but other than those two problems the computer runs great.

I just noticed you have two anti-virus programs running and that is a bad idea. It slows you down, it lowers your security and you are advised to uninstall one of them, it can also cause problems other then mentioned above.

Is symantec up to date or is it an older version that the subscription has expired.

A few years ago I also had two anti-virus programs on my PC for awhile and when I tried to use my outlook express email, it would not work. So I uninstalled one anti-virus program and it worked again. Just a thought.

Did this add/remove program problem start after you installed SP3?

If you uninstall symantec, here is an uninstaller:

Symantec uninstaller:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...05033108162039


Also check your firewall to make sure it is running, if you unistall symanttec it will uninstall it's firewall.

sunbelt firewall or comodo firewall are good ones and still good after trial runs out.

Ok, I tried to uninstall the symantec and it wouldn't let me. It gave me and error saying "Couldn't launch the program 'MSiExec.exe /I{228F6876-A313-40A3-91C0-C3CBE6997D09}'". So I don't know what that means either. And that link you gave me for the symantec uninstaller seems to be dead, I clicked on it and got and error 404 page. And no, the add/remove problem started a few days before the SP3.

Ok, I took a break from responding and went to the symantec website and downloaded their uninstaller and tried to run it but it said that i needed microsoft installer 1.1 or higher so i went to the microsoft site and tried to get the new installer 3.1 ver 2 and it tells gives me a message saying "Setup has detected that the service pack version of this system is newer than the update you are applying. There is no need to install this update." and i can't unistall this damn service pack and my system restore doesn't respond so i don't know what to do. I'm on the verge of contemplating reformatting and starting over. jk. although that may be what i have to do.

Thats a shame, sorry to hear that.

Read this here:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/...al-a-fix.shtml


Download the tool and try to fix the windows problems you appear to have.

Check "fix windows installer"
Check "control panel applets" on the right side
Check "Explorer/IE/OE/shell/WMP" on the right side

After the above click policies, it is fast

After the above and if still haveing problems, click on the "hammer icon", it is self explanitory from there

Just click on one of the tools you are having problems with and some information will show and if that is what you want to do then click "GO"


If things turn black on the little box while scrolling it is ok.


Good luck

Ok. Last time that I'll bug you. I've come to the conclusion to just reformat the hard drive and start all over would be best. So therefore I would need an OS installation cd and the product code, correct? Well I don't have the cd and I think I have the product code. There is a sticker on the bottom of my laptop that says "Windows XP Home Edition" and then under that it says Dell and then under that some bar codes and directly below that is a line that says "Product Key: xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxx". Not knowing for sure I went to the Internet and looked up how to find my product key and several listings sent me to different sites to download programs that will find it. So I did and the product key that those programs showed me is different than the one on the bottom of my laptop. Which one is it? Do I trust those programs or go with the one on the bottom of the pc? I don't know. And also am I able to borrow a cd from someone and use it to install Windows XP and use my own product key or am I totally S.O.L.? Once again i really appreciate all of the help youv'e been. Even though we didn't get it straightened out i am so glad that there are people like you willing to take the time and help another out. Thanks again.

That product key number you have should be the number.

You can probably use someones cd but you will have to register with microsoft or you will not be able to get security updates I think.

Call Dell, explain to them you lost your cd and they may can send you one for your PC

If you can go to control panel, and click on swith to classic view at upper left of box then click on system and you can get your number by doing that also.

Good luck.

cool, thanks again for all your help. I appreciate all the time you took to help me.

No problem good luck.