Software still installed and intact yet not usable in any way, why?

November 13, 2009

Lets start from the top:

I was using my computer as I normally would have. Same thing, different day.

My windows got corrupted and was unable to boot. I inserted my windows XP SP2 disk and attempted to repair the windows installation yet the disk recognized the drive as practially annihilated so i’d need to reformat.

Defiance is my middle name.

I decided to delete the windows folder manually (long story made short) then continue with a fresh installation.

I’ve done so but now when I boot up, I still have all my files, games, programs, and everything intact YET things like my drivers, and installed programs set to run on startup do not appear.

For instance: I have Office XP, but my computer acts as if I don’t have it on my computer. I have zonealarm firewall, yet that does not start up.

I figured that it was the USER that was the problem, yet there’s no way to log onto it via the "switch user" option.

Help?
what i i ment by t by i have zone alam firewall but it doesnt start up was that it is supposed to start up when you boot up but it doesnt
besides having to reinstall everything (which can be done easily but will be a time conusming task) is there a rememdy which i’ll be able to salvage this mess?

How can i stop my computer from freezing?

November 11, 2009

I am using windows XP pro, 512 RAM
It freezes during different points during startup & after awhile is would load without any windows services (ie. Help and Support, Wireless network connection)
I have reformatted the hard drive to reinstall windows xp, but it now freezes during the installation
Only things recently installed/cahnged: Registry cleaner installed & used and Party Poker

How do I know what version of Windows XP Home Edition I have?

November 10, 2009

It doesn’t say what year it is when the program starts up. Is there any way to find out? Sorry, Im not so good with computers. Im trying to wipe my computer clean by reinstalling Windows XP home Edition and found an installation disk at work. But when I tried to install it it told me it was an older format and wouldn’t let me install.

What causes a computer to freeze on restart?

November 8, 2009

My computer, when restarted, freezes up about 98 percent of the time. I do not have a virus or any spyware. This doesn’t happen if the computer is turned off and then back on again, only when it restarts after installing programs or updating software like my anti-virus. Any ideas what causes this? I did a repair install of Windows XP the other day thinking that could be the reason, but it still happens. Any input would be appreciated.

How do I correct the device manager entry that is on my computer?

November 6, 2009

My HP 522n thinks I have a CD-Rom instead of a CD-RW.
I found a note saying my disk Drive is a Samsung SV6003H but my device manager thinks I have a CD- ROM. (This note may refer to another computer, but I know my computer has a CD-RW!)

Do I have to change the drive? Can I change it by going into Boot information? My software is Microsoft Windows XP.

Any suggestions are welcome. It does not mean I will try this myself since I am not a programmer. I want to have an idea what the repair person may do.