[kickrz]

I have no idea what the heck I did but whatever I did it messed up my whole computer. I can't open internet explorer or any thing else that is on my main drive. Even if I put a cd in and try to install a program I get an error that says "The specified path does not exist. Check path and then try again".

Please help ASAP I can't do anything and my hubby will be upset cause he just formatted 3 days ago.

If I could do a system restore maybe things would be ok but I can't even get into it to do it.

Please I beg you HELP ME!!

I am running XP pro.

Thanks
Lynn

 

[kickrz]

If I reboot and press F8 I get to the screen that asks advanced options. Would selecting Last Known Good Configuration help me or will it make matters worse???

 

[abbyk]

Originally posted by kickrz:
If I reboot and press F8 I get to the screen that asks advanced options. Would selecting Last Known Good Configuration help me or will it make matters worse???

yes - try that first

 

[kickrz]

OMG! Thanks for responding I am trying it now.
Thanks.

 

[kickrz]

Argg That didn't work either. Something is majorly screwed up. I want to do a system restore but not sure how I can get to the control panel but when I click on system is says rundll32.exe the specified file does not exist blah blah blah.

I need HELP!!!
Please is there a way to do a system restore from start up???

 

[abbyk]

try booting into safe mode - tap f8 key at boot up then choose safe mode

try system restore from there.

 

[kickrz]

I did try that and it is the same thing I can't get into the system folder.

 

[abbyk]

hmmm - i'm having a think about this now - maybe someone else will have a suggestion....

sit tight - don't worry

 

[abbyk]

so if u click start - help & support , then choose system restore - no joy ?

 

[kickrz]

Easier said then done. I am beat tired, pregnant and terrified I wrecked the computer I have to get this fixed before my husband finds out!
I appreciate the help and have no choice but to sit and wait.

If you have any other suggestions on how to do a system restore from start up I would appreciate it.

Thanks Again
Lynn

 

[kickrz]

No if I click on start Help and Support I get an error that says helpctr.exe The specified path does not exist.....But I know it does.arggggggg

 

[abbyk]

I have messaged another knowledable member & now we wait.

Make yourself a nice cuppa & try to relax - please.

I'm sure this will be sorted soon

 

[kickrz]

I really do appreciate all your help and PRAY this can be fixed.


Thanks again and again

Lynn

 

[Rollin' Rog]

Typically XP will automatically restore system files like rundll32.exe

Can yu do a file search for it and let us know where it shows up? Perhaps we can copy it to the system32 folder where it normally belongs.

Also try this: Start > run, enter msconfig

Does it open? Try selecting "launch System Restore", do you get that same error message?

And if I were your hubby I would be much more upset if I formatted months ago rather than days ago. It simply means not too much will be lost if you have to do it again.

 

[kickrz]

Ok I did a search and found it in C:Windows.System32.

Also when I try to run msconfig I get the same error Specified path does not exist. Everything seems to be in the right spot but nothing is comming up. I am trying to figure out what I did to mess it all up. The only thing I can think of was when I took IE6 out of the main startup menu. Also I was having trouble recalling Microsoft Works and when I went to put it in the right directory everything I clicked tried to open in there (works I mean) so I deleted it and that was when nothing would open.

Hope this makes sense cause it is all I can think of that I did.

Thanks. My husband won't be terribly mad but he just doesn't have the time right now to be fixing it. I hate to bother anyone but I would like to fix my own mistake.

Thanks

 

[Rollin' Rog]

Do any programs run?

If you go to start and enter cmd

does a command shell open? if you then enter:

path

what is the system path it shows? You can right click on what it says, select "mark" and then highlight the data. Pressing "enter" copies it to the clipboard.

You may have suffered serious directory damage and possibly running chkdsk might help, but it has its risks too, if it runs at all.

Also, from start > run try entering:

sfc /scannow

and let it complete. You may get prompted for a CD if it is unable to find what it needs.

 

[kickrz]

Nothing on C seems to work. cmd also give me specified path crap.
I have tried all your suggestions but none of them seem to work. cmd and path were both typed under run right??
For sfc/scannow and path it says windows cannot find it.

 

[Rollin' Rog]

Here is another option you can try. Since the files seem to be present and findable, but Windows is not following the path, try manually navigating to the folder:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Restore

Open that and double click

rstrui.exe

to see if it will open without error.

... cmd is run from Start > run, but path is entered in the command shell if it opens.

The line for sfc must be:

sfc /scannow

failure to include the space can result in error.

 

[kickrz]

Ok for that I can click on everything up until the last file. It allows me into C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Restore But as soon as I double click rstrui.exe I get the stupid error.


Ok Once I add the space in then I get SFC specified path blah blah blah.
And I never got past cmd so path didn't work either *sigh*

 

[Rollin' Rog]

Well I'm at a loss to explain this. Perhaps some "malware" is interfering in some way. If not that then there is serious directory or registry damage that only a reinstall will repair.

One last shot at System Restore is to try to do it from "safe mode with command prompt". This option is available from the F8 /boot menu.

Once you have loaded the command shell in Safe Mode, if it loads, enter:

%systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

MS how to, here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449