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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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 Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 4:20 pm Post subject: my computer won't load programs |
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Hi Gnomies,
I booted my computer Monday morning and it booted but didn't load anything. Absolutely none of my programs, no icons on the desktop, not even the taskbar, nothing but windows. I did a C+A+D to get task manager and it came up no problem. There was nothing strange running that shouldn't have been. I told it to restart and everything was fine. No problems Tuesday either. Now today, Wednesday, it wouldn't totally boot even on a reboot and shutdown restart. The only way I got everything to load was by using my Acronis 12 disc and telling it to boot into Windows.
Does anyone have any ideas as to why this would happen? Should I worry about a hard drive failure? The last time it crashed I had a Hard Drive test done and found no problems with any sectors on the HD except the part that's supposed to help during a re-install! But I don't need that anyway since I have the whole thing cloned on an external HD. It hasn't been acting strange or making any unusual noises. It was on the other day when we had a thunder storm and the power flickered but came right back on. I do have an APC power backup and surge protector on the computer.
Do I need an new Hard Drive? If so do I just get any IDE model or size? Right now I only have an 80g HD. I know it's not SATA but IDE. I appreciate any incite anyone can give me. I can't afford a new computer so need to do all I can to keep this one running good. I run Windows XP SP3.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help. |
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mommabear
Joined: Feb 20, 2003
Posts: 6325
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| Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2010 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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Until someone with more knowledge than I comes along, I can make a couple of small suggestions. You might try replacing the CMOS battery.
Also, you might try disconnecting your computer from all things electric and letting it sit for awhile to drain out any remaining current. Then plug 'er back in and see what happens.
I know you said your power just flickered, but I know the unplug routine has worked for me when there was an unexpected shutdown and my computer wouldn't boot back up properly. |
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goretsky
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 9662
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 4:05 am Post subject: |
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Hello,
Is the computer booting up normally now? Are there any errors reported in the Event Log?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 1:16 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| goretsky wrote: |
Hello,
Is the computer booting up normally now? Are there any errors reported in the Event Log?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
No today it still wouldn't load anything. All I get is the desktop but no programs load. The only thing that comes up in task manager is windows stuff. Come to think of it I'm not sure if I remember seeing explorer.exe there!
I had to use Acronis twice and it finally worked. I think tonight I just won't shut it off.
I did try unplugging it as mommabear suggested but that didn't help.
How do I get to the Event Log? I could check that and let you know. As you can tell I'm not real computer savvy or I'd know that but I'm willing to try whatever is suggested to me.
Thanks |
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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:06 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| wenbo wrote: |
| goretsky wrote: |
Hello,
Is the computer booting up normally now? Are there any errors reported in the Event Log?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
No today it still wouldn't load anything. All I get is the desktop but no programs load. The only thing that comes up in task manager is windows stuff. Come to think of it I'm not sure if I remember seeing explorer.exe there!
I had to use Acronis twice and it finally worked. I think tonight I just won't shut it off.
I did try unplugging it as mommabear suggested but that didn't help.
How do I get to the Event Log? I could check that and let you know. As you can tell I'm not real computer savvy or I'd know that but I'm willing to try whatever is suggested to me.
Thanks |
I did a search for Event Log and the only thing it says for today is a Windows Defender Update. There is nothing listed for any other day this week. So I either have the wrong log or something.
HELP ME 
I did come across a program today from Acronis called Acronis Drive Monitor. It's supposed to scan your HD looking for potential problems. Haven't installed it but wondered if it would tell me where the problem was? |
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zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2747
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:12 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| Quote: |
| Absolutely none of my programs, no icons on the desktop, not even the taskbar, nothing but windows. |
When all you see is your wallpaper and nothing else, that means explorer (windows) is not loading. I have a laptop that exhibits this behavior, for some unknown reason.
When you look in task manager, do you see anything consuming a large % of CPU? (You can ignore system idle).
You access the logs by clicking Admin Tools in the Control panel. Then Event Viewer and probablt System will show what is happening. Look for red Xs and yellow ! around the time that the computer hung Monday and today. |
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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 7:43 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Okay on boot I have a red X that says
"mrtRate service failed to start due to the following error. System cannot find the file specified"
The thing is that I went back as far as the window went and it's been doing it since May 31st. or longer. So obviously that can't be the problem that's causing it not to load.
Apparently my clock is unsycronized as well!
On the 19th. at 8PM I got a warning "System failed to flush data to the transaction log. Corruption my occur.
Also TCP/IP has reached the security limit imposed on the number of concurrent TCP connect attempts. That might explain why my internet seems to cut out periodically! But nothing to do with my boot problem.
Earlier in the month I had and error detected on device \Device\Harddisk5\D during a paging operation, but nothing like that since.
Those are the only warnings or errors I can find.
I'm afraid I'm at a loss. There's nothing to say the HD's corrupted or explorer is the problem. There is nothing using any % of the CPU except system idle!
Help me please. LOL |
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zzron357
Joined: Oct 14, 2004
Posts: 65
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 8:12 pm Post subject: Programs won't load [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Hi Wenbo, How was the battery? If less than 3.00 volts, replace immediately.
(ASAP) I would update and run Malwarebytes Antimalware, suspecting some
sort of infection. If broadband, you may be able to go into safe mode (F8 at
start) and allow networking, and download and install "MBAM" and run it.
For viruses, McAfee has a free standalone called Avert Stinger. This to can be
downloaded in safe mode and run. Handy tool to have in a flash drive. AVG has
a standalone emergency disk you can burn and boot to to check for Viruses.
Do you have an AV you can update and run? Spybot Search and Destroy?
Best wishes, ZZRon357 |
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goretsky
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 9662
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 10:46 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Hello,
Event Logs can be looked at through the Event Viewer (filename: EVENTVWR.MSC).
Just to verify, you have run Acronis True Image multiple times and used it to restore back ups, and the problem persists after the system has been restored from these, correct?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:15 pm Post subject: Re: Programs won't load [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| zzron357 wrote: |
Hi Wenbo, How was the battery? If less than 3.00 volts, replace immediately.
(ASAP) I would update and run Malwarebytes Antimalware, suspecting some
sort of infection. If broadband, you may be able to go into safe mode (F8 at
start) and allow networking, and download and install "MBAM" and run it.
For viruses, McAfee has a free standalone called Avert Stinger. This to can be
downloaded in safe mode and run. Handy tool to have in a flash drive. AVG has
a standalone emergency disk you can burn and boot to to check for Viruses.
Do you have an AV you can update and run? Spybot Search and Destroy?
Best wishes, ZZRon357 |
I don't even know where the battery is. On the motherboard somewhere? How big is it, like a watch battery or bigger? Wouldn't know how to check it even if I find it!
Did a virus scan on Sunday and everything was fine. Malware last Friday, no problems and I haven't downloaded or installed anything untrustworthy. Once I get it to boot properly everything runs as it's supposed to .
Still am inclined to think the thunder storm on Saturday has something to do with it. |
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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 11:23 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| goretsky wrote: |
Hello,
Event Logs can be looked at through the Event Viewer (filename: EVENTVWR.MSC).
Just to verify, you have run Acronis True Image multiple times and used it to restore back ups, and the problem persists after the system has been restored from these, correct?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
The last time I did a complete back up was a couple of weeks ago. I am using the Acronis disc to get my computer to boot properly into windows as that seems to be the only thing that works. I have NOT tried to reinstall the OS from my last back up as I'm concerned it may cause more problems or do more damage if the hard drive is malfunctioning.
Thanks for the shortcut to the Event Viewer!
So no Goretsky I have not restored my system from my last back up. |
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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jul 23, 2010 1:09 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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First I left my computer on all night because I'm scared that one day I'll turn it on and it won't load ever!
So this morning we had thunder storms again. Power went out so I shut it down normally. With my APC power backup I have time to do that.
Storm seemed to pass so I put it back on. I do still have the Acronis disc in. Told it to boot to windows and everything loaded first time, no problems. Long story short power went out 3 times and each time the computer started and loaded perfectly. Keep in mind I am still using the Acronis disc and telling it to load windows. I'm scared to take it out, LOL. But it worked perfectly all 3 times.
Strange! |
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bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1487
Location: ann arbor
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| Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 12:53 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| wenbo wrote: |
First I left my computer on all night because I'm scared that one day I'll turn it on and it won't load ever!
So this morning we had thunder storms again. Power went out so I shut it down normally. With my APC power backup I have time to do that.
Storm seemed to pass so I put it back on. I do still have the Acronis disc in. Told it to boot to windows and everything loaded first time, no problems. Long story short power went out 3 times and each time the computer started and loaded perfectly. Keep in mind I am still using the Acronis disc and telling it to load windows. I'm scared to take it out, LOL. But it worked perfectly all 3 times.
Strange! |
You really do need to take the Acronis disk out and try it without the disk. If the computer boots with the Acronis loader, and not with the one on your hard drive it clearly points to corruption on your HD. That may or may not suggest HD failure.
Your best bet is to be sure all your important data is backed up somehow, including recent stuff and then proceed with experimentation.
If the above experiment suggests a loader problem on your HD, I'd say try a restore using a backup from when there was no problem. If your HD is failing and the restore doesn't work, you are not out anything, as your data is backed up, and your system does not work now. (You need to buy a cheap HD and put your last OS image backup on that, add the latest data backup and you are home.) If the restore works, problem solved! |
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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 1:08 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| bern wrote: |
| wenbo wrote: |
First I left my computer on all night because I'm scared that one day I'll turn it on and it won't load ever!
So this morning we had thunder storms again. Power went out so I shut it down normally. With my APC power backup I have time to do that.
Storm seemed to pass so I put it back on. I do still have the Acronis disc in. Told it to boot to windows and everything loaded first time, no problems. Long story short power went out 3 times and each time the computer started and loaded perfectly. Keep in mind I am still using the Acronis disc and telling it to load windows. I'm scared to take it out, LOL. But it worked perfectly all 3 times.
Strange! |
You really do need to take the Acronis disk out and try it without the disk. If the computer boots with the Acronis loader, and not with the one on your hard drive it clearly points to corruption on your HD. That may or may not suggest HD failure.
Your best bet is to be sure all your important data is backed up somehow, including recent stuff and then proceed with experimentation.
If the above experiment suggests a loader problem on your HD, I'd say try a restore using a backup from when there was no problem. If your HD is failing and the restore doesn't work, you are not out anything, as your data is backed up, and your system does not work now. (You need to buy a cheap HD and put your last OS image backup on that, add the latest data backup and you are home.) If the restore works, problem solved! |
I do have my computer cloned on an external HD so I'm good there, just did it a couple of weeks ago before problem started. I'll take the disc out and see if it will boot normally tomorrow morning. If not I'll try your suggestion and reinstall.
I've looked online for HD's and in Canada there are no "cheap" ones and IDE's seem to be few and far between. I'd like to buy an new computer but just don't have the funds! Hubby want's a laptop for him so he can learn.
Anyway, thanks for all the help. Hopefully something works. |
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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:29 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Well I took the Acronis disc out and it booted/loaded fine this morning! I haven't got a clue what's up with the stupid thing.
I'll leave the disc out and see if it does it again and if it does I'll reinstall the OS from my back up.
Thanks folks. If anyone has any other ideas please post them! |
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micker377
Joined: May 27, 2005
Posts: 1059
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:52 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| Have you tried SFC? You may have a partially corrupt boot file that is "weak", and only sometimes is fully functional. |
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wenbo
Joined: Sep 15, 2003
Posts: 410
Location: Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 3:36 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| micker377 wrote: |
| Have you tried SFC? You may have a partially corrupt boot file that is "weak", and only sometimes is fully functional. |
Please forgive me for being dumb but what is SFC? |
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goretsky
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 9662
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:29 pm Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Hello,
What currently happens when you attempt to start the computer from the hard disk drive? If you get an error message, what exactly does it say?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
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zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2747
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 11:06 am Post subject: [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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She doesn't get an error. Explorer never loads so she has no taskbar, no start button and no desktop icons. All she sees is here wallpaper.
SFC stands for System File Checker and the way to use it is explained here
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html |
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westom
Joined: May 11, 2009
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:01 pm Post subject: Re: my computer won't load programs [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| wenbo wrote: |
| Now today, Wednesday, it wouldn't totally boot even on a reboot and shutdown restart. The only way I got everything to load was by using my Acronis 12 disc and telling it to boot into Windows. |
First the power controller lets the CPU execute. Then the CPU executes the BIOS. Then the BIOS looks for bootstrap files from the CD-Rom, Hard drive, USB port, etc. Once it has and executes the bootstrap, then it can execute the Operating System from the hard drive.
You describe damage to the bootstrap files on the hard drive. So it booted from a bootstrap on the CD. Be concerned. So some reason, bootstrap files on the CD are being lost.
First - why. Drive can be slowly failing. Malware (ie too many open TCP/IP connections) could be causing corruption. CMOS battery could be less than 2.8 volts (which is why you measure that battery before replacing it). A bad battery is first indicates by a clock that no long keeps time. Later by disk drive parameters that do not always read properly and therefore cannot find bootstrap files.
2.8 volts means plan on replacing the battery sometime in the near future. A lower voltage says that was probably the entire problem. A higher voltage says look elsewhere for your failure.
If your computer is from better manufacturers, then it also have comprehensive hardware diagnostics. Diagnostics that execute without Windows so that your problem can be found quickly. If yours is not so responsible, then find the disk drive diagnostic from the manufacturer or from the bootcd.com website. Again, a useful diagnostic must execute independently of Windows.
And finally, another reason that can cause your failures - a marginal power voltage that is measured by the same multimeter that is necessary to identify the battery as good or bad.
The fact that you can view task manager, event logs, etc means your drive is working perfectly or is slowly failing. To know more means comprehensive diagnostics from the computer manufacturer or from the hard drive manufacturer or numbers from a multimeter.
Listed are many reasons to explain your problem. In every case, you see the failure before fixing it. Or spend time chasing ghosts. |
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