OT: Windows Disaster Time

[Jim Thompson]

Hello Jim,


Similar here. When at work I am always using two machines at the same
time. One for documentation, one for the electronic stuff. When one
crashes I can continue to do both on the other until it is back up.


Then all you really need besides the email files should be the user
profiles and network settings.

Regards, Joerg

Unfortunately I have a gezillion little utilities, like custom dBm
calculators, etc. ;-)

The sheer joy of having to re-install everything is what I'd like to
avoid, but I'm "afeared" it's format and re-install time :-(

...Jim Thompson

 

[Joerg]

Hello Jim,

Unfortunately I have a gezillion little utilities, like custom dBm
calculators, etc. ;-)

I am still using paper cheat sheets for that.

The sheer joy of having to re-install everything is what I'd like to
avoid, but I'm "afeared" it's format and re-install time :-(

Try the Windows repair method first. Maybe it saves you that grief.

Regards, Joerg

 

[Jim Thompson]

Hello Jim,


I am still using paper cheat sheets for that.

Try the Windows repair method first. Maybe it saves you that grief.

Regards, Joerg

Maybe I can get to that tomorrow. I'm in grunt mode right now,
copying customer schematics into my system :-(

...Jim Thompson

 

[NunYa Bidness]

Perhaps that's because your field of vision is severely limited by
being perpetually behind the 8 ball?

Yet another stupid, meaningless remark from a silly troll.

You are missing a link, goodbye.

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Maybe I can get to that tomorrow. I'm in grunt mode right now,
copying customer schematics into my system :-(

Jim Thompson

Jim, another approach is to use a couple spare drives. Format and
install the operating system on one spare drive, then use it to boot the
system with all three drives. Clone the original drive to the second
spare drive. Then you can try to replace damaged OS files on the second
spare without risking the original drive. Its worked for me to recover
data from badly infested computers that wouldn't boot. Even if the boot
drive ended up infected, it was a spare and could be reformatted when I
finished cleaning everything up.

I am in the process of salvaging files from a computer that
accumulated 1880 worms and thousands of items of spyware before it
finally wouldn't boot. The owner didn't believe they needed to worry
about spyware and virii protection. They were too lazy to download
decent free software, and now they have lost about half their files.
They were hit hard by the Netsky worms, of several types. That over
wrote almost every HTML file, and created hundreds of hidden blank
folders that would open when you looked at the directory they were
hiding in. It took seven passes before they were gone, then I had to
turn off the system restore feature to remove the last 467 copies that
were protected by the OS from being deleted. Why are people so stupid?

--
Link to my "Computers for disabled Veterans" project website deleted
after threats were telephoned to my church.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Pooh Bear]

I am in the process of salvaging files from a computer that
accumulated 1880 worms and thousands of items of spyware before it
finally wouldn't boot. The owner didn't believe they needed to worry
about spyware and virii protection. They were too lazy to download
decent free software, and now they have lost about half their files.
They were hit hard by the Netsky worms, of several types.

Sometimes I think you should have to pass a test before being allowed a PC.
I've 'had' to fix other ppls PCs where the problem is caused by ineptitude or
simply failing to pay attention to basics.

Lazy says it all ! Dumb says it better.

That over
wrote almost every HTML file, and created hundreds of hidden blank
folders that would open when you looked at the directory they were
hiding in. It took seven passes before they were gone, then I had to
turn off the system restore feature to remove the last 467 copies that
were protected by the OS from being deleted. Why are people so stupid?

They're born that way ?

Graham

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Sometimes I think you should have to pass a test before being allowed a PC.
I've 'had' to fix other ppls PCs where the problem is caused by ineptitude or
simply failing to pay attention to basics.

Lazy says it all ! Dumb says it better.


They're born that way ?

Graham

That is why I am trying to set up some real computer classes. The
community college has all kinds of courses on how to use different
programs, but not one on "Safe online computing". Since they are not
interested in providing this class I am going to do it at my church. I
also want to start an open computer club. There are dozens of computer
clubs around here but they are all inside gated communities and only
open to their residents. We need one that is open to everyone. A
couple dollars a head per meeting to pay the church for the lighting and
air conditioning should cover most of the overhead, and there is a small
storeroom where we can lock things up between meetings. The church is
supposed to be installing a cable modem for their use during the day,
and I think they will let us use it in the evening, as long as someone
from the church is there to supervise the club. Of course, the ideal
space for the club is upstairs, so we can't use it. because of their
insurance. The stairs are too steep to meet toady's building codes, so
the area is used for storage.


--
Link to my "Computers for disabled Veterans" project website deleted
after threats were telephoned to my church.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[rex]

I'll take this as my cue and start here. Guess why.

Said the great critique troll of the electronic forums of Usenet.
My post was then, and is now, right on cue.

It's good form to get your post right when you are giving a negative
critique of someone else's.

You seem to be using "right on cue" as if it means "on target." It
doesn't.

I doubt you'll even get that phrase right, however. Here's a hint
"cue" IS the intended word. Your estimation that it should be "queue"
is as incorrect as your decision that my post was unwarranted.

It's a billiard phrase, and something that I have yet to see you be.

Delightful to see you get it completely wrong.

Queue is certainly different than cue (although I don't know why you
mention it) but cue in "right on cue" is not the same as cue relating to
billiards.

Here's one link: http://www.answers.com/topic/right-on
Not directly on the subject, but includes this:
"*right on cue*, theatrical slang for saying the right lines at the
right time."

Here's another: http://www.allwords.com/word-on cue.html

So "right on cue" means at the appropriate or expected time. It does not
mean "on target" or "appropriate" and it does not relate, even
etymologically, to billiards.

 

[NunYa Bidness]

I'll take this as my cue and start here. Guess why.

Sorry, but you have jumped your queue in life. You have no place
here.

It's good form to get your post right when you are giving a negative
critique of someone else's.

That's a very interesting remark. You should consider heeding it.

You seem to be using "right on cue" as if it means "on target." It
doesn't.

You seem to not know a damned thing about it.

"On cue" is a phrase used in acting.

"On cue" is ALSO a phrase used in billiards.

One means on time, and the other means on target, or at one's best.
You need to re-examine what you seem to think are the facts.

Delightful to see you get it completely wrong.

If you are delighted, it is delight in your lack of grasp of
reality.

Queue is certainly different than cue (although I don't know why you
mention it)

I can tell. You do not appear to know much at all. You began your
reply by top posting. I am surprised you didn't make your entire post
that way.

but cue in "right on cue" is not the same as cue relating to
billiards.

Yes, it is. As in: Cue ball. Cue stick. Cue up, and... you
guessed it: On cue.

The other reference is as in: Cue the actors to enter stage right.
Or: Cue the idiot Usenet posters to reply about something which they
have zero knowledge of..

Here's one link: http://www.answers.com/topic/right-on
Not directly on the subject, but includes this:
"*right on cue*, theatrical slang for saying the right lines at the
right time."

Just proves you are simple minded. "Right on cue" is a billiard
phrase, and "Right on cue" is also an acting phrase.

Here's another: http://www.allwords.com/word-on cue.html

They merely prove that even folks that post web pages can have
errors of omission.

So "right on cue" means at the appropriate or expected time.

That is one meaning.

It does not
mean "on target" or "appropriate" and it does not relate, even
etymologically, to billiards.

You are mistaken. Were you ever even involved in the realm of
billiards, you would know this.

 

[Graham W]

Have you tried doing a file compare between the 'damaged'
explorer.exe and the same file on one of your 'undamaged' PCs ?

If the files match, you're likely looking at a damaged dll file.

You could conceivably copy all the critical windows exe and dll files
from one pc to the affected one over your network.

Do you know what processes are running when you boot up ? I don't
know if it supports W2K but I've found 'startup control panel' a
freeware tool very useful. It'll also show certain other stuff like
dialler trojans that install themselves too.

Just checked. It's good for 2k so check it out.

I'd suggest you use the standalone version to begin with. No registry
messing.

http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

Win98SE has a util called sfc.exe which is the system file checker and
compares the active file with data it keeps in a database. It also knows
which cab file to get a copy from. MSConfig.exe allows one to specify
startup conditions. Have these 'essentials' been thrown out of W2K ?

 

[Pooh Bear]

Win98SE has a util called sfc.exe which is the system file checker and
compares the active file with data it keeps in a database. It also knows
which cab file to get a copy from. MSConfig.exe allows one to specify
startup conditions. Have these 'essentials' been thrown out of W2K ?

Not as far as I know !

Startup Control Panel offers a far more user friendly interface than diving
into the registry. Why not try it and see ?

Graham

 

[John Perry]

I run a scan weekly, and Norton sits there scanning anything inbound,
so I don't _think_ it's a virus.

Note that virus scanners can only detect and remove viri already known,
and viri that use particular system weaknesses that have been identified
and are susceptible to checking. New viri, etc. are often immune, and
even invisible, to all current antivirus scanners. You're quite smart
to back up your stuff often.

I just got a nice 4-yr-old hp from a friend who had done some unwise
surfing and picked up something his up-to-date version of Norton AV
didn't catch. It trashed his XP so completely that the computer
wouldn't even boot. I loaded QNX onto it and it's perfectly happy.
(I'll eventually put SUSE and XP Pro on it when I've finished getting
reacquainted with QNX).

I realize that certain idiots among web builders force IE weaknesses on
their users. So far, none have been so necessary to my wife's needs
(she's a teacher) that she couldn't do everything she needs with
Netscape. I still keep IE accessible on her machine so I can update her
XP Pro when necessary.

You should consider some of these measures when you get your machine
back. (Snide comment about your aversion to linux being your misfortune
duly deleted .

John Perry

 

[Graham W]

Not as far as I know !

Startup Control Panel offers a far more user friendly interface than
diving into the registry. Why not try it and see ?

I have and it is very similar to MSConfig. Anyway, anything which
purports to 'adjust' system settings is probably reading/writing values
to the registry - no need for me to use Regedit 8¬).

'sfc' is particularly good since it examines all the system critical files
and if it finds a broken or changed or updated one it can go get a fresh
copy from the source or update its DB as directed by the user. I'm
surprised no one has suggested using before.

 

[Jim Thompson]

I've got a blue screen issue...

All of a sudden I acquired a "Search results" icon on my desktop.

Where it came from I have no idea, sometimes my sloppy mouse movements
get things on the desktop that don't belong.

I right-clicked in an attempt to delete it... no dice, no delete
option.

So, like a dummy, I drug it onto the toolbar, figuring it to be a copy
of Explorer.

No dice.

So I re-booted.

So I get an error message, "Explorer (no surprise) has committed an
illegal" something or other, then I get a blue screen.

Turns out the machine still "talks", I'm running this message right
now by loading Agent using Task Manager.

OS is Win2K.

Any ideas on how to fix?


...Jim Thompson

I had a thought. Any way to locate registry entries that occurred
after a certain date and time?

This whole thing is really bizarre. I can run almost everything via
Task Manager, except Windows Explorer, and a program called WinTasks,
and no DeskTop or Tray.

...Jim Thompson

 

[NunYa Bidness]

I had a thought. Any way to locate registry entries that occurred
after a certain date and time?

This whole thing is really bizarre. I can run almost everything via
Task Manager, except Windows Explorer, and a program called WinTasks,
and no DeskTop or Tray.

...Jim Thompson

Again, as I stated before, you could back up your registry, then
re-install windows, then re-integrate the old registry to get your
installed apps back.

 

[legg]

Win98SE has a util called sfc.exe which is the system file checker and
compares the active file with data it keeps in a database. It also knows
which cab file to get a copy from. MSConfig.exe allows one to specify
startup conditions. Have these 'essentials' been thrown out of W2K ?

msconfig is not in w2k, but it can be imported harmlessly. It will
examine the start-up environment, after showing error messages when
attempting to open other, non-existent, w98 files. The errors close
when manually 'ignored'.

RL

 

[legg]

I had a thought. Any way to locate registry entries that occurred
after a certain date and time?

This whole thing is really bizarre. I can run almost everything via
Task Manager, except Windows Explorer, and a program called WinTasks,
and no DeskTop or Tray.

Posting the exact error message might tweak someone's memory. (in,
say, alt.comp.antivirus)

It isn'y always completely meaningless. ( Hey - scots typo ! )

Perhaps using the repair option, from a floppy boot, might serve.

The 'search results' icon on the desktop - isn't this an option in the
MS AntiSpyware Beta? I can't quite remember the bugs that induced me
to uninstall this program, almost immediately. Perhaps you've been
exploring other software that you forgot to mention.

RL

 

[Graham W]

msconfig is not in w2k, but it can be imported harmlessly. It will
examine the start-up environment, after showing error messages when
attempting to open other, non-existent, w98 files. The errors close
when manually 'ignored'.

Thanks for the info.

 

[JeffM]

'sfc' is particularly good

I'm surprised no one has suggested using before.
Graham W

http://groups-beta.google.com/group...&filter=0&q=intitle:Windows-Disaster-Time+SFC

 

[rex]

You are mistaken. Were you ever even involved in the realm of
billiards, you would know this.

I think you are deluded. Give me a reference other than you and your
pool shooting buddies (dictionary or web with some credibility) for the
billiard reference to your meaning of "right on cue".

The language is constantly evolving, particularly in slang, but it takes
a while before a phrase or definition is accepted as part of the
documented lexicon.

For the majority of the english speaking world, I'm right. If you can
give me a decent reference (I looked) I'll accept that you are not
completely wrong. Otherwise you scratched.

Chalk up, dude. Your stroke.