[kj4k]

Hello again my fellow PC users,

I have yet another problem with Windows and was wondering if anyone might be able to assist me in my search for a solution.

I have lost my Windows XP graphic user interface.

I read in a PC World article (which I cannot relocate) that reverting to the Windows 9.x graphic user interface increases basic computing speed and overall performance in windows explorer and on the windows desktop.

I followed the instructions carefully reverting to the Windows 98 graphic user interface and performed one tweak in which I added a new entry and set a value to one of the many child directories in my registry.

This tweak which I performed prohibited Windows from reading the XP graphic user interface on start-up.

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

The tweak also made the XP interface un-selectable in the Windows and buttons drop-down menu in the Display Properties tool box.

If by any chance anyone happens to know the tweak or where the tweak is located (hive & child directory specific), it will be greatly appreciated.

P.S. - I have seemed to misplace my folder where I keep a hard copy of all registry tweaks which I perform on my main machine. Also, system restore does not seem to be working in my favor lately, and neither does the command prompt.

[kj4k]

Ugh...I just tried downloading Style XP 2.0 from style-xp.en.softonic.com/ and a few visual styles from [http://www.themexp.org/] to rid myself of this Windows 9.x graphic user interface.
I failed miserably.

I'm sure I was not the only one who happened to read that one particular article on PC World. :(

I'll see if I can contact Steve Bass or the other tips & tweaks columnist because if they wrote the article, I'm certain they know what to do.

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi :

I think you would be a lot better off asking Volunteer Microsoft Most Valuable Professional(s)

for help . There are many that staff the Support Forums at aumha.net .

[rgreen4]

Hindsight is of course always 20/20. While I have never had this problem (I didn't like the older GUI anyway), I have really messed up my Windows installations before. Getting slightly wiser in my advancing years, I now clone my drive before doing something like this, and then experimenting on the clone. In fact, one member of the community opined that it was my intellectual intrigue that caused me to experiment when someone wondered what would happen in certain circumstances. I use Acronis True Image to clone the drives, ver10 works fine up through XP and will clone Vista, but ver11 is much better for Vista.

Good luck, and in the worst case you can always re-intall. Although that is truly a pain. You could try a repair. Do not use the recovery console referenced early on in the process, but later when you are given a choice of re-install or repair. Please make sure to do a complete backup of all data that might be at risk before trying the repair. Always CYA.

[kj4k]

I'm fine with re-installing, I have everything backed up, I have my software, my installers, etc...it's just that if you've read my other thread "XP won't recognize any hard drives" you'll quickly find out re-installing is not an option. :(
Ghosting is a great option, I've used Norton Ghost for some time in college but that was way back when, and now I'd rather not ghost a problematic machine. :^0
I can't seem to get into contact with Steve Bass or any of the PC World columists, so that option is also out-the-window.
Right now I'm of to those support forums SpiritWind referred to in his post.
Thanks for the help fellas, peace.

[kj4k]

I'm a genius, I figured it out and I couldn't believe it was that simple.
I re-read one of mphenterprises old posts where he said "create a new user account."
Then it hit me...try it.
I created a new user account and my GUI is back.
Now back to the scuzzy problem. :(

[rgreen4]

Congratulations. One problem with a work around.
Now, if your machine boots, and you have two drives in a Raid0 configuration, both drives are functioning.