My computer has encountered serious problems....

[mabus]

Hey guys, the tech guys couldn't help me out, so since we have so many computer saavy people, who are much smerter than me, I figured I'd ask here before I risk the computer tech forums....and the deluge of smart-ass, insulting, shitty, no-answers I will receive there by those arrogant dumb-ass piece's of shit "computer nerds"...okay, let me stop 🙂

Here we go:

I have a Hewlett Packard Pavillion which runs on Windows XP. Every now and then after I was done working and closed
a program, a warning came up that said "DMA Scheduler has encountered a problem and needs to be shut down."
The computer ran fine, and no programs showed any problems.

I began getting odd pop ups that wouldn't go away unless I shut down Internet Explorer through the task manager, and
warnings would come up that would say the registry had problems and needed to be fixed if I clicked on a button.
I purchased Norton Antivirus 2009, ran it, and it found one virus and three trojans. It got rid of them, but when the computer
restarted, it was seriously screwed up to the point that I can't repair it:

The entire look, operating system was messed up, it looked like the old fashioned windows, or Windows in safe mode.
The computer isn't in safe mode, however, because I was able to go to safe mode and attempt to run the antivirus again, which found nothing.
-The task bar at the bottom of the computer had gone away completely, replaced with a grey line. I was able to pull up a start button,
but it and the task bar are now grey, with "start" in black, instead of the green and blue with white letters nice version.
-Their is no sound at all. If a program has an error, a beeping sound comes from within the computer case itself, not the speakers.
-I have no internet connection at all. No programs that access the internet will work.
-I can't transfer files from one disk to another, or out onto any external hard drives or flash drives, so everything is stuck where
it is.
-Some programs will open up, but I can't open files in them, so most of the programs are useless. (Adobe Premiere LE can accept
files, but can't render anything, or even play the files, I can only toggle through them.)
-Windows Media Player and RealPlayer no longer work, or even open up. VLC player works, but plays no sound.

-System restore will not open up or work, it just gives a warning that it won't work, and a beep comes from inside computer case.

When I open the task manager, I used to have a long list of programs that were running (IEXPLORE.EXE, etc...)
Now when I open it up, only a third of those programs are now running.

As soon as I start the computer, a warning comes up that says "DMA Scheduler has encountered a problem and must be shut down."

I can't find my restore discs that came with the computer, if they did, so I can reinstall Windows XP. (I looked through everything, I don't know if the computer even came with them.)

I'm in a fix, because I need to keep all the files that are now stuck in the computer, because they're family pictures, scripts, video files that I
digitized and don't have the tapes anymore, and all of my contacts.

Can I fix this problem without wiping everything out? I can't afford a new computer, and was hoping I could fix it manually.

I have tons more pantyhose pictures, guys...and yes bare foot fans, I've been collecting bare foot pictures for a while, really nice ones, that I was going to post for you guys, to calm some of this pantyhose hatred when us poor guys ask for some pantyhose tickling videos....
But sadly, they're obviously all trapped in my new computer - I'm forced to use my old one now that had it's own set of issues.

Thanks for any help.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

I just went through the same with my laptop. Whatever was going on destroyed parts of the registry. They had to nuke it and start fresh. Fortunately, I did have the disks and always back everything up. After having had to nuke several times on my old computer, I keep everything saved on removeable devices rather than on the laptop itself. So, the only pain was being without the laptop while they figured things out and then having to reinstall thextra programs and go through all the updates to get things back on track. But, I didn't lose anything. I hope you don't end up needing to nuke. But, if you do, at least you'll get things working again.

 

[Ghris]

Can you copy stuff to a portable hard drive or USB stick?

Alternatively, can you network the two computers and copy everything off the broken one?

Won't solve the problem but it should get you access to your files...

 

[His Divine Shadow]

Could it be fixed? It's possible. Unfortunately, with a persistent and invasive piece of malware it may be difficult to analyze from afar.

and
warnings would come up that would say the registry had problems and needed to be fixed if I clicked on a button.
I purchased Norton Antivirus 2009, ran it, and it found one virus and three trojans. It got rid of them, but when the computer
restarted, it was seriously screwed up to the point that I can't repair it:

This would indicate that you had malware that pretended you had registry issues. When you removed it, (or tried to) some leftover pieces likely activated something of a sleeper cell, screwing up your machine as its dying gasp.

I would suggest you heed the advice of the posters above me and transfer vital files to a USB flash disk. Ones with several gigabytes of storage can be found for under twenty dollars at any electronics/office supply store. Use that to transfer all your files to another machine and then start from scratch on this one. While the possibility exists this one could be salvaged there comes a point where it is not worth the trouble.

 

[subtle_feather]

Mabus mentioned that he can't boot Windows without getting an error, which I am guessing prevents him from saving the vital files that he wants. Mabus, if this is the case I recommend that you have a friend download the installation CD for the free Linux operating system Ubuntu for you. Ubuntu can be booted from a CD without being installed, and when using Ubuntu you should be able to access your hard drive and copy files to a usb device. You can then format your hard drive and either find yourself a copy of XP or continue with Ubuntu if you find that you like it.

 

[mabus]

Thanks guys for all the help....I got more here than on the tech forums and customer support!

I ran a program that checked for registry errors...it found over 1,000! It could have fixed them...but I needed to buy the full version, which you get...online. Impossible with no internet.
So I bought a CD called System Mechanic, it loaded up, asked for the serial number. I typed it in...then it needed to authenticate the number...ONLINE! Which it couldn't because there's no internet on that computer, crap!

So, the question is, is there a program that can repair the registry...that DOESN'T need to do anything online?
That may fix it, it will fix all those problems....assuming it doens't have to access the internet.

 

[kurchatovium]

Thanks guys for all the help....I got more here than on the tech forums and customer support!

I ran a program that checked for registry errors...it found over 1,000! It could have fixed them...but I needed to buy the full version, which you get...online. Impossible with no internet.
So I bought a CD called System Mechanic, it loaded up, asked for the serial number. I typed it in...then it needed to authenticate the number...ONLINE! Which it couldn't because there's no internet on that computer, crap!

So, the question is, is there a program that can repair the registry...that DOESN'T need to do anything online?
That may fix it, it will fix all those problems....assuming it doens't have to access the internet.

Goto Wilders Security Forum (link below). Do a search on Registry Repair and take a look. There are some that are pretty good. but some can cause problems.

http://www.wilderssecurity.com

In particular this thread might be most useful:

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=238409&highlight=Registry+Repair

 

[Lord Doctor]

To minimise waffle, and since what I was going to say has been said already, when you do manage to get your other computer up and running, ideally by a full format and reinstalation, make your AV a priority with all the updates and download something like Spybot Search and Destroy (AVOID SPYWARE DOCTOR, it puts more on than it get's rid of, I think!) Then scan all your backed-up disks to make sure they're OK.

It's worth noting that some of these things that invade and FUBAR a computer have an ability to render AV etc worthless.