Interesting Problem, Need Help!

Drijen · 01-24-2005, 10:17 AM

Allright, here is the deal.

I just recieved a Dell(base) computer running XP Home. I'm not a fan of XP but the comp was free and very good so I'm learning to deal with it.

Somewhere along the line I did something damaging to the computer (No idea what) and now it will not allow me to view the device manager or hardware wiz. I can see the DM window but no devices appear on screen. The System Info tool says I may be missing Windows Management files needed to collect system info. That is my only lead so far. I'm attempting to restore the system to an earlier point but it keeps locking right towards the end of the process. I fear I may have screwed up pretty badly.

The other issue is that the XP computer is not hooked up to the internet so I am using my 98 comp to file this report and download needed programs which I will then burn and transfer.

Problem Highlights:
1) Cannot view Device Manager
2) Cannot add hardware
3) System Restore is not working

It would amazing if these issues could be fixed as I cannot reformat and reinstall XP because I never recieved a disk, just the computer. Many thanks in advance

dai · 01-24-2005, 11:52 AM

in the run box type
sfc /scsnnow
and press enter

found this post
got this fix from microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support

1. In My Computer, click the Tools menu -> Folder Options.
2. On the View tab, make sure to check the option "Hide extensions for
known file types".
3. Click OK.
4. Click the Start menu -> Run. Type "%windir%\inf" (Without quotation
marks) in the Open field. Click OK.
5. Locate and select the file "sr.inf". Right-click it and then click
Install.

worked great system restore is back on if anybody else has the same problem try it
thats for the help

Drijen · 01-24-2005, 11:59 AM

Thank you much for your help.
However, is this fix only for the system restore issue or will it help with my other problems?

Also, for anyone else who decides to help, some updates:

1)I am running XP Professional, the case said home but XP says Pro.
2)Somewhere along the line I lost the ability to use my CD Drive, this is an odd problem and I'm attempting to check hardware issues as well.

Again, thank you

*EDIT*
In order to attempt the fix you gave me, it is now telling me that I need my XP Pro disk, which I do not have as I explained above. I am highly tempted to switch back to 98 and say screw it because I am now losing functionality every time I try to fix something.
I would be very happy if I could restore the DM and be able to install hardware again, plus now I need to get my CD-Drive working again.

dai · 01-24-2005, 12:25 PM

sent pm
i found it on a search for restore issue

Drijen · 01-25-2005, 11:10 AM

Well, thanks for your help but short of some tech-support miracle I think I'm going to end my foray into XP and go back to good ol 98SE. All the problems I've enumerated before still exist and it's really just frustrating me.

dai · 01-25-2005, 11:14 AM

i had to rebuild my 98 era computer before i could run xp succesfully

Drijen · 01-25-2005, 12:18 PM

Well, the computer came with XP so I'd assume it was built to be fully compatible. I have 98SE on another hard drive I'm using for storage on the same computer so I think I'll just switch the jumpers around and boot from the 98 HD. Plus, I detest XP anyway so it is no big loss.

dai · 01-26-2005, 12:09 AM

leave the jumpers and pull the power plug from the xp drive

01-24-2005, 10:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Drijen Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 25 OS: Win98	Interesting Problem, Need Help! Allright, here is the deal. I just recieved a Dell(base) computer running XP Home. I'm not a fan of XP but the comp was free and very good so I'm learning to deal with it. Somewhere along the line I did something damaging to the computer (No idea what) and now it will not allow me to view the device manager or hardware wiz. I can see the DM window but no devices appear on screen. The System Info tool says I may be missing Windows Management files needed to collect system info. That is my only lead so far. I'm attempting to restore the system to an earlier point but it keeps locking right towards the end of the process. I fear I may have screwed up pretty badly. The other issue is that the XP computer is not hooked up to the internet so I am using my 98 comp to file this report and download needed programs which I will then burn and transfer. Problem Highlights: 1) Cannot view Device Manager 2) Cannot add hardware 3) System Restore is not working It would amazing if these issues could be fixed as I cannot reformat and reinstall XP because I never recieved a disk, just the computer. Many thanks in advance Last edited by Drijen; 01-24-2005 at 10:22 AM. Reason: Faulty Info

01-24-2005, 11:59 AM	#3 (permalink)
Drijen Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 25 OS: Win98	Thank you much for your help. However, is this fix only for the system restore issue or will it help with my other problems? Also, for anyone else who decides to help, some updates: 1)I am running XP Professional, the case said home but XP says Pro. 2)Somewhere along the line I lost the ability to use my CD Drive, this is an odd problem and I'm attempting to check hardware issues as well. Again, thank you EDIT In order to attempt the fix you gave me, it is now telling me that I need my XP Pro disk, which I do not have as I explained above. I am highly tempted to switch back to 98 and say screw it because I am now losing functionality every time I try to fix something. I would be very happy if I could restore the DM and be able to install hardware again, plus now I need to get my CD-Drive working again. Last edited by Drijen; 01-24-2005 at 12:14 PM.

01-24-2005, 11:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,679 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	in the run box type sfc /scsnnow and press enter found this post got this fix from microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support 1. In My Computer, click the Tools menu -> Folder Options. 2. On the View tab, make sure to check the option "Hide extensions for known file types". 3. Click OK. 4. Click the Start menu -> Run. Type "%windir%\inf" (Without quotation marks) in the Open field. Click OK. 5. Locate and select the file "sr.inf". Right-click it and then click Install. worked great system restore is back on if anybody else has the same problem try it thats for the help

01-24-2005, 12:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,679 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	sent pm i found it on a search for restore issue

01-25-2005, 11:10 AM	#5 (permalink)
Drijen Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 25 OS: Win98	Well, thanks for your help but short of some tech-support miracle I think I'm going to end my foray into XP and go back to good ol 98SE. All the problems I've enumerated before still exist and it's really just frustrating me.

01-25-2005, 11:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,679 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	i had to rebuild my 98 era computer before i could run xp succesfully

01-25-2005, 12:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
Drijen Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 25 OS: Win98	Well, the computer came with XP so I'd assume it was built to be fully compatible. I have 98SE on another hard drive I'm using for storage on the same computer so I think I'll just switch the jumpers around and boot from the 98 HD. Plus, I detest XP anyway so it is no big loss.

01-26-2005, 12:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,679 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	leave the jumpers and pull the power plug from the xp drive