"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:%23UCOdm0tIHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Tuttle wrote:
>
> > I'm, desperately hoping for some expert advice on this strange problem,
If
> > someone knows what Windows systems files should be restored/replaced to
> > try to solve this, I's sure appreciate it. We are stumped, so would be
> > happy to learn from your expertise.
>
> I don't know the answer offhand, so let's start with the basics:
>
> The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time
things
> worked and the time they didn't?

Hard drive failure. There were bad sectors on the hard drive so I imaged the
drive, installed a new drive, and restored the disk image to the replacement
drive. (My friend, the laptop's owner, did not have recent backups so I
wanted to salvage his data and even entire system if I could.) That's why I
wonder if perhaps some important file was damaged in a bad sector when the
previous disk was failing and so the damaged file would have been restored
to the new disk.

Since the restore to new drive, everything works as it should, as it did
before the disk failure, except for the odd problems I described.

> The Second Question of Windows Troubleshooting: what is the malware/virus
> status of the machine? If you think it is clean, what programs (and
> versions) did you use to determine this?
>
> Be sure the computer is clean:
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

I think it is clean. It runs Norton Systemworks with Norton Anti Virus and
spyware protection and firewall, and periodically has scans from other
tools. Since this problem, it has had full system scans from several tools
to look for viruses and malware. It's clearn. Here's what it's been checked
with since this problem:

Norton Anti Virus
Norton Systemworks scans for spyware, etc.
Norton Security Scan
McAfee FreeScan
Symantec Security Check
Webroot Spy Sweeper
Trend Micro HouseCall
CCleaner

> Also give a description of your computer when you post back, including its
> age and hardware specs.

Dell Inspiron 6000d, built October, 2005 (now two and a half years old)
Intel Pentium M 1.73 GHz. 1 GB RAM. 60 GB Ultra ATA hard drive.
New replacement 60 GB Ultra ATA hard drive.
15.4 inch WSXGA+
ATI Mobility Radeon X300 64MB HyperMemory Video Card
Intel PRO/Wireless 2915 Internal Wireless (802.11a/b/g54Mbps)

> Note: Limiting yourself to "MVP advice" is foolish. Lots of non-MVPs post
in
> these groups who are extremely knowledgeable but may be put off by this
> limitation in your subject line.

You're absolutely right. I had discussed it first in some other forums, and
no one could think of what could cause it, so I thought I might need "the
big guns" help. But you're right, there are lots of expert folks out
there. Thanks.