5punk

I need Windoze Firewall and ICS up so I can use my bevvy of computers on tha intahnet. But my XP Pro machine has gone all haywire. On startup, the Windoze sounds all play fine, but all 3rd party progs complain about missing sounds drivers. Unistalling and reinstalling the onboard sound fixes this. Secondly, the Windoze firewall won't start, nor the firewall service and therefore no ICS. The network (via a switch) has gone all haywire - I can ping all the computers and access them via IP addresses in explorer, but they can't see me.

Everything points to a malicious virus, but various checkers have come up clean. I've also run a number if registry checks and cleaners to clear out a potential MSBlaster virus that reportedly gives these symptoms. Having googled my way round the world I'm not the only one to have this problem, but none of the suggested solutions work.

Any ideas before I format and start again?

Oh and another problem. Different computer this time. PSU's keep exploding (sparks and fiery death). Changed the kettle lead and plugged in a bit at a time but still going kaboom. Any ideas wtf is going on before I blow up my fourth? (it's rather fun actually).

(And wtf? How can I be playing Civ 4? I'm at work!)

if all else fails try using

start > run

Code: Select all

sfc /scannow

that'll basically return your windows install to off the CD state.

friznit wrote:Oh and another problem. Different computer this time. PSU's keep exploding (sparks and fiery death). Changed the kettle lead and plugged in a bit at a time but still going kaboom. Any ideas wtf is going on before I blow up my fourth? (it's rather fun actually).

that's most likely a case of bad wiring in your house, try a different plug socket (on a different circuit ideally) and use a splurge protector

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:if all else fails try using

start > run
Code: Select all
sfc /scannow
that'll basically return your windows install to off the CD state.

Nice one. I'll give it a go. I take it this vomits all the installed software and drivers out too? Thankfully the majority of my games etc will stay since I always install them on a different disk. Just a bit of registry jiggery-pokery to do.

friznit wrote:
Dr. kitteny berk wrote:if all else fails try using

start > run
Code: Select all
sfc /scannow
that'll basically return your windows install to off the CD state.
Nice one. I'll give it a go. I take it this vomits all the installed software and drivers out too? Thankfully the majority of my games etc will stay since I always install them on a different disk. Just a bit of registry jiggery-pokery to do.

just windows basically, everything else remains. pretty reliable for fixing corrupt or broken shit

Tried that. It did...nothing. Blue bar...lots of dll copying off the CD and absolutely no change at all to Windows

I guess I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and go for the format option

bah.

yup, sounds like a launch and nuke is the best option

Having hijacked the SATA thread I thought I'd come back to the one I started. ANd yes, SP2 sorted the whole partition thing out, but not without wiping everything that was on it too

Thank f**k for backups eh?

Can I use partition magic or something to turn this back into one bick HDD without wiping the partition that the OS is installed on?

friznit wrote: Can I use partition magic or something to turn this back into one bick HDD without wiping the partition that the OS is installed on?

yes, acronis partition expert will be on the floor, it's better that partition magic (it doesn't break your windows install y'see)

partition magic has never broken anything for me, is it really worth swapping?

i've had problems, a few ruined windows installs, so i swear by the acronis one.

ok o mighty sideburn man

i will sweep it up at some point

5punk

Bah Humbug. Network nerfage problem

Bah Humbug. Network nerfage problem