Hi there.
I recently had a problem when I tried to update Acrobat Reader to version 7.0.5
It woulddn't install, and partilaly uninstalled the old one. I couldn't install or uninstall either of them, so I couldn't use .pdf files!!
I eventually fixed it. After doing various things, it turns out that a bit of registry cleaning and a defrag sorted it out.
However, since then, I have had another problem

My System Restore does not work. I have tried creating a new restore point, and backing up an old one. On both these operations, the program stops responding when I click the final 'next'. This is most frustrating, and I don't know if it means there are bigger problems out there...

If you could help I would be very much appreciative....
Ta!

See if you can reset it.

Right click My Computer then click Properties then System Restore.

Turn it off & Apply & OK then turn it back on. This will remove all restore points but should reset for the future.

After this see if your options work.

Turned it off OK, but when I tried to turn it back on again, it froze!!

A couple of other things you should probably be aware of....

Sometimes (not every time), when the computer loads, the taskbar items don't load up, and I can't click on the start menu (when I hover over the start menu, the mouse turns into an hourglass), or run any programs. The only thing I have found to help is to end the EXPLORER.exe process, and then run it again.

I'm also a bit suspicious of some of the processes listed. I'm pretty sure theres no malware or anything, as I have done a lot of tests, but, for example, there are often four or five SVCHOST.EXE processes, where there is normally only one....

Any thoughts?

Try turning System Restore off & then reboot before turning it back on.

All your symptoms combined are very symptomatic of malware. I would suggest running a HijackThis log:

Please follow the instructions HERE & then post your log in a new thread in the Spyware, Adware, Viruses and HijackThis Logs section.
(Not in this section please).

Four or five SVCHOST.EXE processes is not that unusual. svchost.exe is a system process belonging to the Microsoft Windows Operating System which handles processes executed from DLLs.

OK, so here's the deal as it stands...

System Restore still isn't working.
When I start the computer, it seems that EXPLORER.EXE is taking a very long time to load. If I wait long enough, it will load, and the computer starts, but otherwise I have to end and start the process as above.

I have been to the HijackThis forums as you have suggested, and they are satisfied that my computer is clean.

I tried to find out where the problem is coming from, and think I have kinda tracked it down. I used the MSCONFIG application to startup in various modes to see if it worked. I found that if I started up normally, but without 'Load System Services' checked, the computer worked fine, and EXPLORER.EXE loaded immediately. Obviously I don't want to do this every time, but I thought it might help you to track down the problem?

What exaclty are the 'System Services?' Any idea why it's slowing down my startup?

Thanks again....

How to troubleshoot the System Restore tool in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default...EN-US;q302796&

System Restore is one of the System Services.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm

See if anything in the above links help.

Nope - no help, I'm afraid!

The only thing I was unable to try is System Restore in Safe Mode.
This is because when I opened it there were no restore points! It seems they have all been deleted!
And unfortunately, I can't create one, because when I try to, the system freezes!
I don't get any error messages, just a non-responding application
(Incidentally, when I try to shut down, there is always a program that is not responding, but its not always the same program! Confusing!

Any more ideas?

If you have a retail version XP CD try running start/run sfc /scannow

You will be asked to insert your disk. If it ever appears to stick on a file just repeatedly press Retry

If your XP is OEM (pre-installed) what is the make & model of the computer?

It is a Dell 8400.
I have Windows XP PRO SP2.

It did come preinstalled, but I also have an XP PRO SP2 CD (not the one that is installed, though) can i still do the scan?

I wouldn't try it as a Dell XP is different from a Microsoft XP.

Dell has a pretty extensive troubleshooter tho. I got to this point searching for reinstalling XP on a Dimension 8400:

http://support.dell.com/support/topi...G&l=en&s=dhs#0

Following the link to the Dell Solution Network brings up many interactive ideas.

Another approach would be to go thru all your services one at a time to see if you can pinpoint a problem service.
Or check the Event Viewer as mentioned in the Microsoft link.