Inactive redirects,updates incomplete, apps won't open...

[Inactive] redirects,updates incomplete, apps won't open...

If it's not one thing it's your computer... I dont' know what started first. It slowed down, some programs wouldn't open and the Windows updates would keep trying to load but then they'd want to load again either later that day or the next because the previous attempt was incomplete or truncated.

Sometimes the computer comes on and sometimes it doesn't - a few days ago I reopened it and hit f12 - ran IDE Drive diagnostics - got a Fail. Return Code 7 on the primary Sata. Left it off for a day and it ran fine for a day. Virus protection returns no problems (XoftspySe, Spybot, Norton Antivirus, CCleaner). Dell demension 8300 PC with Windows XP. I have an Iomega 1Tb external HD added a couple months ago with backups - I'm hoping it's not affected. We also have a laptop running Vista on the network it is not used often and does not seem to be affected. We are using in the interimn.

Itunes won't open and one or our ipods is "Connected Eject before disconnecting "

I visited your forum and saw the recommendation to someone else to download Combofix so I followed the instructions.

I know I may have jumped the gun by downloading Combofix and Hijack
This but here are my logs. I am awaiting your chastisement or assistance.
<SNIP>

 

mea culpa

I did read that topic but didn't realize the underlined "read this topic..." was a link.

In your rules you said to do a search to find similar situations and that's what I did and then I thought 'I can't post to this so I can try the solution'.

I'll start back at the beginning. I'm sorry, I goofed. I've never joined a group like this and will try to behave properly.

Thanks
Gng

PS I don't know what script blocking is - does it mean to turn off my virus protection software and firewall? I'll have to wait to run DDS until I know this.

 

script blocking

got it thanks - here I go...
gng

Oh, I just saw the post from Broni, I'll proceed with those steps first thing in the morning and see what happens.
Thanks to all.
gng

 

Primary Hard Drive Failed

Broni
I ran the DDS as suggested by the Administrator - I have tow text files on my desktop: DDS.txt and Attach.txt .

I ran EVEREST Home Edition to determine make of HD - its a Seagate 120GB 7200RPM SATA NTFS
Somehow I was directed to Belarc Advisor and ran that so I have more hardcopy info that is probably redundant with regard to the above text files.

Then I proceeded with the steps you suggested:
1. www.tacktec.com... (dotnetfx.exe) returned an error - "could not install .Net Framework 2.0 conflicted with previous edition ". An error report was sent - I wrote down the details if you want them.
2. www.bleepingcomputer...IDEDrive+diagnostics - I tried the SeaTools for Windows and Passed the SMART tests but Failed the Long Drive and Long Generic Tests -- "Fail possibly caused by problem sectors run SeaTools for DOS. "
3. I installed SeaTools for DOS and ran it - I have a .iso file on my desktop and wrote an image file to disk.

What's next?
Boy you must love this stuff - it takes a lot of patience, but I guess it's easier if you really really know what you're doing.
Can't thank you enough for the support...
gng

 

what next

How do i boot from the cd?
goubngoat

 

Okay, that sounds easy enough - I think I'll wait til daylight.
thanks
gng

 

SeaTools for Dos no so easy

I had success running SeaTools for Dos and there is an error on the hard drive but I'm having a horrible time navigating SeaTools for Dos. After two days and multiple attempts I can not get to the repairs.

I have a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse - the mouse does not work at all so I've had to use the keyboard. No problem there if the queque letters worked. If the short test has the s underlined you'd think that you press s to run the test - that doesn't work. Neither does alt s or cntrl s - and attempting these things aborts the program. some how i got to the long test and received a failure. "Failed important diagnostic test possibly caused by problem sectors. "

Next I arrive at the list of repair options but am unable to navigate past the skip option. If I press the underlined letter for the line to repair I get thrown out. If i try to navigate down with the arrow keys or the tab key it displays user has chosen to skip...

I've run the short test, the long test and the acoustic test and failed each of them. To be honest I don't know how I got to each of them. Sometimes the tab key works other times it aborts.
What should I do next.

 

Seagate for Dos wrong version

No, I followed the links it was black and white good old fashioned DOS. Just visited Seagate's site. I'll try that. Thanks
gng

 

SeaTools for DOS ok

Broni
I updated to the SeaTools for Dos 2.21 version from their website. I've been successful enough that I got to the point where I was instructed to put in my original Windows XP CD and ran it from the cd drive. Now I'm at the Widnows Recovery Console but there are really no instructions. I'm looking at a black screen with
"Microsoft Windows XP(tm) Recovery Console.
The Recovery Console provides specific repair and recovery functionality.
Type EXIT to quit the Recovery Console and restart the computer. "

I did type EXIT the first time I ran this and when windows tried to boot it keeps cycling around without actually opening...
Invalid Boot.ini file
Booting from c:\Windows

then the Dell Logo

unless I select f2 for setup or F12 for boot options it continues to loop back to
Invalid Boot.ini file...

So I've booted from the cd to the Windows XP original disk again hoping to get some assistance. (Each tme I select R for repair).
Thanks
Goubngoat

 

SeaTools testing to Windows Recovery

I ran SeaTools for dos multiple times before I came back to ask about problems with the navigation. Then I loaded SeaTools for Dos 2.2 and ran it and it passed the short test by failed the long test Errors 67D4A456
Failed important diagnostic test possibly caused by problem sectors
Block # 6692566 Repair this only
Ran SeaTools again and it passed
I can't find my notes as to how I got to the recovery console. I was away from terminal for weekend. Should I start back over with SeaTools?
Gng