Sorry about this but there seems to be so many techies on the forum, I can,t resist asking.
Not sure where it slipped in but my PC had some horrible problems with various worms etc(I think). Eventually a trial version of Kaspersky and Sophos got rid of the problems. However I did a bit too much deleting AND i SUSPECT took out a few files which should have been left in.
Task manager seems to have dissapeared, Somene told me to look for Gpedit.msc. It cannot be found.
I have tried to reload the OEM version of XP but it tells me that a newer version is present and the continue box is greyed out. I did try and reload by booting from the XP disk but it does not let me proceed beyond the license agreement stage.
I,m wondering about partitioning the disk and loading a version of linux.

Any ideas about partitioning the disk ? and deleting XP and reloading from scatch

Gardener, you are yet another person plagued by computer problems, and whilst it is true to say that "my PC had some horrible problems with various worms etc", the actuality is that that "my Windows XP system had some horrible problems with various worms etc", is nearer to the truth.

So a good opportunity for you to try Ubuntu! This is a version of Linux. If you go to www.ubuntu.com you can download it for free, then cut a CD and then load it. Not only that, at the start of the installation it takes care of the partitioning issue that you mention.

I have been using Ubuntu for over a year now.

As always when "mucking around" with operating systems like this, do take a backup of all your important files before starting to load a new system.

I agree, i,m trying to a bit of organising and wondering if its possible to have 2 operating systems and maybe a partition for downloads, the link you kindly gave is very interesting.
I was thinking of getting one of these cheapo laptops with linux OS for doing some typing on the move. The temptation is to persist with MS as it what I use at work...... Yawn yet another bit of software to use. I think your right buts but I would like to fix the XP as well.

Gardener, a further thought, rather than partition your existing hard drive, why not buy a second hard drive, and install Ubuntu on to that. Disk drives have come down in price so much. I recently bought a 500GB drive for about £50. Smaller drives even cheaper. Drive bought from eBuyer ... top of this list.

And also the computer could be dual-boot, going XP or Ubuntu as you wish.

And also, as you say, get a "cheapo laptops with linux OS for doing some typing on the move". No wonder cheapo, given loading say Ubuntu is totally free, whilst the alternative of loading Windows would cost the supplier money.

Ubuntu comes automatically with a great Office-type package, OpenOffice, that has ability to read Office files. It also has its own file types, that a future version of MS Office will be able to read.

If you download and burn Ubuntu to a CD, you can then use it as a 'Live CD' i.e. run it off the CD without actually installing it. This is good if you want to try it out or only use it on a 'part time' basis.
When you're happy, just run the installer for which there is a link on your desktop.

If you want to partition, Ubuntu can do it. Or GParted is probably the best thing for the job IMHO.

If you're not sure about Ubuntu, why not run it as a Virtual Machine for a while. VMware Server is free and lets you create Virtual Machines.

If you want to dual-boot, install XP and then Ubuntu (in that order). You'll get a GRUB loader at bootup so you can chose which OS to load when your PC starts.

Packpao

If you want to try to fix XP, here are a few things to try (in no particular order).

Try running Task Manager from the taskbar (right click on Blue bar and choose "Task Manager") or Ctrl+Alt+Del - there should be an option for task manaager somewhere there.

If you want to reinstall XP, it's probably saying a newer version of Windows is present because you have Service Pack 2 installed. Trying removing that first.

To install XP from scratch, choose the fresh install option at install. Alternatively, delete the current partition first so it will be forced to do a fresh install.

HTH

Packpao

thanks

quote:

Originally posted by the gardener:
I was thinking of getting one of these cheapo laptops with linux OS for doing some typing on the move.

I would have a serious look at the Asus eee 701 'subnotebook' - sells new for about £220. It runs on a nice version of Linux and has all the software you would need installed - includes Open Office which is close to 100% compatible with Microsoft stuff - but free! - Firefox, Skype, media players all installed. It weighs less than 1 kg, good battery life, about the size of a portable DVD player.

My youngest has been given one by the school and he loves it, works well off my wireless set-up, has decent little speakers and a webcam - great for Skype - built in and has kept him off my laptop since he got it. Read a few reviews on CNet and the like - all very positive. Various versions available with bigger screens/storage but the bottom end model would suit your needs - and budget! Inevitably, the keyboard is quite cramped so if you're a proper touch typist you might find it tricky but if you're more of a 'hunt and pecker' it's fine. Though I CAN touch type, I rarely do, and my podgy fingers were well catered for!

Anyway, well worth a look, especially if the budget is crucial.

Excellent post sounds just the job, maybe I will be able to do something useful on the tube

Well back to the original question
check here for repairing task manager
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_t.htm

GPedit.msc is group policy editor and its main used in network domains rather than single machines

I would also suggest that you still have the virus/worm?

Worth formatting hard drive completely and reinstalling xp from scratch after backing up data and virus checking that.

Ubuntu is good but is sluggish on older machines and there are other options available with cut down versions. Buy a linux magazine and it will contain all of these os.

Don't forget there is a learning curve in linux so be prepared to learn if you want to get the best out of it.

Derren

quote:

Worth formatting hard drive completely and reinstalling xp from scratch after backing up data and virus checking that.

That is what I ended up doing about 18 months ago when Nat's computer, still running Windows XP, got infected with what I came to call a "Chinese virus", if only because it kept accessing certain Chinese websites where even more rubbish was downloaded.

We know where the infection came from. At the time she was a student on a Masters Degree course (now passed!) and other students in her study group were Chinese, and the group was exchanging files using memory stick and email. Soon after Nat's computer got infected the College banned all students putting memory sticks into college computers, and had a few days with their servers down while they were disinfected. Nasty situation.

Looking at the log of my router I was able to determine the IP addresses and URLs of the Chinese websites being accessed, and even now there are setting in the router, fed in by me, stopping any the the 3 computers on our network here (3 people, 3 computers) accessing any of the offending websites.

So Gardener, something to try? You have a broadband router? Able to log in to that and then check its logs? And then block offending locations on the internet?

A big big thanks and thanks to a systems engineer I bumped into who told me about something called knoppix.
I have not got it yet the works network does not like downloads too much, although the miiror sites may not be an issue. Would anyone like to reccomend a version of knoppix. I,m curious as to wether this fine german software will allow me to back up first, I would also like to rescue the ie favourites but hey whats it matter as long as i get my beloved pc back.
Ho hum its off to comet for a cheapy laptop for the time being.Been meaning to buy one for ages. There is a fuji job with 2 gb memory for £319 seems cheap enough for carting around etc.