I recently downloaded this wonderful-sounding program off of downloadmix.de. There was an antivirus as well as a magical optimizer that deletes all kinds of stuff off the computer to free up hard drive space. I ran it three or four times and was very impressed at how many kilobytes of memory I had saved. Then I discovered: some of my programs will no longer run, at least one of my microsoft-works-table files has been erased, and my computer can no longer recognize USB hardware. The only solution I have been offered is to back up all my information and run Windows all over. One of my friends even said I could back up the information myself by clicking "start-run-all" or "programs-accessories-system tools." The same friend later googled ashampoo and found the following links:
http://spywarefiles.prevx.com/qq6cb6...201.4.EXE.html
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail...e/1137795217/1



Here are my questions:
1. If I run windows anew, how do I reload all the information from my computer all over again?
2. My system runs auf Deutsch. I tried "start-ausführen-all" and alle and alles and allen, but nothing happened. And under accessories (Zubehör) I could not find any tools (werkzeuge). Is it possible that the German commands are different from the direct translations of "all" and "system tools"? Or could Ashampoo have damaged even my ability to back up my own information? (How would I find the exact deutsch commands, in case my direct translations are not the right commands?)

Feeling stupid...
J. Helene

You can try a System Restore to a point prior to the problem:

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

The Path to XP Pros backup utility is:

start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup

This is not available in the Home edition and even in Pro it will only backup to the hard drive.

If you wanted to backup to DVD/CD you would need additional software to move from the hard drive to DVD/CD.

There are also many backup softwares at varying prices:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=backup+software

That being said a Repair Install of XP generally saves all data and programs. A good guide here:

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

This is assuming that you have a retail version XP CD. If your computer was purchased with XP pre-installed (OEM) then you will need to see your manual for a NON-Destructive Recovery.

(1 ) would a registry fix (registry fix, registry medic or registry mechanic) help?
(2 ) I tried restoring the system to before the installation of this stupid ashampoo programme. My word and music documents came back to life, but some of the crazy temporary documents that appeared on my computer did not disappear. For example, Under my computer -> C-> documents and settings, there used to be "all users" and "helenetoile" (me). Now there are two Helenetoile folders, one of which contains a bunch of blind folders, and a HelD'Ne~1 folder, which contains a bunch of temporary crap. These did not disappear when I restored the system, and so I undid the restore.
(3 ) Windows came preinstalled, but I do have two recovery disks.
(4 ) If I restore the system again without backing up, what will I lose, other than newly installed programs and internet/desktop settings?
(5 ) Is there a way to take action against this stupid ashampoo company?

1: Might help but I doubt it. I use a Registry Cleaner but as to repairing outside of re-installing XP there is no substantial substitute. (My opinion of course).

2: System Restore is an attempt to recovery the registry back to the restore point. You can try to transfer your user data to a new account as seen here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;811151

3: Good! Who is the manufacturer?

4: Microsoft XP CD's have the option of either a Clean or Repair Install. The Clean formats the drive and you lose everything. The Repair retains programs data and settings. These options for an OEM CD such as yours usually have the options of Destructive or Non-Destructive reinstall.

The Destructive being the equivalent of the Clean Install and the Non-Destructive the equivalent of the Repair Install. Your manufacturer and or manual should indicate these options and methods.

5: You can contact them for what it's worth: http://www.ashampoo.com/frontend/con...ssion_langid=2

(2 ) I tried to follow the instructions of this link in English, German and French. In all three cases, I found no menu item under "tools" that is called "folder options" So this step is left undone.

(3 ) Recovery CD-Rom ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Support for these products provided by ASUSTeK Computer Inc. For Distribution only with a new PC. Portions 2004, Microsoft Corporation All Rights Reserved. EasyRestore recovery software is licensed by PowerQuest Corp.

(4 ) When I put the CD in my computer it comes up with four things: (a) a folder called PQER (b) three documents called ASUSPQI BOOTCAT and BOOTIMG.

(5) done, for what it's worth

(6 ) as soon as my October money comes in I will make a donation... you have helped so much already... thanks

Ashampoo do make software that isnt viruses or spyware....I believe what you downloaded was not made by them or was perhaps hijacked.

Or maybe you were just unlucky and it got rid of the wrong things....

Monkey, I do not find your response helpful... please see my previous message

It may not help you but it is advice for other browsing the forum....or does this site not work like that?

Sorry if thats how it is....

Monkey, my experience of this forum has been that each thread is started by somebody needing technical help with the computer, and any further messages include advice on what to do. The DAL moderator, Jephree, has so far been the only one to respond to my posts, offering advice on what to do whenever such advice is available. (That is, some problems HAVE to be fixed by an expert.) My threads have ended when the last available advice on what to do (short of seeking professional help) had been given. Once in a while a thank you note from me followed.

I do not think that anyone else using the forum would be interested in researching Ashampoo, but if that is the case, his post would have been a question about whether to buy Ashampoo. Such questions can almost always be answered by Google, and many computer users would have known that. (I obviously did not, since I ran Ashampoo without googling it first.)

This site is meant more for technical questions of people who do not feel like spending 50 dollars or more just to hear advice and rely instead on Jephree's free advice for free or for a small donation.

I hope this clears things, and I look forward to hearing from Jephree (or another moderator if there is one) if there are any further steps I can take to fix my computer on my own.

Using the recovery disk you have will put your computer back to the state it was in when u purchased it. This would fix all the problems but all data would go unless you back it up.

If your disk does come with the typical repair option seen on most windows recovery disks then this will restore all your system files but leaving all your data and 99% of programs intact.

If the ashampoo has affected any other programs these can be fixed by reinstalling these seperately now or after a recovery.

Ashampoo will have writtten in there license agreement aobut there iressponsibility when things go wrong so i doubt you will get much more than an apologee from them.



Another option to try and recover file is a specific recovery program. This wills can your HD for all recently removed files and can attempt to recover them. One i most certainly recommend is http://www.pcinspector.de/file_recovery/UK/welcome.htm

I hope my answer was more to your liking this time (wats with these odd emoticions ? )