Need WinXP Help

[mrscritter]

I have a Dell Home PC with WinXP Home Edition. It currently has 4 users, all with their own passwords (only one administrator). Recently, after transferring from one "user" to another, the programs stopped working. The desktop icons do not fully load (except for 4), but none of them actually work accept AOL. None of the start menu programs work. Cannot get into anything, my computer, control panel etc. I have tried
System Restore- but can not get into it.
Going to F8 and using last working configuration.
didn't work.
I booted off the cd rom disk and went to system repair, but it wanted an admin pass, which shouldn't be on there (its my computer). I had to download the exe file from microsoft to by pass the log on. THEN I managed to run the system repair. It did say it fixed some files, but even after turning off the computer, waiting, and turning it back on, it is still doing this. I do not know what else to do accept re-format the entire hard drive? Any ideas? And even then? is it possible with this admin password thing on there? I have noticed that certain scripts do not working online now either...not sure if its java or activex, but some forms are not right.
Help! I would really rather not re-format if I can get out of it.
Jeanie C in Oklahoma

Originally posted by mrscritter
Recently, after transferring from one "user" to another, the programs stopped working.

does this mean when you try to log as the other users that have accounts on the computers?


Did you install any sort of windows updates or programs when this started to happen? What programs are not showing up?

[mrscritter]

It does not matter which user you log onto, none of the desktop icons OR the start menu icons work. Basically nothing works. Accept a few things. AOL works. I can pull up run, and browse, but even if you click on it, it does not "run". No, nothing new was installed. I did previously use a BeClean program to clean the history, etc. But I have had this program for quite some months with no problem.

Don't you have the Restore Disks? Dells normally come with them. Reverts the PC to factory condition.

A clean restore may be a better option in the long run and takes less than an hour. But you gotta be careful of any files/data you created.

[mrscritter]

Yes, I used the disks that Dell provided to do the restore, and it did NOT restore it back to normal. That is the problem. I still have this same problem. thought I would post to this board because frankly, I am tired of dealing with dell.

[phlatline]

Wow. Was there anything, besides transferring users, right b4 this happened? I mean, anything.

[mrscritter]

No new programs have been downloaded lately. I did run a BeClean program that I have had for several months with absolutely no problems. When I ran it this time, it DID freeze up and I had to use the task manager to shut that program down. That was all.

[phlatline]

Can u run an antivirus?

[mrscritter]

No, can't run anything accept aol. Even tried some of those online antivirus's and apparently they use some type of script that I can not get to come up. Can't get pop ups to work either.

[phlatline]

Do u have backup PC? Bcoz I think u "might" have a virus. I'm gonna check sumthings out 2 make sure coz I could b wrong. Hang in there, I'll be getting back w/u pdq.
Phlatline