Hi undo the changes to see if it is complicit in the cause of the issue.

 

Thats the problem..I can't undo the changes. I can't get to the startup. icons don't work, and "run...msconfig " says "error...mis-spelled" etc. Whats odd is i can type" regedit" in" run" and it will go to that. FUBAR ????
Is there another way to get to startup besides" run"..."msconfig" ?

 

Hi there appears to be more issues here than I first thought,can you run chkdsk

 

Will try tommarrow morn...wifes puter...shes on facebook,(lol),now. Only thing that works is internet.

 

Restart the computer and press F8 choose Safe Mode With Networking. Log in as the Built in Administrator, not the admin user you previously logged in as. Try msconfig and reset it to what was working. Try restarting and booting in normally.
You can also go to Start/Run and type chkdsk C: /F and press enter. In the Command Prompt type a Y for Yes and restart the computer. The Check Disk utility will start at next bootup.

 

Tried the safe mode / networking, still wont do it. Says" windows cant find msconfig, try different spelling,or try search"(which won't even come up).
On chkdsk theres a warning that says "Warning f parameter not specified chkdsk read only mode" , and below after it reaches 100% some stuff comes up but everything disapears before you can read it.

 

Try chkdsk from the second method here How to perform disk error checking in Windows XP

 

Right now as last ditch effort i went to major geeks and got a defrag from smart defrag...since the puter wouldnt let me go to defrag. Only one green file showed and a hundred yellows(bad). Only into it a ways and another green popped up and below it says it's restoring a crapload of .dll's...one after another. Don't quite understand what or why but it's worth a try.
If no results i'll try your previous idea when done with this. Thanks

 

Did you enter the cmd as Spunk.Funk had typed as you would normally only get the error of the missing parameter if you had left the /f off.

Not sure why its report disappeared (unless you entered the cmd from the run box instead of the command prompt) as when you run chkdsk without any parameters then the cmd window stays with its read-only report.

Its report (if you have executed the cmd correctly) can be viewed in Event Viewer/Application and look for the latest Winlogon.

 

go to Start/Run and type chkdsk C: /F and press enter. In the Command Prompt type a Y for Yes and restart the computer. The Check Disk utility will start at next bootup.

Looks like you didn't type the /F switch, which is run in read only mode.
You can also go to Start/Run and type CMD and press enter. In the Command Prompt type chkdsk /F (remember the space after the K befoirre the / and add the F. Then type a Y for Yes and restart the computer

 

did the chkdsk the right way(forgot a space)..went to blue screem and it checked disc ...restarted by itself ...nothing changed. Went to windows site on" how to perform etc" that joeten sent me...just sits there loading. I noticed when i click on a program on my desktop the hourglass will come on and off a few times...but nothing else.Odd that i can go online to certain sites but if i go to download anything i get errors...i click the errors off and the the program..say the smart defrag i got, will run but i'll have no icons afterwards. Man, screwed up or what.

 

You can also go to Start/Run and type SFC /scannow and press enter. Put the XP CD in and it will replace any missing system files.
You can also boot off of the XP CD and do a Repair Install
If this continues to be a problem, it looks like you are infected. Please click on the link in my signature for Virus/Malware Help and do those things and post in that section of the forum.

 

It's beginning to sound like an infection if you have problems downloading.

How does it perform in Safe Mode with Networking ?

 

I think Tom has it correct it does sound like some type of malware

 

Very sad to say but appears to be nothing bad in system...wish that was the reason. Ran windows malicious software removal,which usually finds things, but after hrs of scanning,(did quick and full), zero found. Try to use my McAfee and Spybot, but can't get them to appear either.
So what do you think...ball peen or claw hammer ?

 

Hi try using a online virus scan Free Virus Scan | Online Virus Scanner from ESET

 

Try to use my McAfee and Spybot, but can't get them to appear either.

If you can't load a Anti-Virus or Malware removal program (McAfee, Spybot) that would be a good indication of Virus infection.
You can try to restart the computer and press F8 and go to Safe Mode with Networking and log in as the Built in Administrator not your normal admin user, and try to run those programs again. If that fails, please click on the link in my signature Virus/Malware Help and do those things and post in that section of the forum.