That would seem to be either the Operating System or the Video. 

Have you tried a System Restore back to a date when it did work?  I don't know if System Restore will work since you've run registry cleaner programs but it's worth a try.

System Restore is usually my first troubleshooting tool when things like this happen (unless I can identify what caused it).  System Restore can be accessed from Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools.

It's best to avoid Registry "repair" programs as they can, many times, cause more problems than they fix.  I've made many service calls on PC's because Registry "repair" programs were run and caused problems.

System Restore has not been working on my computer for months now.  But I tried it again and got:  Your system could not be restored to:...  No changes have been made.

Could the integral video on my mother board be failing?  Does that mean the board itself is failing?

Try System Restore once more but with any antivirus programs turned off/disabled.  Norton for one has often caused problems with System Restore on some computers.

No luck.

Hi again John

I see you did go to the Malware Removal Forum they gave you a clean BOH – that’s good, at least it eliminates Malware infection

Agree with fireberd, using all those security/repair software programs can result in corrupt registry values

Quote “System Restore has not been working on my computer for months now”

Probably better to work offline & with Security Software temporarily disabled when trying the following:

(A) Try System Restore in Safe Mode

(B) Corrupt Windows System Restore database?

You will lose all previous Restore points, but if Windows System restore isn’t working then previous Restore points aren’t much use anyway!

So, if all you want to do is to get Windows System restore working again then try:

1. Control Panel > right click System > System Restore tab

2. Checkbox enable Turn off System Restore, click OK then Reboot

3. Go back to System Restore tab & uncheck Turn off System Restore, click OK

This will clear the database & re-enable Windows System restore

If you now want to create a manual Restore point (rather than wait for Windows to do it), then use the Windows Restore Point Wizard

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

(C) System Restore tab is missing?

If correct, then when trying to launch system restore, do you get the following error message?

“System Restore has been turned off by group policy” or something similar?

Quote “My computer seems to be getting slower.”

As mentioned in your previous thread, if no driver problems in Device Manager (in particular Video), then have you checked in Task Manager to identify what if anything is hogging CPU/memory capacity?

Usual culprits are security type software, in particular AV & other real time scanning software

Depends what you are running at the time (performance demand), but from Task Manager Processes tab, can you post values for the following items:

Processes (Number): 

CPU Usage (%):

Commit Charge (ratio):

System Idle Process (%):

Under Image Name, any application exe files using an excessive amount of CPU?

Have you run hardware diagnostics & have you made any recent software or hardware changes?

I tried the System Restore restore you recommended.  I'll check it later.

As I'm typing this reply,  on the Task Manager the processes showing use are  Firefox 2-15,  taskmanager 3-5 and System Idle Process 95.

At the bottom of the Task Manager screen:  Processes: 49,  CPU Usage 5-10%, Commit Charge:  553M / 3657M.

Hardware diagnostic:  SeaTools to check my hard drive- OK.  PassMark Perfomance check- looks OK but I did not save the results from my

previous use so I can't compare.

No hardware or software changes prior to this problem, that I remember.

John

bell boy,

This may or may not be related:   when I turned my computer on about an hour ago the first thing that came up was CHKDSK which proceded to analyze my computer for about an hour, then briefly flashed a lot of numbers on the screen and a line that said something like "Windows has made changes...."  It went fast and I couldn't get all of it.

I've had this computer about 4 years and have never before seen CHKDSK.   I Googled it.  I wonder why it started spontaneously.

John

John

Unfortunately it probably is related

May be irrelevant after reading your recent reply but Task Manger values all look very normal indeed

As previously mentioned the following issues are classic symptoms of Malware infection

(1) Closing a window problem

Not sure if this is when closing any/all windows or only a web page type window or a specific application type window e.g. MS Word?

 (2) System Restore problem

Not sure if you are saying it just doesn’t work or System Restore tab is missing?

(3) Computer is getting slower

Appears you are Malware clean so it only leaves device driver issues, XP system or hardware problems

Anyhow, auto chkdsk on startup indicates the HDD file system has been detected as corrupt

You didn’t say if it fixed the corrupt file system?

Could be bad HDD sectors (a failing HDD) or just a corrupt XP file system (messed up registry)

If you haven’t yet backed up all your personal data, suggest you do it a.s.a.p., then:

Eliminate Hardware problems

When I mentioned diagnostics I meant running Dell Extended diagnostics utility test by either pressing F12 key during boot, if not HDD installed then use Dell Resource CD & boot from CD-ROM drive

(Not suggesting it is, but it won’t tell you if any failing mobo issues)

If no errors/problems reported from hardware diagnostics

Eliminate XP system file problems use either:

XP Repair Install only takes about 40 minutes, requires Dell XP CD

It deletes then reinstalls XP system files from XP CD & corrects any missing/corrupt registry entries

Dell PC Restore (DSR) utility, only takes about 35 minutes, no Dell CDs required

Or do an XP Clean Install, takes a bit longer & you need to use the Dell CDs that came with PC

The last two options will wipe your HDD OS partition clean so you first need to backup all your personal data if on the same partition, but you should have done that by now anyway

Unfortunately all three options then require that (with Security software enabled) you download & install all the critical MS updates, can be a drag

Reply if you require further clarification

Bell Boy,

Thanks.  I have copied all my documents and photos onto CDs and DVDs.  The repair work will have to wait for the weekend when I have more time.

John

John

Good, with personal data now safe you have all options available

Don't know what method you used to transfer personal data, but make sure it includes e-mail folders/files & Favorites folder

And if not already done:

Backup personal data from other accounts if more than one user

Always reinsert media (e.g. CD/DVD, USB flash drive etc..) to check that data is definitely saved & is readable

If using CD type media, better to use CD-R type or a USB flash drive

Using CD-RW type is notorious for loss of data (it can be there one day & “disappear” the next)

As already mentioned, do the Extended test first using Dell diagnostics utility, then if no reported problems you can then decide what option to use to fix your HDD XP OS partition

Reply if you need further help/clarification