GC8WRX

I have a ******* annoying problem.............

I have a gaming desktop with an AMD FX60, 3gb of Corsair ram and a 7800 gtx, running xp pro.

Two days ago i tried Nvidias Ntune software which adjusts FSB speeds,PCI-E bus speeds, memory timing, GPU speeds etc for the best possible stable set up for your system!

After the programme had finished and saved the new settings, my deskop and task bar has vanished! After a bit of playing around using task manager, it turns out that explorer.exe has been wiped from the harddrive(not just moved).

I can still access programmes through task manager but i cant do anything else, like access control panel, or get to my security settings etc

Problem is, i cant find my xp pro key, and i need that to use the install disk for a repair of windows

Without it afaik, my only option is to obtain another key and do a complete
re install with a fresh key


Anyone got any ideas, thanks in advance!!!!!

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

before you go down that route, have you tried the rollback feature in XP ??

I guess you may have ??

GC8WRX

Yes, had to do it through cmd console with %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

restore rolled back to a previously good setting, but explorer.exe is still missing!

BlkKnight

retrieve your key:

|MG| RockXP 4.0 Beta

PeteBrant

Have you strill got "my computer" as an icon on the desktop? If so - right click it and select and "properties" and your key is under "registered to:"

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

That is not your product key, it is the microsoft reference key. which is handy when you need to call them up for tech support.

PeteBrant

No, It's the product key

Error message when you install Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Service Pack 2 (SP2): "The product key used to install Windows is invalid"

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

Product ID, not Product Key

Two different things

PeteBrant

Whoops! my bad! :blush:

scoobyverysoon

iTrader: (1)

Sounds like You have a virus I had exacly the same thing happen

from boot your PC loads then your icons flash up for like 2 seconds then bam just your desktop background no bar or nothing even safe mode doesnt work

I was able to use task manager to boot programs I needed

I used a program to remove the virus as the virus software wouldnt load

Does this sound like your problem?

Think I used this prog

VundoFix by Atribune

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

First thing first, if you havent reverted back to your standard cpu speeds then do so. There will be a good chance this will fix your problem.

It does sound similar to the vundo virus, also google desktop can cause it as well. If you havent got service pack 3 yet, maybe try to install that, it will install a new copy of explorer (sp1 and sp2 had different versions so I assume sp3 will as well)

failing that have a good read, its seems to be a common thing

copying explorer.exe from win xp cd - Google Search

GC8WRX

Thanks for the replies ppl

Managed to find the key, so i did a repair of windows. Disc i used was xp pro with sp2.

All seemed fine, all my data seemed to be there, all settings saved, so good so far, until i try to get sp3 installed, it downloaded but failed to install. Worst thing is there was no error message, just failed to update!

Windows update says i have 88 missing security updates, so i try to install them and they download but fail to install, again with no error message, just a failed next to the relevant update in the pop up box!

I had xp pro sp3 and kaspersky 7.0 before the problems if that helps!

Again, any ideas ppl?

BlkKnight

I can post you an XP Pro Corp SP3 install CD if you need.

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

change your clock speeds back to normal and try again. IF you have clocked the pci bus which your hard drives are connected to then it can cause all manner of problems. I have never rated the software overclocking stuff, prefer to do it in bios

GC8WRX

All overclock speeds returned to normal after the repair, and i double checked in the bios!

blknight thanks for the offer but i will have the disk tomorrow, with a corporate key if needed!

From now on i only overclock with the bios!!!

Warning: NTune was only able to give, at max +6% to any of my tweaked figures, so is not worth using in my mind!!