Startup / Restore Issues

I am working on a PC that is having startup issues. Restores have been attempted, but no luck. Here are items that have been experienced along the way:
1. System would NOT boot, so used "Last known good configuration."
2. On reboot, it took a very long time to load, but eventually did.
3. Upon loading, it showed a desktop image with the following message:
"To access web site or email, you must have an Internet Service Provider. To setup Internet access, open: {an image that appeared like a status bar}"

Also appearing was the following message box:
Title Bar - "Docs"
Message - "An installation support file could not be installed. Access denied."
Button(s) - "OK"

Also another message box:
"C:\Documents And Settings\Owner\Destop is not accessible. Access is denied."

It did not show a login screen. Thus, I'm assuming only one user was setup to use the machine, which windows knew as "Owner" when booting in safe mode. I will need to verify this with the actual owner of the PC.

4. Since I was continually having the same results, I attempted a system restore. I had to do so through the admin account via safe mode. It had only a restore point from a point after the "Last known configuration" was run. So, I gave it a try. The results were pretty much as listed above. Still getting access denied messages, etc.


As a result, I turn to this great forum for additional guidance. How can I correct this situation so the computer boots and works in a normal manner? Here is some information regarding the PC:
1. HP Pavilion 512n
2. XP Home
3. Intel Celeron 1.4 Ghz
4. Maxtor 60 GB Hard Drive
5. 128 MB RAM
6. DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
7. Integrated Video/Sound/LAN

The owner did not believe the computer came with XP Home nor a recovery CD. I have heard the HP does not give out recovery CDs at times, but stores that information on the hard drive some where. Is this true? I also understand that using this typically wipes everything out including data in the process. How does one access this so-called hidden recovery information? And how does one use it in a manner to not wipe out the entire system and data? How does one use it to restart the PC in a brand new fresh state?

I greatly appreciate any help you can provide to resolve my issues.
Thanks in advance,
Jody Wood

To access HP's version of the "Recovery CD," which is on the harddrive, press F10 during the boot process. I've had only minimal experience with it but as I vaguely recall, you are offered the Recovery Console option.

I have tried the F10 method. It did take me into an HP recovery program. It has a non-destructive option in which it will not destroy data, etc. Running that now. Hopefully that resolves the problems.

Thanks,
Jody Wood

I have run the non-destructive recovery. The system is essentially in the state it was before doing the recovery.

I'm receiving a lot of permissions type errors stating "access denied". What would be causing these permission type errors?

Also, when attempting to run some programs, it is giving a lot of scripting errors.

I was going to attempt to try to install a program such as Ad-Aware or Spybot, but they each return an internal error or unable to create temp location.

Here's another odd issue. When viewing the Internet Options through Internet Explorer and reviewing the settings for temporary files, the space is set to 0 MB. I have attempted to change this value through the list box and the slider bar, but neither allows any changes. A message box appears and states the value needs to be between 0 and 1, but it still doesn't allow those settings.

I have attempted to do a Windows Update, but it does not allow this to happen. It starts to go through the process, but it indicates that it does not know who the certificate is from. Thus, it does not allow the ability to proceed further.

Anyone have any ideas? I'd like to find a solution in which does not require a complete system rebuild. Though, that may be the best bet to resolve...holding out hope though.

Thanks,
Jody Wood

I believe I have resolved my problem. I did so by creating a new user account. When I logged into the new account, it appeared that everything loaded fine and was no longer generating permission errors. I was also able to perform the items that I was having problems with in my previous post. YEAH!!!!

I haven't tried logging into the original account yet to see if that is corrected. I'll try to let everyone know my results when I do so.

Jody Wood

JodyWood

nice try, logging into the original account will bring back the error massages,
may i suggest that you copy all user data to the new account then delete the original account, rename the new account (just like the original name's account) and give it the same password as the original.