Help with computer?

So I am having problems with my computer... If anybody here knows more than I do (not much) your help would be much appreciated.
Last week it was running fine... now it sucks.
It started after I installed a the free trial version of Adobe Premiere Elements 7.
It asked me to reboot to complete setup. I did... but it didn't boot up.
Instead the computer froze at the login screen and I restarted the computer...
Then it gave me an error message giving me options to restart in safe mode, in last working configurations, and normally.
I chose to restart normally and then got the same error message.
I gave the computer to a friend and he got it working again, but it isn't the same.
The toolbar doesn't work, I can't click an drag, I can't copy files, I can't install/uninstall some things, AntiVirus doesn't run, and open programs don't show up on the toolbar. Also, hardware like my speakers and mouse don't work properly. There are other problems too, but too many to list. Could it be a virus? It's really annoying.

I am running Windows XP.
My computer is a VAIO, and is maybe 5 years old.
If you need anymore information to determine what might be wrong I can provide it.
I don't know anything about computers so I'm in the dark.
I'm tempted to just erase my hard drive and start off with a "clean slate" but I don't know if that will fix anything...
I'm not gonna call Geek Squad or anything because it's expensive and I'm sure there is someone around here that knows more than those guys.
Thanks in advance!

i always reformat and reinstall when something like that happens. sure its a pain setting everything back up but you can always use nlite to make a os disc that already has your drivers and other stuff so all you have to do is install the os and everythings there.

it does sound like you have some sort of bug though.. where did you get the d/l from?

ndrew2505 said:

i always reformat and reinstall when something like that happens. sure its a pain setting everything back up but you can always use nlite to make a os disc that already has your drivers and other stuff so all you have to do is install the os and everythings there.

it does sound like you have some sort of bug though.. where did you get the d/l from?

Click to expand...

I see.

I got it from adobe's website. They have trial versions for all their software.
I've downloaded from them tons of times and never had problems.

My friend says he's gonna give me a new operating system to install or something so I'm just waiting on that...

Could something like this happen if my computer doesn't have enough RAM to run a program?

it wouldnt just not do anything if it was the ram. youd more than likely get a "low on virtual memory" error if it was ram related(xp and vista).

ive got a copy of windows xp black edition if you want it. its the black edition with the jolly roger background and says "windows xp pirated edition". its a stripped odwn version so it runs a little bit faster.

^^ this. (reinstalling)

I'd recommend you build a driver disc before reinstalling, makes it so much easier. Alternatively, build yourself a nLite disc, with the srivers, service packs etc "slipstreamed" on. I have or am in the process of making unique nLite discs for each machine I control, complete with pre-installed drivers, which makes my job so much easier. (From there, backups of user data and settings are all automatic, and as soon as I hook my machine up to the network, it re-installs the programs. I actually adore Group Policy for making my lifie so easy )

If you want to do it without reinstalling, then I can have a further look, a hijackthis log, or more detail on what's wrong would be a good place to start off (though I don't expect HJT would reveal much). If you need a hand, post or PM and I'll see what I can do.

^These guys have got it.. Whenever things get that bad, it's time to start over..

i have had to start over a few times.. the best thing to do is to save all of your files on external drives. do frequent backups. i only use my C: for a temp. All of my files are on externals. Its also good to have an ISO of your OS stored externally or in a thumb drive.

Sorry to hear about your computer.
Good Luck

Thanks guys for your help.
I don't have an external drive, but I think I might get one. The only thing worth backing up is my music and some photos, and that's all on my iPod anyway.

Would anyone mind telling me how I go about getting an ISO of the OS? And is this just for backup?

ndrew2505 said:

it wouldnt just not do anything if it was the ram. youd more than likely get a "low on virtual memory" error if it was ram related(xp and vista).

ive got a copy of windows xp black edition if you want it. its the black edition with the jolly roger background and says "windows xp pirated edition". its a stripped odwn version so it runs a little bit faster.

Click to expand...

hey theyres a vista black and thats working smoothly on mine and i by no standards have a computer that can run normal vista fast, but with black its like xp

I have a copy of Norton Ghost that I make backups of occasionally. Everything that I change I store on a External 500gb hard drive with my ghost backups. Whenever I get a virus (once or twice a year) I ghost my drive over the infected one and copy my changes and save files from my backup directory.

regards
sbdwag

RA_pierce said:

Thanks guys for your help.
I don't have an external drive, but I think I might get one. The only thing worth backing up is my music and some photos, and that's all on my iPod anyway.

Would anyone mind telling me how I go about getting an ISO of the OS? And is this just for backup?

Click to expand...

I have a Sept 05 corporate version of XP Pro.. if you would like me to put on RS i will
the only thing is.. its totally pirated
does not pass windows genuine test :shhh:
the whole .rar is 637MB


BTW
you have to have Nero/alcohol or some kind of burning software to do this to do this.

GoRdOn_B said:

I have a Sept 05 corporate version of XP Pro.. if you would like me to put on RS i will
the only thing is.. its totally pirated
does not pass windows genuine test :shhh:
the whole .rar is 637MB


BTW
you have to have Nero/alcohol or some kind of burning software to do this to do this.

Click to expand...

I have that version too. I have sp1 and sp2 that I install but make sure you turn off automatic updates or you will end up with a marked version by MS and eventually it will leave you with a black screen on boot.

To be honest I have a dell that came with Vista and it was crapp! I found this copy of Win XP. Its the only reason I pirated it.

Regards
sbdwag

Typically doing a complete wipe of your hard drive will fix issues like this...but you have to think about what may have caused it to begin with.

From what you discribe in your first post, it would lead me to believe that it is malware related, which in that case you have a 99% chance that wiping your hard drive clean will fix the problem.

1. Restart computer with a OS disk in the CD drive
2. Run setup
3. Done

If anything like that ever happens to me, thats what I do, it works 99% of the time for me.

Hey there is a way of fixing this without reformatting!

I explained how to do it here! Repairing computer compnents

if you scroll down to the bottom fo that page I explain how to use the chkdsk function in command prompt, this will fix/repair any windows files that might have been corrupt or damaged during use.

But if you dont feel like tring to work this out, you could always reformat and that will definatly fix the problem. But i suggest backing up all your files and then running the chkdsk command, if that doesnt work then go straight for a reformat, just so you get a bit more experience with computers, since you said "If anybody here knows more than I do (not much) your help would be much appreciated"

Hope that helped, if you need more info post it here or else just pm me and i can help you out! -Adrian

this is a case of the corrupted registry, happened to me 2 times, thats because the installer of the adome premier 7 that was released that time has still an error..

try reformatting and reinstalling everything.