Eeeeks . . .I really messed up

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I'm new to Windows, all Windows. I work on a different environment but I
needed to get a PC to accomodate work at home requirements.

I have no problem playing areound and trying new things but I've done so
much that now I am having all kinds of issues:

Won't shut down
Won't save settings
Sometimes tells me on startup that I told the system to reboot
My VPN and reflections has to be reloaded on a regular basis
Print icon on top taskbar gives me a script error and won't print except
through menu

I need some way to take my system back to factory settings but system
restore has no points past the current day. I don't want to reformat as
windows was preinstalled and I have no discs.
 
Candi said:
I'm new to Windows, all Windows. I work on a different environment
but I needed to get a PC to accomodate work at home requirements.

I have no problem playing areound and trying new things but I've done
so much that now I am having all kinds of issues:

Won't shut down
Won't save settings
Sometimes tells me on startup that I told the system to reboot
My VPN and reflections has to be reloaded on a regular basis
Print icon on top taskbar gives me a script error and won't print
except through menu

I need some way to take my system back to factory settings but system
restore has no points past the current day. I don't want to reformat
as windows was preinstalled and I have no discs.
Click to expand...

The only way to get the system back to "factory settings" is to
clean-install Windows. Please see what you will need to install Windows
here:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#reinstall_Windows

Pay particular attention to the bit that explains what someone selling a
computer with a preinstalled Windows operating system legally needs to
provide you.

Then do a clean install:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Malke
 
That helps except I don't have the certificate that came with the PC. It
probably was discarded with the box. I keep all paperwork so that is the
only thing it could be.

Since I don't have that, what's another option to find out what I did and
how to undo it? I have an IT guy at work so I never had to worry. LOL

The most important thing to me is that the system would never shutdown even
when it was new (I've only had it a month). Is there a simple way to resolve
the problem? I've gone through all the online troubleshooting and if you
don't know what you're doing it's not something to mess with.

Thanks for responding.
 
candi said:
That helps except I don't have the certificate that came with the PC.
It
probably was discarded with the box. I keep all paperwork so that is
the only thing it could be.

Since I don't have that, what's another option to find out what I did
and
how to undo it? I have an IT guy at work so I never had to worry.
LOL

The most important thing to me is that the system would never shutdown
even
when it was new (I've only had it a month). Is there a simple way to
resolve
the problem? I've gone through all the online troubleshooting and if
you don't know what you're doing it's not something to mess with.
Click to expand...

If you can still boot into Windows, you can get the product key by using
one of these free utilities:

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.shtml - Key Finder
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/product_cd_key_viewer.html - Nirsoft Key
Finder

Write it down. Now you will need an XP CD. It needs to be the same
version as the one you have installed. IOW, if you have an OEM XP Home,
you need an OEM XP Home disk. If it is a legal (non-pirated) copy, your
IT guy at work or a local area professional may reinstall for you.

Otherwise, bite the bullet and, if you want to use a Microsoft operating
system, go to the store and buy it.

Malke
 
Thanks, I'll try this. If I'm reading you correctly, I have to bite the
bullet and do a complete reinstall to take care of my problems, right?
 
Got the key, thanks. I'll get my disks and then ask someone here to help
with this. I will need to reload all the VPN and Reflections as well so I
would imagine this will take awhile. I'll use the link to do a cleanup.
Thanks for everything!!!
 
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