WINXP problem *Seriously I need help*
 

This is not just some common microsoft screw-up this was a combined effort by Winzip and a dumb buddy of mine. Now, I downloaded Office 2000 w/ Frontpage off of Kazaa. I know, I know. But I knew the dangers, was willing to accept them, and had countermeasures prepared. To tell you the truth, I had lost my setup cd, but had the case and the registration number (A lotta good that does me). So, I noticed the soft on Kazaa; looked for a healthy file size, downloaded, extracted, and searched for the setup file to install it. The Winzip self-extractor pointed to a temp folder deep inside win xp (too many folders, I say!!). And trust me their "~" signs did not help me get any closer to finding the desired folder to run the setup file from the freshly extracted files. So, my buddy comes along with a great idea (or so we thought at the time). "Why don't you just extract the files to the c: drive?" followed by; "Ok, what hell, it won't do anything." Little did we know.

Ok, so we got the files to the c drive ran setup, put my reg serial in and got the install done. So afterwards I wanted to rid myself of the setup files from the winzip extraction. Searched for them & deleted them to the recycle bin. Next thing I know, I cant open my c drive through "My Computer" (the desktop icon) but only through Windows Explorer; haven't tried Open Office document though. Though this is a small problem but nonetheless an annoyance. To add, the c: drive's icon has changed to a icon you expect to see for only a unrecognized file. Ex: .chk or any file that is unassociated with a program in windows. But before I removed those "setup files" from my c drive, the icon in My Computer represented itself as the "puzzle logo", famous for office 2000 products, and I think it believed my c drive was a cd-rom drive. But I'm stretching that.

Yes, I tried a complete uninstall. Then a re-install from a new location, windows/temp, and still had c act inaccessible, only in my computer, when there was no setup files pertaining to win xp. As soon as I moved the setup files back though, the icon returned to a puzzle logo and let me access it. I think some registry setting has got a hold of my c drive thiking it is somehow the "home" of office 2000. Anybody, who took the time to stand reading this story, thank you. Please let me know your suggestions.

well, maybe you deleted some files off C that you shouldnt have after you deleted the install files?

it is a possibility

I doubt it. The files I removed were Office 2000 related only. I never had the problem before until I began the so called "installation".

Hmm...I haven't had a computer do that since I was using Windows 98 SE. I don't think I ever fixed it. I'd say back up your stuff and format, but I think you mentioned not having an XP disc. Oh well, good luck. Anyone else have suggestions?

-Lasereth

Virus?

System Restore?

Wyodiver33, I'm not sure if I'm prepared to go that far. Maybe if someone told me what a <i>system restore</i> accomplishes and the risks/effects involved then maybe I'd go about doing it. But I'm still keeping a look out for someone who can help with this an easier way.

Yakimushi, could be but what virus would do that? Besides, my antivirus hasn't picked up anything.

I'm not sure if this will help, but you could try running tweakui ( http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p.../powertoys.asp ) go to repair and repair icons to see if it fixes the my computer problem. after that if you have access to a copy of norton systemworks, try running windoctor to scan and try to repair errors in the registry from the office install. I think that any registry cleaner/fixer might work to solve the problems with what appear to be screwed up registry entries due to the office install (plus remember to save the changes so that you can undo them).

System restore in XP should get you back in shape (if you backed it up before you did the work)

I suppose there is some moral lesson about software piracy we can add in here somewhere...

System restore restores your system to the configuration of a recent date. If it doesn't work, you can easily revert back to your current state.

Windows automatically sets a restore point anytime you install new software, so you should be good as long as you remember what day it all got screwed up. Also, it won't delete any of your files, so all that precious pr0n that you may or may not have saved in a hidden folder (with the label "sysinf" to throw people off) somewhere on your HD won't be lost.

Trust me, the Restore will save you a bunch of trouble in the future if you use it.

system restore *may* delete some of your files, it seems to delete files with extensions or in places it knows about (or possibly in places it doesnt know about, ie outside documents folders) , i did it once it deleted a bunch of exes, docs and c files.

the puzzle icon is just a file that you extracted off the CD that windows picks up to use as an icon, try removing customization or looking for an ico file on the root. it might be hidden.

Also its best unzip stuff like that to a new folder, and not the temp folder either, lots of junk in there makes it confusing if you need to clean up, and its easier to get rid of.


Note: though i still think system restore is a great tool, but nothing beats a backup.

Wyodiver33, irieemon, Flippy, BoCo, and charliex. Thank you!!! That did the trick. It fixed my problem. Though Charliex's comment left me with an uneasy feeling. Why would <i>system restore</i> delete documents, exe's and especially files on the c? Anybody care to elaborate on that? And, let me know if there is a way to see exactly what files system restore removed. Thanks again, I knew I'd get great help here. ;)

heyal256, thanks for all your suggestions, but I don't know why you recommended something like Norton Systemworks. I just got done reading a thread here in Tilted Computing where people were complaining about how Norton Systemworks corrupts the drives it installs on <b>50%</b> of the time. I directly quoted that from Pragma: http://tfproject.org/tfp/showthread....300#post477300

system restore rollls back your system to a point where it was, tracking the enitire contents of your hard drive would take an awful lot of space, so i think it just stores drive table information etc, and not the whole file system.

for instance i did a restore point, and copied some exes into my c:\tools\ directory, did a restore and the files had disappeared! microsoft does say it wont touch your documents, images email etc, but it definetely removes executables.

Plus if it does delete anything you can unrestore the restore and go back to the way it was ! :)

you may still have an AUTORUN.INF file in your c:\ root directory. It could very well be hidden.

The autorun.inf is a happy little text file that makes your computer do things when you pop a cd in.

It would make double clicking on your c:\ drive shortcut try and excute the program specified in the autorun file (or it would do nothing if you have deleted that file)

the Autorun.inf also specifies what icon should be used for its parent folder.

So me thinks that you've left office's autorun file in your root.

rm -f "c:\AUTORUN.INF"

wrong os ;)

del /F C:\autorun.inf

Ah, I shall experiment with that. Very well could have been autorun.inf file. Any answers though on finding the <b>list</b> of what system restore removed on my computer? Thanks again, great answers.

"wrong os"

gasp!

wrong os?
you, good sir, need to evaluate your priorities.