Wierd computer problem - UPDATE HELP NEEDED PLEASE!!!!

[Schmidty]

I have a strange issue that I can't figure out: A bunch of my devices don't show as working at all. For example, my internet connection works fine, but the little icon in the bottom right has the x and doesn't show as connected. Also, the sound on my system doesn't work at all, although my speakers are fine (checked them on my laptop, nothing's muted, etc.), and device manager says that they're enabled. When I try to play any of my music, I get the little x error "can't access file". My antivirus is working fine, but Windows Security Center says that it's off and so is the malware protection. I checked for windows updates, but it won't let me because it says that the service isn't running.There are a few other thing like this going on all over my comp.

This just randomly started today. I tried to do a restore, but I get "System restore does not appear to be functioning correctly on this computer". The volume Shadow Copy service used by system restore is not working. For more information view the event log (0x81000202).

I'm baffled, and annoyed. Can anyone help me, or give me some advice?

[MizzouRah]

Windows 7 I'm assuming?

I had some malware awhile back that did something similar, I had to backup data and perform a clean install.

[Schmidty]

Nope, it's Vista. Never had this happen before. I tried to system restore, but it doesn't even start. I'm baffled.

[Oilers9911]

I'd run MalwareBytes from malwarebytes.org and see if it turns anything up.

[Schmidty]

Ok, downloaded that and am running a scan. Fingers crossed that it works.

[MikeVic]

Are you sure your sister isn't going on certain sites while you're away?

[cartman]

I've been having good luck with Hitman Pro 3.5 finding stuff that MalwareBytes and SuperAntiSpyware miss.

[Schmidty]

I tried Hitman too, and it found a bunch of tracking cookies that malewarebyte didn't. I'll try all of the others that I can find. Otherwise, I'm just buying a new hard drive.

[cartman]

Tracking cookies wouldn't cause an issue. They are deleted for privacy reasons.

[Schmidty]

Tracking cookies wouldn't cause an issue. They are deleted for privacy reasons.

Yeah, I know. But I just thought it was good news that it found something the other program didn't.

I've scanned it with 3 programs, and restarted the computer twice, and I still have the same damned problem.

[Schmidty]

I can't figure this out. Nothing works.

Any last second advice before I break down and buy a new HD? I would really appreciate it.

[MizzouRah]

Why would you buy a new HD? If the HD is good, do a windows repair.

[Schmidty]

Why would you buy a new HD? If the HD is good, do a windows repair.

Because my HD is 5 years old and I was going to buy a new one eventually, so I figured why not now.

By window repair, do you mean using the Vista disc or something?

[MizzouRah]

Because my HD is 5 years old and I was going to buy a new one eventually, so I figured why not now.

By window repair, do you mean using the Vista disc or something?

Yes.. I don't have a pc and a Vista cd in front of me right now, but you should be able to boot to it and run a "repair".

[Schmidty]

Gah!!!

I put in the Vista disc to repair windows, but the flipping repair/save files option is grayed out. It won't give me any explaination. I'm really starting to want to Office Space on this thing right now. :mad:

[MizzouRah]

If you have a Windows Vista installation disc, you need to restart (boot) your computer using the installation disc. If you do not restart your computer from the disc, the option to repair your computer will not appear.
If you have a Windows Vista installation disc:

Insert the installation disc.
Restart your computer.
Click the Start button http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows Vista/Main/4/f/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33.png, click the arrow next to the Lock button http://res1.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows Vista/Main/e/b/eb058ccf-b21e-4dfe-9bb7-1ad6c83b705c/eb058ccf-b21e-4dfe-9bb7-1ad6c83b705c.png, and then click Restart.
If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc.

http://operationsports.com/Resources/3.0/shared/images/merged/gl_ico.png
Note

If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or DVD, check the information that came with your computer. You may need to change your computer's BIOS settings. For more information, see BIOS: frequently asked questions (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/BIOS-frequently-asked-questions).
Choose your language settings, and then click Next.
Click Repair your computer.
Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem, and if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.
If Startup Repair is a preinstalled recovery option on your computer:

Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your computer.
Click the Start button http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows Vista/Main/4/f/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33/4f6cbd09-148c-4dd8-b1f2-48f232a2fd33.png, click the arrow next to the Lock button http://res1.windows.microsoft.com/resbox/en/Windows Vista/Main/e/b/eb058ccf-b21e-4dfe-9bb7-1ad6c83b705c/eb058ccf-b21e-4dfe-9bb7-1ad6c83b705c.png, and then click Restart.
Do one of the following:
If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you will need to try again by waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and then shutting down and restarting your computer.
If your computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys to highlight the operating system you want to repair, and then press and hold F8.
On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair your computer, and then press ENTER. (If Repair your computer is not listed as an option, then your computer does not include Startup Repair as a preinstalled recovery option.)
Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.
Select a user name and enter the password, and then click OK.
On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem and, if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.

[Schmidty]

I really appreciate all the help, Mizzou. I'm having yet another problem. I'm putting the disk in, then restarting the computer, but every time it just goes straight to windows login. I checked the BIOS, but there weren't any options that looked like they'd help me.

[MizzouRah]

Boot order is what you are looking for.

What is the make/model of your pc?

If it's a Dell, F12 will bring up the boot order once you see the Dell splashscreen. If it's an HP, F9 will do the same.

If it's one you built or another brand, let me know and I'll look it up, but you are looking for the "boot order" in the BIOS and CD ROM should be first.

[Schmidty]

My comp is a Schmidty Special. It's f8 to get to the BIOS, so I'll try doing that.

Thanks again man.

[Schmidty]

Well, I think I'm screwed. I changed the boot order, clicked the repair option, and looked over the choices. The only one that would have helped me was system restore, but just like when I run it from start menu, it says that it has no restoration info at all so it can't do anything. I've used restore before with no problem, and I've never turned it off, so it's got to be some type of malware or hijack situation. I can't even run windows update. No sound. My antivirus is on, but windows shows me as having no antivirus active.

I tried hitman, malwarebyte, spybot, adaware, and a full virus scan with antivir. I am close to giving up. If I do, I wonder if it would be safe to import files like music and game saves to the new hard drive (with a fresh windows install).

[sovereignstar]

I wouldn't be worried about moving custom files and folders over to a fresh install.

[MizzouRah]

That's crazy.. back up your data and do a fresh install I guess.

The one thing I love about Windows 7 (and I know you have Vista) is that you can take an external HD and do a full image backup to it, kind of like Norton Ghost, if you are familiar with it.

I do one every Saturday, only takes about 10 minutes.

If my pc crashes or the HD goes bad, I boot to a CD and then it loads the image off the external HD as if nothing happened.

[Schmidty]

Thanks for the help guys.

New problem - I bought a new 500 gb HD today. Brought it home and installed it with no problems. When I tried to install windows on it, it doesn't even recognize that the new drive is there. I checked the BIOS, and same thing. I checked all of the plugs, made sure they were tight, etc. I even tried putting the SATA cable into 3 different plugs on the MB. Nothing works.

I hope that it's just a bad HD, because I don't know what else it could be.

[Schmidty]

AHHHHHHHHHRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

I ended up bringing back the new HD and exchanging it for another one. That did the trick, as it finally showed up in BIOS. I set my new HD as the 1st boot option and installed Windows. Everything went smoothly and Windows started up. Very quickly, I noticed that Vista wasn't detecting ANY of the hardware such as the video care, ethernet, soundcard, etc. I asked Windows to look for new hardware in device manager to no avail. I restarted to see if anything changed, but alas, it didn't, so I changed my old HD to the primary boot and am using that again.

I can't understand what's going on. I only have one copy of windows, and have it installed on both, but I didn't think that would be a problem. I didn't authenticate it on the new system yet. When I'm on my old one like now, everything's fine and detected (in some cases not working because the virus thing, but they're recognized).

So I'm stumped. I am begging someone, anyone to help me so I can let go of the stress this flipping situation is causing. I'l get tattoo of your choice on my back or right arm. I'm desperate.

[DanGarion]

Maybe try resetting the Bios options to defaults. Maybe something got funky in the bios...

[MizzouRah]

Do you have a driver disk for your motherboard?

[Schmidty]

Do you have a driver disk for your motherboard?

I do, but I can't find the damned box. I've actually been looking for it for awhile. The ethernet isn't onboard though (neither is the video card), so I'm not sure that would have helped anyway.

Keep the ideas coming, because I'm getting really discouraged. :(

[MizzouRah]

The reason I ask is because you really need to load the chipset drivers, which should help with some of the others to show up since they are attached to your motherboard.

Chipset drivers are the first drivers I install and should hopefully allow the rest of your hardware to at least show up in device manager, but you will probably need those drivers too.

Find that disk and get those loaded!

[Schmidty]

Yay!!

Searched and searched, and finally found the mb drivers. I downloaded them, dragged them over to the new hard drive, and am finally good.

Now if only I could get the computer to acknowledge my sound card.....

[Scoobz0202]

I'm going to hijack this for a quick second Schmidty, if you don't mind.

I have an Android phone. Synced to my google account. I noticed while I wasnt home that it said there was a sign-in error for my gmail account. No matter how many times I tried to relog in on my phone it wouldn't let me. I just got home, went to gmail, and tried to log on. It said there was unusual actions being done with my account so they locked it down or something. I had to input my phone number and they texted me a verification code. I entered that and got logged in.

I recently placed a car for a friend of mine on Craigslist. Since then, I get a couple emails a day from craigslist that is spam. Usually sex related stuff. Typical porn spam shit. I checked my sent folder to see if that is where the unusual actions was from and found 24 emails sent yesterday that were sent in about a 12 hour period.

the recepient was something like "pers-yy84e-1899273944" and the subject like was shit like "Sugar daddy looking for a girl too.." A couple had attachments that I'm not even going to attempt to look at.

Other then a password switch (which that obviously won't help if this is something I seriously need to worry about) is there anything I should do? It's my main personal email, I hope there is nothing in there that may be compromised (credit info from purchases).

[MizzouRah]

Yay!!

Searched and searched, and finally found the mb drivers. I downloaded them, dragged them over to the new hard drive, and am finally good.

Now if only I could get the computer to acknowledge my sound card.....

If your sound card is integrated onto your MB, you should be able to go to their website and get those too.