programs won't start; folders won't open

vontz · 22nd June 2003

Hi fellow windows bbsers:

hate to admit it, but am rather a newbie

loaded windows 2000 on two different pentium ii computers

seemed to load fine on both, but now both will not start programs or open files

when i shut down the os, the programs or folders that did not open will show briefly before the shut down finishes

any help would be greatly appreciated

Newt · 25th June 2003

How much memory and how much free drive space on the PCs?

vontz · 25th June 2003

hey newt:

64 mb ram/6 gb harddrive on one; 128 mb ram/7 gb harddrive on the other

in the Windows Task Manager, under the Processes tab, the System Idle Process has a "99" under the CPU; could this be why nothing will open/run on them? noticed that on a working machine running win2k, it uses 10-20% of cpu resources

Thanks very much for any advice you could give

Newt · 26th June 2003

System Idle simply shows how much resource is not in use at the time. If the system is relatively idle, 99% is normal.

The 64Mb is low and may cause problems. 128Mb should be fine. And certainly enough drive space to run the OS.

It seems you can get some things open - at least task manager. Can you also check your event logs?