Topic: Dell down

[Clark Kent]

OK, I was having a bit of a problem with my Dell Inspiron 9300.  It's 18 months old, and really doesn't get used all tha much as I mostly rely on my iBook.  In any event, it worked well on friday as far as I can tell, but come saturday, when i booted it up explorer didn't work right.  This is right after a virus scan that only came up with two possible spyware fiels (one was gamespy, the other i cleaned out).  I know, i know, why use explorer?  Well my work's remote access only supports explorer.  In any event, explorer opened, but the page remained blank and the program basically froze and I had to use the task manager to shut it down.  Several reboots later I opened up Firefox, and that as well did not work (same issue), and that is when it hit me: each time I rebooted, McAffee didn't come on at all.  Normally I get the privacy program that requires me to log in to mcaffee, but not anymore.  I am unable to load any of the mcaffee suite- security, antivirus, anti spyware, nothing will launch. 
SO that is where I am at with my dell: no protection and no ability to get on the net because my web browsers are down for the count. 
COuld anyone give me a hand?  I know what I think it is, but I thought I would ask in here for opinions in the hope that I can still salvage the system without a complete reinstall and low level format.

[Commander Maxillius]

Sounds like you deleted a piece of McAfee.

[Clark Kent]

Sounds like you deleted a piece of McAfee.

Is that really likely?  I mean, mcafee recommended the file to be deleted.

[Javora]

I would suggest totally uninstalling and then reinstalling McAfee and see if that does anything for you.  Very small chance McAfee may have messed up some of your settings with Internet connection so you may want to take a second and double check them while you are at it.  Other than that I would suggest looking into another Antivirus software program besides McAfee or Norton.  I haven't had those types of problems since I left those companies behind.  Hope this helps.

[IAF Lyrkiller]

Hmmmm, What have you tried outside of getting rid of the virus.

You can do a "sfc /scannow" and see what it does. (start/run(need the windows cd in the cdrom drive)).

Uninstall and reinstall IE.

try that and see what happens.

[Commander Maxillius]

I've got something far easier and slightly cheaper in the long run:

Get a Mac 

[IAF Lyrkiller]

I have seen Macs get corrupt.

[Clark Kent]

I've got something far easier and slightly cheaper in the long run:

Get a Mac 

Punk.   
I already have two.  I do need the remote access capabilities on this one though, since my work really doesn't like macs.  Maybe a mac looked them funny when they were kids or something, I dunno.
I will try unistalling mcafee, and will also try to get IE 7 on there, see if that helps.

[Clark Kent]

I have been unable to find my install disks for mcafee.  I did notice, though, there are a LOT of settings that are off on this computer all of a sudden.  All of the sounds I had set are not working, and the task bar is really messed up for starters.  I don't think a simple reinstall of two programs will fix this.

[Javora]

I have been unable to find my install disks for mcafee.  I did notice, though, there are a LOT of settings that are off on this computer all of a sudden.  All of the sounds I had set are not working, and the task bar is really messed up for starters.  I don't think a simple reinstall of two programs will fix this.

Yikes, you maybe looking at reformating and reinstalling everything.  First though look and see if you have a restore point on WinXP that has a date before you started having problems.  Otherwise locate those disks, download drivers and everything you may need and see about reformating/reloading your hard drive.  Make sure you have these files saved on a CD or secondary hard drive so they are not lost when you format the hard drive that your OS is on.

Again I would also look into another anti-virus program than McAfee or Norton.  I'm told the free version of AVG is pretty good and more stable that McAfee or Norton.

[Fedman NCC-3758]

Have you tried system restore?

[Clark Kent]

Have you tried system restore?

I thought I needed my reinstall CD to do a restore, which I can't find right now.  Was I wrong?

[Fedman NCC-3758]

Have you tried system restore?

I thought I needed my reinstall CD to do a restore, which I can't find right now.  Was I wrong?

You should be able to do a system restore without a re-install.

If you have to, you can also do it in safe mode.

[Commander Maxillius]

I forgot about System Restore!  You don't need the disk.  You also don't need to be in Safe Mode, though if there's something it can't get it'll tell you so, then ask if you want it to try again in Safe Mode.

System Restore fixes nearly everything.  If it can't (and I mean after winding the clock back a number of months), then find your disk.

[Clark Kent]

System restore is not working, and neither are most of my programs by this point.  I am seriously doubting that deleting one .dll did all this- boned system settings and preferences, no working internet, security/virus protection down...

[Fedman NCC-3758]

Other than doing a dos prompt command ..... I'd say give Dell a call. 

I remember trying to uninstall SP2 .... had a heck of a time after that.

Anyone with SP2 .... DO NOT tamper with it.  Believe me on this.

[Clark Kent]

Other than doing a dos prompt command ..... I'd say give Dell a call. 

I remember trying to uninstall SP2 .... had a heck of a time after that.

Anyone with SP2 .... DO NOT tamper with it.  Believe me on this.

Well, Del says that this problem is not in the scope of my warranty because it is software not a hardware.  they also said a reformat and reinstall would not do that trick, and they would fix my problem for $99 for this one time, or $238 for a year's coverage.  screw that. 

[Javora]

Well, Del says that this problem is not in the scope of my warranty because it is software not a hardware.  they also said a reformat and reinstall would not do that trick, and they would fix my problem for $99 for this one time, or $238 for a year's coverage.  screw that. 

What Dell told you is complete crap, sorry but I don't know how else to say it.  A reformat/reload of the hard drive would solve it because everything would have a clean install without any files inadvertany deleted.  They just want some money out of you.

[Clark Kent]

Well, Del says that this problem is not in the scope of my warranty because it is software not a hardware.  they also said a reformat and reinstall would not do that trick, and they would fix my problem for $99 for this one time, or $238 for a year's coverage.  screw that. 

What Dell told you is complete crap, sorry but I don't know how else to say it.  A reformat/reload of the hard drive would solve it because everything would have a clean install without any files inadvertany deleted.  They just want some money out of you.

I could see some remnants being left over after one reformat, but do it  few times and i would think that just about anything would be wiped out.

[Javora]

I could see some remnants being left over after one reformat, but do it  few times and i would think that just about anything would be wiped out.

One through reformat is enough to wipe out the data enough to keep a newly installed OS from reading deleted data by mistake.  A OS isn't going to go looking for data to use that has already been deleted, at least not on its own.  Remember that you don't want to through reformat a bunch of times before reloading the software as all that reformatting will shorten the life of the hard drive.