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I encountered a problem with a game I downloaded and my computer froze. When I rebooted, my computer froze again right after startup. When I tried to reboot again my screen won't even show input for me to enter safemode. I'm thinking this could be a graphics card problem, but I don't know how to fix it if I can't see anything. I'm only a novice at computer stuff, but I'm hoping a system restore will fix the problem. Someone please help. I'm using a friend's computer and I need mine back asap.

Try disconnecting everything except the keyboard and mouse and boot up and if it still doesn't boot up then remove the mouse and try it. If it still doesn't plug in the mouse and remove the keyboard. It's time to find out what it is thats causing the issue and it's probably the game that did it.

Skelator

Thanks, I tried unplugging everything (printer, webcam, mouse etc.) and it worked!...kind of. I only used the keyboard and I got to safe mode. I tried "last known good configuration" but the computer still froze when I got to the screen where you choose a user. I booted up again with F8 and chose just “safe mode” thinking I could get to the control panel and do a system retore that way, but the computer still froze when I got to the screen where you choose a user--even when in safe mode! How do I get my computer to stop freezing!! I'm going crazy!

@kitten92130: Always state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3) when posting in a forum or newsgroup. Please do so in your next reply.

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?

sorry, I think l have "Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005". It's a hand-me-down from my Dad and I've only had it about 6 months.

To answer your questions about anti-virus application, security suite, anti-spyware, and third-party firewall all I can tell you is I don't know. My Dad had a computer guy do updates and scanned for malware and spyware about 2 months ago. I don't pay a subscription but the computer does have Norton installed. I don't know how to check for what is installed without the computer being on and I didn't write it down.

The computer guy had to fix a graphics problem from a different game I had installed. He fixed it with system restore. I figured I could do the same fix with this problem. So I finally figured out how to do a system restore and IT DID NOT WORK!!!!!
Here is what I did: I entered safe mode with command prompt and entered this command: (with slants going the other way)
C:/windows/system32/restore/rstrui.exe
I pressed enter, followed the prompts, and reset the computer to Sunday November 1. I had loaded the game on Monday Nov 2 so I figured this was a good enough date. The computer rebooted itself but I still did not get any farther than the startup screen before I lost the use of the mouse and keyboard and the computer froze up. Some interesting things to note are that little lines (like the letter l ) were all over the black screen in safe mode, and then the Windows logo with bar that changes color came up twice with a black screen inbetween. I got to the screen to choose a user but my mouse could not open one. A minute later my keyboard and mouse froze.
Is this a boot problem, or a master boot record problem? I read that this problem can occur if the virus is on a pirated disk. I bought the game from a second-hand store so it's authorship is now under question. I did accidentally leave the cd-rom in the drive when I booted up...major oops! But maybe this isn't the problem at all, I'm just getting desparate.

Thanks for your help in advance.

1. Right-click on MY COMPUTER and select PROPERTIES: What Windows version is displayed on the resulting GENERAL tab (e.g., Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2)?

2. Open Security Center via Start | Run | (type or copy/paste) WSCUI.CPL | OK

What is the reported status for (a) Firewall; (b) Automatic Updates; and (c) Virus Protection (e.g., ON or OFF or CHECK STATUS)?

PS: If a Norton application is installed, chances are you'd get a "Restoration Incomplete. Your computer cannot be restored..." error when trying to use a Restore Point.

um, sorry I can't Right-click on MY COMPUTER because I can't get to my desktop. The computer freezes at the screen where you log in as either guest, administrator, or me.

You said "PS: If a Norton application is installed, chances are you'd get a "Restoration Incomplete. Your computer cannot be restored..." error when trying to use a Restore Point."
oh. I didn't get that message. maybe it was macafee? whatever it was, it was free.

Have your dad take the computer back to the "computer guy."

I am no longer Watching this thread.

Well you may have done yourself more harm lol But I would atleast download a free virus checker like Avast http://www.avast.com that will boot from a cd and set bios to boot from cd so it can scan the hardrive.Hopefully it's not totally gone.

Skelator

Thanks Skelator, I'll go to a computer store and buy that kind of cd and try it. I'll let you know what happens. Since I am unsure about the virus protection on this computer that seems like the most logical thing to do.

Robear,
Thank you for helping me again. I posted a new thread since the topic name of this thread doesn't reflect my problem anymore--I've done a system restore twice now. I can't take the computer back to the "computer guy" because he and my Dad are in California and I moved to Utah. plus my dad paid for it and I can't afford another $100 diagnostic plus $75+ an hour for him to look at it. I am stuck trying to figure it out myself. I am begging for your help and expertise. I appreciate that you are willing to help answer my questions. If my computer gets up and running again, I will surely contribute a donation to you/this site. I know I have made a mess of my computer due to my ignorance. Please be patient with me, I don't know a lot about computers in general and with this one being "new to me" I may not be able to answer all of your questions as fully as you would like. But I am trying a hard as I can. I want this computer fixed with my all my deepest desires.

I will repeat the info from the new thread here, so all the info is in one spot.



I tried logging onto the internet while in safe mode but it just came up in an blank internet explorer window. I tried putting in different web addresses but still no graphics. There is nothing wrong with my internet connection because I have my friend's computer running off of it. No graphics from internet makes downloading and installing an updated graphics driver impossible. So I tried the "Driver Reset Tool" which had been added previously. No luck there either. If I could find a driver update cd that booted from bios (like the virus scanner Skelator suggested) do you think that would work? Do you think this is related to a driver problem at all? Tell me what you think.

cf. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=42613

I suspect you may be seeing the effects of a hijackware infection. Normally, I'd have you start here: http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=4075 ...

But that's not feasible right now. More on this and how/where you might be able to get online help here: http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=42617