XP problems - Can you help me fix em?

[Timoe]

I have a computer with great specs that was given to me.  It is running XP.  I thought I'd try to be a cool guy and do some "Black Viper XP" tweaks  to it.

Now it works, it boots quickly but it has problems where other computers I own do not.

For example:  I had trouble using my Ledwiz with Johnny5.  It wont run Zinc using Howard C's command line wrapper when the exact same set up copied from the same disc will work on another Computer.

I also have many Mala errors on my cabinet computer that I do not experience on my laptop. 

The only difference that I can see are those "Black Viper XP" tweaks.  Is there some way I can turn it back or reverse all my changes without losing all the info on the hardrive?

I DO NOT HAVE THE OPERATING SYSTEM DISCS that came with the computer.  Any suggestions?

Thank you

Tim

[spystyle]

My favorite way to fix XP is to format the hard drive and install 2K :)

[Timoe]

I dont want to loose all the harddrive info

[loadman]

I dont want to loose all the harddrive info

What do you need to keep that can't be put back easily?

Mame and MaLA stuff can be copied back easily (just back-up the directories and copy back again after you have re-installed Windows)

It's not like its a fiddly thing like e-mail

[Timoe]

Its just time consuming.  My big deal is that I dont have the Operating System discs.  And I dont want to buy XP.

[spystyle]

Buy software? That's absurd!

*hint* bittorrent torrentspy

This post will self destruct in 5 4 3 2 ...

[loadman]

Its just time consuming.  My big deal is that I dont have the Operating System discs.  And I dont want to buy XP.

If I find a spare copy do you want me to send it to you?

I'm sure I bought lots once   

[headkaze]

I thought black viper supplied .reg files that you can run to reverse all the tweaks back to defaults.

[Tiger-Heli]

I thought black viper supplied .reg files that you can run to reverse all the tweaks back to defaults.

Black Viper's site has been dead for over a year now.  (There are or used to be mirrors up at various places).

However, all BV did was disable some startup services or change them from automatic to either manual or disabled.
You can either see how they are set on your other machine, or go to http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm and it will list how they are set up by default.

Then just run services.msc and set them back to what you want.

And there are options for OS disks, as SpyStyle said, but I don't think you need them for what you are trying to change.

[headkaze]

I thought black viper supplied .reg files that you can run to reverse all the tweaks back to defaults.

Black Viper's site has been dead for over a year now.  (There are or used to be mirrors up at various places).

You can still access Black Vipers site from the Internet Archive.

However, all BV did was disable some startup services or change them from automatic to either manual or disabled.
You can either see how they are set on your other machine, or go to http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm and it will list how they are set up by default.

Yes and he also released .reg files to set the services to automatic/manual or disabled. I will attach all the reg files for XP and Home edition that I downloaded when his site was active. These include the reg files to set the services back to their default setting.

Then just run services.msc and set them back to what you want.

Or Start->Run->msconfig

[Timoe]

Any tips on how to work the Red files?

[headkaze]

If your machine is XP Home edition use the DefaultHomeAll.reg and for Pro edition use the DefaultProAll.reg. All you do is double click the reg file and say yes to the question to adding the info to the registry. That should set your services back to default settings. The zip archive also includes his settings for Safe, Super and Gaming settings (read the BV site to get more detail to what these are). You can use the reg files to try out the different settings until your system runs stable. Saves you going through each service and setting it manually.

After you run the reg file it's probably best to reboot your machine.

[jcrouse]

My favorite way to fix XP is to format the hard drive and install 2K

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Well, not really, but pretty close.

John

[Havok]

Actually, I would do a system restore - easiest way back. Click Start, then Run, type msconfig. Click Launch System Restore. Click Next, select the date on the calendar to before you made the changes, click Next, and let the machine reboot. Those changes should be reversed after it restarts.

Try that with 2000!!

Good luck...

[spystyle]

My favorite way to fix XP is to format the hard drive and install 2K

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Well, not really, but pretty close.

John

It may sound stupid to you, but I have been fixing computers for home users for years, and if I don't make the computers "bullet proof" they "boomerang" back to me and I lose allot of time.

I found that people who used XP, AOL, and MS Internet Explorer had the worst trouble. Dell's software suite is full of junk too.

The software I install now has them running rock solid, I install the following:

Windows 2000 SP4 with updates
ACDSee classic picture viewer
Avast antivirus
Disk Keeper lite defragmentor
FireFox web browser
SpyBot spyware remover and immunizer
WinRAR to zip and unzip
WinAmp media player with Klite codec pack
Nero 6 for burning disks
TCP IP Optimizer
DirectX9
VBR
Java
Adobe reader
PowerDVD
Paint Shop pro

That's what keeps my customers up and running. Happy and productive.

I'm not trying to start an "OS war" - he asked "can you help me fix XP" and I answered. I know how frustrating it can be when the computer dosen't work.

Cheers,
Craig

[u_rebelscum]

My favorite way to fix XP is to format the hard drive and install 2K

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Well, not really, but pretty close.

John

It may sound stupid to you, but I have been fixing computers for home users for years, and if I don't make the computers "bullet proof" they "boomerang" back to me and I lose allot of time.

I found that people who used XP, AOL, and MS Internet Explorer had the worst trouble. Dell's software suite is full of junk too.

The problem with win2k is you can't play multiple mice games (marble madness, cabal, ect).  Not that most people care about this, but that's a killer for me. [shrug]  And I don't use AOL or MSIE like your clients, maybe that's it.

[Howard_Casto]

I've been fixing home computers for a few years now myself and you couldn't pay me enough to put 2k on a machine.  2k is for business, xp is for multimedia and gaming.  It's a simple as that.  Just beause they share the same base doesn't mean they are the same os.  Driver and DX compatability issues abound in 2k, not so much in xp.  It's hard to nail down specifics because they are little things (like what u_rebel mentioned) but put em all together and you have a big headache.

[spystyle]

I can dig it Howard, but you should consider this:

This thread is not called "Can you help me fix 2K"

There is no thread by that name because 2K users are cruising along as easy as Sunday morning :)

Cheers,
Craig

[Tiger-Heli]

There is no thread by that name because 2K users are cruising along as easy as Sunday morning

Are you sure it might not be called that b/c only maybe 3% of the users on here run 2K and 2K might not allow you to shut down services and get yourself in trouble like XP will.

[spystyle]

I guess we couldn't really tell without taking a poll

[Havok]

2K sucks a llama's ass.

[spystyle]

 

[Havok]

 

I don't do the home user support, I manage 7,000 corporate desktops, and trust me - 2K is NOT better than XP with SP2...

[NightGod]

/shudder 2K

Most companies I know skipped right over 2K and are the happier for it...

[spystyle]

I don't do the home user support, I manage 7,000 corporate desktops, and trust me - 2K is NOT better than XP with SP2...

/shudder 2K

Most companies I know skipped right over 2K and are the happier for it...

This is not corporate, he's a home user.

[Timoe]

guys, guys, guys!

Most importantly, my issues are completely fixed.  So, thank you.

Tim

[Tiger-Heli]

>Most companies I know skipped right over 2K and are the happier for it...

This is not corporate, he's a home user.

Which, IMHO, would be more reason to not use 2K.

Timoe - Glad it's working again.  (How much was the 2K install disk?) 

[loadman]

guys, guys, guys!

Most importantly, my issues are completely fixed.  So, thank you.

Tim

You will find a XPSP2 in the mail soon anyway