[aven]

okay, now if i were to reinstall win xp wouldnt I lose all my info and lose more space on my computer?

[mphenterprises]

I really do not think it is a question of "if" you reinstall. However, to answer your questions, the only information you will lose is the information you do not back up before the reinstallation. If you do not already have a system in place to back up your data, I would grab any blank DVDs and CDs you have and copy your data over to either media before you do the reinstallation.

As to the lose of space, I am not exactly sure what you mean by this. A reinstallation will essentially wipe all data that is not already backed up and any applications installed on your computer. It will be as if your computer was showroom new. Now, modern computers come with Recovery Partitions that make this process seamless but in your case, I do not believe your Gateway comes with this partition.

Of the three choices laid out, I would say that the second, get the original Windows XP CD from Gateway, is your best option. If they do not offer Windows XP CDs anymore, then I would go with the retail version which already comes with Service Pack 2. Bringing up the rear is using the copy of Windows XP given to you along with your original Certificate of Authenticity.

[aven]

Thank you for all the information given...but do you have an explanation of the services.exe is open or being used? what program or what has me not able to access the download?

[mphenterprises]

I really have no idea. Services.exe is a part of the Operating System and is basically like a crossing guard. It manages what and when applications start and stop.

I have no idea why you are unable to install SP2; however, the one area we did not explore was suggested by SpiritWind earlier in the Discussion. You indicated that you ran SuperAntiSpyware and your system came up clean. What you did not mention was if you ran any other applications, specifically any anti-virus applications.

Since the services.exe file is the gatekeeper, so to speak, it is very susceptible to malicious attacks. Please post all of the security applications you use or have used to try and resolve this issue.

[aven]

Ok I had a virus the first anti sof i used was smitfraud, then spysweeper, to no avail... How to recover from a corrupted registry that prevents Windows XP from starting, then superanti, then ccleaner. so since i thought the system was cleaned of viruses and stuff , i downloaded a video from my camera, and it wouldnt play, and realplayer told me i needed quick time, which told me i need sp2.

[mphenterprises]

Well, from your list, I personally only use a couple of these applications. However, one of the applications you noted, CCleaner, just deletes temporary files, cookies, and cache thoroughly from your computer, nothing more.

If I may make one final suggestion before you attempt any reinstallation method, please download, AVG Anti-Virus which is available here:

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/us/frt/0



Once you have downloaded this application, please restart your computer in Safe Mode and run this plus SuperAntiSpyware again. Both applications are very thorough and by running these applications in Safe Mode, you prevent any malicious file from latching onto any Windows files. If this does not work, well, I am pretty much out of ideas.

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi :


When you say you ran "Smitfraud", did you

mean you ran the program called "SmitFraudFix" !? IF yes, why did you run this seldom

recommended program nowadays when Expert Malware-Fighters now recommend

superior Malware-fighting program(s) ? Did one or more of your antiSPYWARE/

antiTROJAN program(s) "detect" a Smitfraud "infection" ? At times, such programs MAY

ONLY detect the "tip" of a malware "iceberg", so knowing the Names of the "Infections"

MAY indicate the need to use more specialized malware-cleaning programs . Based on

this, I realize you never told us the "Result" of running "SUPERAntiSpyware" s

"Complete Scan" !? IF anything was "detected", I am asking that you click on the

"Manage Quarantine" button and let us know the "Name(s)" of the "Item(s)" there

and/or "copy & paste" the Contents of WHAT is there into your next Post .

NOTE : I am NOT interested in the "Names" of ANY "Adware/Tracking" cookies .

Since you mentioned the Possibility of a corrupted registry, have you run one or

more "Registry Cleaners" and IF yes, have you considered "reversing" what the

"Registry Cleaner(s)" allegedly "fixed" !?

[aven]

cant run avg because, it need sp2 installed to support it

[aven]

i dont know how to reverse the registry cleaner and once i scanned with superanti i uninstalled it so i dont know what processes it removed...

[mphenterprises]

To be honest, you are backed into a pretty tight corner. I really do not see any other way out of this predicament besides a reinstallation. I believe Spirit may have some more suggestions; however, if he does not, I do not believe you are left with too many other choices.

[SpiritWind]

Hi :



IF you know how to "copy and paste " ,

I recommend you download a program called "HijackThis", which is most easily

downloaded from www.filehippo.com/download_hijackthis . After it has been

successfully "Installed", click on the "Open the Misc Tools section" button, then click on the

"Open Uninstall Manager" button . A "List" should appear !? If true,

"copy" , then "paste" that List into your next post here .

[aven]

Adobe Flash Player ActiveX
BroadJump Client Foundation
CCleaner (remove only)
DivX Codec
DivX Converter
DivX Player
DivX Web Player
EPSON Printer Software
HijackThis 2.0.2
HP Optical 4 Button USB Mouse Driver V1.14
Intel® 845G Chipset Graphics Driver Software
Intel® PRO Ethernet Adapter and Software
Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003
RealPlayer
SBC Self Support Tool
SBC Yahoo! Applications
SUPERAntiSpyware Free Edition
Visual IP InSight(SBC)
Windows Installer 3.0 (KB884016)
Windows XP Hotfix - KB823559
Windows XP Hotfix - KB833407
Windows XP Hotfix - KB842773
Windows XP Hotfix (SP1) [See Q312370 for more information]
Windows XP Hotfix (SP1) [See Q329048 for more information]
Windows XP Hotfix (SP1) [See Q329390 for more information]
Windows XP Hotfix (SP1) [See Q329441 for more information]
Windows XP Hotfix (SP1) [See Q329834 for more information]
Windows XP Hotfix (SP1) Q329170
Windows XP Hotfix (SP1) Q810577
Windows XP Hotfix (SP1) Q810833
Windows XP Hotfix (SP1) Q815021
Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) [See Q329115 for more information]
Yahoo! ¤u¨ã¦C
Yahoo! Browser Services
Yahoo! Install Manager
Yahoo! Messenger

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi :


Based on what the "List" is showing, it appear your Operating System is a "plain vanilla"

Win XP ( without either "SP1" or "SP2" ) and the last time this computer received any

Microsoft Operating System "Updates" was 2004 . The "List" also shows an outdated

"Windows Installer", so I am going to recommend you try getting the latest "version" by

going to support.microsoft.com/kb/893803 ; when there, scroll down the page a

little bit until you see "Download the Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable ( v2 )

package now " ; click on this and go through the "process" as far as possible and let us

know what happens !?

[aven]

I Reinstalled the software, and was able to install sp2, but i believe while i was backing up and copying files I misplaced my d drive, because i cant install any software?

[mphenterprises]

Hi Aven. I am glad that you were able to resolve your initial issue. Since you now have a completely different issue, please mark this Discussion as Answered, select the two (2) posts that you feel were "Helpful" and the post that you feel was "Correct," and then start a new Discussion detailing the new situation as clearly as possible.