windows file protection problem after disk cleanup/compress old files

Question

I have read through many of the postings in this and other Dell groups regarding 'compress old files', 'windows file protection', and disk cleanup but have not found a specific solution to my situtation.   Five days ago my son defragged and ran disk cleanup on our 6 month old Dell Dimension 9100.  He told me he was doing it and I said fine since I have done the same on our 10 year old Gateway.  Unfortunately he decided to 'compress old files' without mentioning it to me; he didn't think it was a big deal and figured the computer would run faster.  he only told me after the fact.  I have never compressed files on our old computer. Had he mentioned that he was going to do it I would have said no just because it seems unnecessary.  Now reading through the posting here regarding 'compress old files', I see my intuition was right.  No one seems to think it's a good idea for home computers; actually slows down your system because of the zipping and unzipping.   Unlike others who have posted with problems using this utility, our computer did not freeze up in the middle of it.   OK here's the problem:   The cleanup/compress window closed and a window called 'Windows File Protection' popped up with the following message :   'Files that are required for Windows to run properly have been replaced by unrecognized versions.  to maintain system stability,  Windows must restore the original versions of these files.  Insert your disk now.'   There are three buttons:  retry, more info and cancel.   The more info button brings up the following window:   'Possible reasons for this problem:  You have inserted the wrong CD ( a different Windows product Cd than the version installed, the CD-ROM drive in your system is not functioning.'   We do not have the Windows CD since the computer came with all preinstalled software.   I have not shutdown the computer for the five days since this happened for fear it will not reboot into Windows properly.  Other than that, all programs work fine and comes back from a 'standby' mode with no problems.  It does seem to bog down once in a while since this problem.   We do have McAfee security, firewall, virus protection, etc.  Virus scan based on up to date McAfee info does not show any viruses.    The Windows website lists this windows file protection error message but related to a virus/worm called VX2 which I have not been able to find on the McAfee web site.  It also lists this error message related to other problems.  A search on 'compress old files' shows other problems but not this one.   Is it safe to shut down the computer?  Will it be OK?  What happened?     Thanks in advance for any help!

Denny Denham · Answer

niewiem,

I have never compressed files on our old computer. Had he mentioned that he was going to do it I would have said no just because it seems unnecessary. Now reading through the posting here regarding 'compress old files', I see my intuition was right. No one seems to think it's a good idea for home computers; actually slows down your system because of the zipping and unzipping. That opinion is not held by everyone. The time required to uncompress a compressed file cannot be detected by human senses. Further, since "old files" are those which have not been accessed in 50 days (by default) it is unlikely that they will be repeatedly accessed.

We do not have the Windows CD since the computer came with all preinstalled software. Contact Dell at one of the links in this post and request an XP reinstallation CD. Until such time as one is received should you turn off the computer and find that it will no longer boot normally, your option is to restore it to "as shipped" condition using the procedure here. Since that will undo any changes you have made since receiving the computer, I'd recommend waiting until the XP CD is available and you can perform a proper repair.

Windows General

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