WinXP is doing funny stuff

[s1mp13m4n]

Hello everyone. I have a laptop that has Xubuntu and WinXP installed on the same hard drive. I mainly use Linux for day in and day out use. I use WinXP to play a game now and then and make legal DVD backups. I have not used WinXP for a month and have been logged in to Xubuntu. My audio is not working (Realtek HD audio), yet the sound card shows up in device manager and so does the system volume control, etc...I simply do not have sound. Malwarebytes was giving an error message but I can not make it give it to me again. Malwarebytes will not scan nor update itself without this error popping up. Spybot S7D found nothing. AVG is 45 min in to a scan and has found nothing so far. I ran a Hijackthis test and have that log file if you need it. I ran CCleaner as well and it did whatever it does in its cleanup. I have performed a disk cleanup in Windows as well and done a Windows update.
What is going on with my laptop? It is a Chembook laptop...put together build it yourself kit. Update, AVG found nothing wrong in the complete system scan. I also do not use IE unless it is Windows update. I use Firefox as my browser.

 

[withoutink]

There was a update released yesterday? It has caused a lot of issues for us at some of our 1200 locations. I would be cautious for running the update. I must preface I am not a Windows guy. But I work in IT at our company and I have been seeing / hearing a lot of complaints today.

Your issue may be totally different, its just odd I saw this today - since we are having so many issues as well.

 

[bradyarz]

just because someone has to ask the stupid questions:

did you try uninstalling/reinstalling the sound drivers?

 

[s1mp13m4n]

Yes I did, however I get an error message and they will not uninstall. I will try again thought. I am running TrendMico's Housecall right now. WHen that is done I will try again.

 

[chainfire]

you might also try running it in safe mode long enough to uninstall/reinstall the driver. if an update did happen over the last couple days, see if that can be rolled back.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

I could try System Restore but I want to "learn" from what is going on. System Restore for me has always been spotty at best for some reason. LOL

 

[New2DEShaving_Montreal]

I hope you have your data backed up. Sometimes its virtually impossible to find a solution for some of these errors. Its less time consuming more often just to format and re-install. You have a lot higher chances of running into problems with dual OSes. I have had such problems before and some of the time I was able to take the entire system apart piece by piece, and boot the system to cancel out the issues until everything works. This sounds more like a software issue than a hardware issue at this point.

 

[jkchuma]

A fresh install of XP can't hurt if you back everything up.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

Trend Micro's Housecall found 7 trojans on the machine all of which were in .txt files in my "my docs" folder. HUH? This goes to show that AVG, Malwarebytes, Spybot S&D, and Ad aware are not all they are cracked up to be. Who makes products that "work" and are "bullet proof"? LOL Hmm, if I slick the puter and re-install WinXP, then I will need a license, you know the deal. I only have the one that came with the puter and who knows how many times I can use it before Mr. Bill wants more money for his junk OS. I say junk because these problems should not even be an issue.

 

[cfriend]

Pushing you to Windows 7...

 

[jsrdrnr]

Pushing you to Windows 7...

Only problem with that is there is not direct upgrade from xp!!! <ger>

 

[s1mp13m4n]

Pushing you to Windows 7...

Again Giving Bill more money. I do not have the money to buy it. Power to the penguins!!

I am just frustrated, sorry about the "mood". LOL

 

[chainfire]

I could try System Restore but I want to "learn" from what is going on.

You'll never learn what's going on with Windows...any OS that still uses DOS as backbone can never be truly understood.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

I guess the reason this is frustrating is because You have to pay for a bad OS, then do all this maintaining with it, and I thought I was using decent prevention and detection software, yet this stuff happens. In Linux I do not have these issues, but if you play games at all..you must have Windows. I do not claim to be a no it all for Windows or Linux. Hmm, the other issue I am concerned with is if I slick the install...it will wipe out my Linux install as well because Windows does not play with Linux well. They are on the same hard drive. Hmmmm. Fun stuff.

 

[chainfire]

the other issue I am concerned with is if I slick the install...it will wipe out my Linux install as well because Windows does not play with Linux well. They are on the same hard drive. Hmmmm. Fun stuff.

The drive should be partitioned to prevent this. Even as dumb as Windows XP is, it should be able to stick to it's own partition and leave Linux alone.

 

[ratcheer]

I am pretty sure that if you reinstall Windows it will wipe out grub. Linux respects Windows when you install it on a Win machine. Windows does not return the favor.

Tim

 

[chainfire]

I am pretty sure that if you reinstall Windows it will wipe out grub. Linux respects Windows when you install it on a Win machine. Windows does not return the favor.

Tim

you're probably right...it's been over 5 years since I've messed around with any of this stuff, so I'm going from memory. I thought Windows asked what partition you wanted to install to and kept to it but I probably did it like you're describing and installed Linux and grub second.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

OK everyone I am back. I now have Win7 Ultimate installed. I was shocked to see that it saw but did not know what to do with the Linux partition...it did not know what it was. So I just installed it in the WinXP partition. So far I like Win7 for ease of install. Now, I have to get grub back so I can use my Xubuntu again. I will keep on playing with this Win7 and see how it goes.

 

[jkchuma]

Trend Micro's Housecall found 7 trojans on the machine all of which were in .txt files in my "my docs" folder. HUH? This goes to show that AVG, Malwarebytes, Spybot S&D, and Ad aware are not all they are cracked up to be. Who makes products that "work" and are "bullet proof"? LOL Hmm, if I slick the puter and re-install WinXP, then I will need a license, you know the deal. I only have the one that came with the puter and who knows how many times I can use it before Mr. Bill wants more money for his junk OS. I say junk because these problems should not even be an issue.

Spybot and Adaware are not designed to remove viruses. They are designed to clean spyware and malware.

 

[s1mp13m4n]

You are right about that. I have AVG for visuses and Spybot, Adaware, and Malwarebytes for spyware.