Gave up eventually trying to save my files and did a format and reinstall of Home XP. Still all sorts of probs! 1) Although at first I could connect with the Internet,now Dial Up keeps coming up with error message.
2) Despite starting from scratch, there are all sorts of progs In Control Panel that I've never heard of - Bulls Eye Network, IST svc, Power Scan, Side Find, Surf Accuracy. And they won't uninstall!!
3) Keep getting an error message that CTF Loader not working, then closes down the screen.
4) Prob message with C:\WINDOWS\system32\Isass.exe with error message 1073741819
5) PC extremely slow-running - 15 mins to download 540K - this with Broadband!
6) @ key disguised - have to press Shift and 2 to get it!
Am typing this (badly) on a laptop I bought for the wife yeserday, although I'm using it to try and solve my own probs. It's an Advent 7076 (built-in pen cam). Does anybody know. Do laptops ge very hot - to the point of burning your hand?

If anybody can help, I'd be grateful!

Well, there is a lot wrong with your computer and I'm not a computer buff, so I've done a bit of Googling. It doesn't sound like you've much to lose at the moment by having a go. Theres always you local computer shop or another re-install if you fail.

I'd be inclined to forget about item 2 for the time being.
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Your dial up problem. You are on broadband are you not ?
How did you install the software for your modem ? The correct way is to leave your modem unplugged BEFORE you install the software. Then when that is installed, plug in your modem (USB I assume ?).
If you did it in the wrong order, this could be your problem. You may have to uninstall the modem software and then re-install, then plug in your modem. Follow your modem instructions for this.
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Problem 3) Keep getting an error message that CTF Loader not working, then closes down the screen.
It s a Speech Recognition and Handwriting Recognition Feature, but in Office XP, I'm not sure about Windows XP !

There is a link to "HOW TO: Turn Off the Speech Recognition and Handwriting Recognition Features in Office XP on this page.. http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-106350.php

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Problem 4) Prob message with C:\WINDOWS\system32\Isass.exe with error message 1073741819. Aparently you need to be sure it is Isass.exe and not lsass.exe (the second one starts with a lower case L ) Aparently the isass.exe is a trojan which should be removed, but lsass.exe is a valid Windows system file.

Read this question and all the replies. http://reviews.cnet.com/5208-6132-0.html?forumID=32&threadID=130791&messageID=1476092

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Problem 6) @ key disguised - have to press Shift and 2 to get it!

looks like a language problem, try using start>help and support> and type language into search box. There are various keyboard /language help files.

That's enough to be going on with, I think !

Hello Doc...

You say that you were getting connected to the internet, and that now you get dial up comming up with 'error message'.
I had a similar problem a little while back and the cure was i simply had to click tools at the top of the screen, followed by internet opts then by clicking the connections tab and then out of the three options available i needed the first which is 'never dial a connection'.

In my case it was an isp caused problem, it turned out that whilst they had been updating thier systems, they defaulted mine to a dial up setting so it was not recognising my wireless broadband conection.

Also from the same internet ops window try clicking the advanced tab and just scroll down the list and just check what is checked by a tick and what is not.
Good luck, Oscar.

Many thanks guys for your helpful input. Slowly getting there.
Those progs I mentioned were viruses/spyware, 'orrible things that were causing my probs, I think. That despite me running AVG anti-virus and Microsoft Anti-Spyware. There were some 20 trojans/spasser/gawd knows what else, plus some 200 spyware progs! So how did that happen when I installed afresh? At least I have a (slowly) workable system.
Thanks Frank for the idea about the language. Haven't tested it yet, but remember now that I've had this prob before. Ï'll test it. Here goes. "" Nope, seems "" and @ are interposed.
Here's another. When I scroll down a page, it comes not smoothly, but in waves that make you seasick. Again, I've overcome this before, but so long ago that I can't remember how I did it!
Have spent something like 4 solid days on this blasted PC. I want to know. Why does it always happen to me? None of you guys seem to have my probs!

Hi Doc,

Do you have Zone Alarm? I ask as I have installed it and ran it for two years with no problems. If you want those 'evil' bugs getting onto your hard drive it's best to have a firewall installed. I believe the initial installation is free and the annual renewal fee is about £17.50 and well worth it.

Regards, Jasper

If you do a fresh install and end up full of viruses and trojans, I would suspect my installation disc to be a copy, and a badly infected copy too ! That is unless you just re-installed without first formatting your drive. I think any rogue files which shouldn't be there would remain from previous if you didn't format.

Anselm,

You have not replied, but can I assume that you received the e-mails I sent to your yahoo web mail address ?

Thanks for your reply, Anselm. I have looked into the matter of the group we discussed myself, and I think it might now be working. I'll let you know.

I'm so relieved that you can help out during my "troubles".
Regarding the reinstallation, amazingly, I did format and then used the genuine XP disc I paid a fortune for. So just can't understand where the viruses and other junk came from.
Anybody got an idea why the screen scrolls down in waves rather than smoothly?

Your screen scrolling down in waves sounds like your graphics card not running the right driver. I think Windows installs its own generic driver to get any graphics card going, but you need the actual driver for your graphics card to get it going properly.
If you go to start > help and support and type in "device manager" in the search box you should see a link to device manager. There will be a link to help you open device manager.
If you look at the list under "display adaptors" you should see your graphics card listed. Right click your mouse on it and choose "properties". Does it say that the device is working properly ? If not, you can run thorough the troubleshooter to see if it helps.

If you have not installed the correct driver for your card, you should find out what you need in your computer documentation, or did you get an installation disc with your card ? Failing that, do a Google search for your card model No. and you will probably be able to download a driver.
In device manager there is a driver tab so you can look at the driver details, and choose to update the driver. There is a roll back driver button if you dont like what you see after the update. (That assumes you can see anything at all ! I've never done this myself, so I dont know what happens.)

That exhausts my knowlege of the subject, see what you think.

I hope you are making progress with your PC. Meanwhile I have sent you an e-mail to your webmail address.