Undo Control Panel Change???

Question

I went into the System from the control panel and opted to 'adjust for best performance'  BIG mistake!  Now I have mostly green and black 'windows' and they're unreadable usually.  The taskbar takes up about half the screen, and I can't see other windows.  When I click on Control Panel and try to go change it, I can't see the options --only more black with a hole in it (through which I can see my desktop).  I can't figure out how to restore the old settings.

gudgeon · Answer

have you tried the obvious - Start / Programs / Accessories / System Tools / System Restore and tried restoring your system to an earlier date before you made the changes?

Sewgood007 · Answer

As I said, the taskbar takes up about half of the screen, and I can't see the menu when I click on Start.  Is there a way I can do it by starting in safe mode with command prompt?  I'm really stymied with this one, and I have lots of files I need to get off this computer before I replace it.

gudgeon · Answer

See if this link helps.

UPDATE: Oooohps! - the link I quoted is inaccurate, thanks to Dunedin's post below for pointing that out - the correct instructions are:-

1. Start your computer to Safe Mode with Command Prompt, logging on as an account with administrator rights.

2. Enter %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe at the command prompt

Message Edited by gudgeon on 07-10-200610:18 AM

buttoni · Answer

Just reading here.  Useful info, Gudgeon.  I also printed this info.  I, too, may need it one day.

gudgeon · Answer

Let's hope I remember it when I need it! :>)

Seriously though, use ERUNT (free - link in my signature) and you'll always have a reliable registry backup which you can restore from the command line or Recovery Console.

dunedin · Answer

Hello Sewgood007 :smileyhappy:

I`m not surprised you are getting that error message. The command on that site is wrong :smileysad:

If you have XP installed on "C", you would type the command
C:\Windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
ENTER

Sewgood007 · Answer

Well, I tried the link, and with VERY high hopes, tried the command.  I get an error message that says the command is 'not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.'  Needless to say, I was very disappointed.  Any other ideas?

gudgeon · Answer

Apologies, Sewgood007 Oh dear, egg on face again, I should have checked more thoroughly - thanks, dunedin, for pointing out the corrct command. Message Edited by gudgeon on 07-09-200608:57 AM

dunedin · Answer

Iain   We do tend to assume that these sites always post correct information.  Unless it is a site I know well and trust I always double check.  Luckily I knew that command and saw at once that it was wrong.  No one has posted yet to inform them of the error.   I hope it works for Sewgood007 this time. :smileyhappy:

gudgeon · Answer

dunedin Good job you were on the ball! Will remind me to double-check next time ;>]

Sewgood007 · Answer

It worked!!!!!    Thank you....thank you....thank you!!!   I am now going to download all my embroidery designs to CD, and set about getting my system cleaned up.  What started this whole mess was a message saying that my 'virtual memory' was too low.  I'm not sure what that means, but I do know my system is too full of extraneous 'junk' that needs to be cleaned up.  Thank you again for your help in saving my system (and my sanity).

dunedin · Answer

Hooray! I am so glad to have helped save your sanity :smileyhappy:

The Virtual Memory error. Try this and see if it helps

1.Choose Performance and Maintenance from Control Panel.

2.Choose System from Performance and Maintenance and in the System Properties dialog box that appears, click on the Advanced tab.

3.Click on Settings in the Performance section.

4.From the Performance Options dialog box that appears, click on Advanced.

5.In the Virtual memory section, click on Change, and the Virtual Memory dialog box will appear. It displays the location and minimum and maximum sizes of your paging file.

6.To change the minimum and maximum size of the paging file, choose the Custom Size radio button, and enter the new initial size and maximum size of the file. Make both of these figures 1.5 times the RAM on your system.
For example if you have 512MB RAM, both these figures would be 768

7. Click on Set and reboot.

Windows General

Undo Control Panel Change???

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