucks and he should spend the $199 to upgrade to XP. He's got the CPU hardware and probably has the 256M RAM too. That's something I reccomend you tell him to save for.

First back up his files. Get or borrow an external USB drive or burn a CD-RW or something. Do this before you try anything drastic or you might loose a friend :D

WTF is wrong with it that you are thinking of reinstalling the OS? Answer that question and you may save yourself a lot of trouble. But, if you insist on pursuing this here's the two best ways:

Did I mention backups? You must have for the first option below.

Check and see if he has his Compaq System Restore disks plus install media for his ciritcal apps (MS office, Quicken, Doom...). If he does, you'll be better off just nuking the box and doing a restore. Trying to fix a hosed ME install is maddening.

Otherwise, (and I THINK you can do this with ME but not sure) run the ME install. When it tells you that ME is already installed it should give you the choice of installing into the existing c:\Windows directory or doing a new install to another directory. Try doing that second. Call the new install point c:\winme. This is essentially reinstalling the OS but without wiping the hard drive as reccomended above. You'll still have to reinstall drivers and maybe some apps.

[Kryptonite]

First, ME totally sucks and he should spend the $199 to upgrade to XP. He's got the CPU hardware and probably has the 256M RAM too. That's something I reccomend you tell him to save for.

I am well aware of ME's suckage. That's not my issue though.

WTF is wrong with it that you are thinking of reinstalling the OS? Answer that question and you may save yourself a lot of trouble. But, if you insist on pursuing this here's the two best ways:

Like I said above: I tell SW2004 where to install and what to install and it's OK. Then it goes to initalize the install and the CD drive won't read. I did this in both CD drives, the regular one and the CD-R drive.

And I don't think it's a problem with the program though. It's real odd, because I don't get any warnings or boxes before it stops reading.


you'll be better off just nuking the box and doing a restore. Trying to fix a hosed ME install is maddening.

Otherwise, (and I THINK you can do this with ME but not sure) run the ME install. When it tells you that ME is already installed it should give you the choice of installing into the existing c:\Windows directory or doing a new install to another directory. Try doing that second. Call the new install point c:\winme. This is essentially reinstalling the OS but without wiping the hard drive as reccomended above. You'll still have to reinstall drivers and maybe some apps.

My idea was to get my Win ME install cd and re-install everything on top of what's there, without nuking. That way, if anything's corrupt, hopefully it'll reinstall non-corrupt files on top of what's already there.

I installed the other stuff (Spybot and Ad-aware) off CD just fine. If I can get norton to install, everything hopefully will be fine.

It COULD be a norton problem, but I doubt that, because i'd think there'd be a box with something like "due to ______ norton cannot install at this time." (installed on too many computers, need to register online, etc.)


My other option is to do a windows system restore, but from my experience, system restore doesn't work too good.


I also called my neighbor who knows a lot more than I do, hopefully he can help.

[Don Boppero 3000]

First, ME totally sucks and he should spend the $199 to upgrade to XP. He's got the CPU hardware and probably has the 256M RAM too. That's something I reccomend you tell him to save for.

First back up his files. Get or borrow an external USB drive or burn a CD-RW or something. Do this before you try anything drastic or you might loose a friend :D

WTF is wrong with it that you are thinking of reinstalling the OS? Answer that question and you may save yourself a lot of trouble. But, if you insist on pursuing this here's the two best ways:

Did I mention backups? You must have for the first option below.

Check and see if he has his Compaq System Restore disks plus install media for his ciritcal apps (MS office, Quicken, Doom...). If he does, you'll be better off just nuking the box and doing a restore. Trying to fix a hosed ME install is maddening.




I recently had a virus F up my cpu to the point of no return. I had to re-install the OS and lost some apps. I have office xp bootleg so no beef there, but I need to know where I can find a good DVD app?

[Belgian guy]

I am well aware of ME's suckage. That's not my issue though.



Like I said above: I tell SW2004 where to install and what to install and it's OK. Then it goes to initalize the install and the CD drive won't read. I did this in both CD drives, the regular one and the CD-R drive.

And I don't think it's a problem with the program though. It's real odd, because I don't get any warnings or boxes before it stops reading.




My idea was to get my Win ME install cd and re-install everything on top of what's there, without nuking. That way, if anything's corrupt, hopefully it'll reinstall non-corrupt files on top of what's already there.

I installed the other stuff (Spybot and Ad-aware) off CD just fine. If I can get norton to install, everything hopefully will be fine.

It COULD be a norton problem, but I doubt that, because i'd think there'd be a box with something like "due to ______ norton cannot install at this time." (installed on too many computers, need to register online, etc.)


My other option is to do a windows system restore, but from my experience, system restore doesn't work too good.


I also called my neighbor who knows a lot more than I do, hopefully he can help.

If you have to do a complete reinstall after backing up his files, I suggest doing the following: divide his hard drive into two or more partitions, and teach your friend to put all of his data on one partition (he may even choose to run some apps from this partition) and installing his OS on the other. Then do a clean install of Win XP (or which ever version of Windows he prefers) and install all the plug-ins, apps and programs that he likes/needs on this partition. After which you can use Norton Ghost or a similar program to make an image of the fresh Windows partition. That way, next time your buddy has problems (which doesn't seem unlikely, with him having 1000 issues on a spyware and virus check, WTF is he doing), all you have to do is overwrite the OS partition with your Norton Ghost image. All his data will be nice and safe on the other partition. A friend thaught me this system about two years back. Once you have gone through the trouble of making one clean Windows Image, whenever you have serious trouble, you can just overwrite your OS partition in 15 minutes time, and voila, you have a fresh Windows to work with.

[Premium Hamatachi redded]

hahahahaha one day bigsoccer should make the helpdesk forum

[_Wheels_]

If you ask, I have no idea WTF he's doing to his computer.


Tell him to stop visiting porn sites. ;) :D