Where are my XP configuration?

[guanche]

Hello

I've formated my C unit (where i have the OS and programs) and now i'm installing everything again. BUT everytime i start the laptop my tweakings are gone!! I'm talking about the display theme set to classic, no screensaver and no sounds from windows. The rest is OK but when i start i see the XP theme (you know, it looks like XP), there is the default screensaver and it makes that ugly windows welcome sound.

I set everything again as i want it to be, and the next time i start i have to set it again!!!!

Can anybody help me???!!!!!!

thank you in advance.

[itsplayed]

You need to select "APPLY" then "OK" after each tweak that you perform.

[tech1]

If you're already applying and OK'ing, then try repairing Windows (http://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/ts/detail.php?Index=30868&keyword=repair%20windows).

[poorsod]

Actually, 'OK' does the 'APPLY' for you. The difference is that OK saves your changes and closes the box, while APPLY only saves the changes, leaving the box open for you to do other things.
CANCEL closes the box and doesn't save.

[itsplayed]

Actually, 'OK' does the 'APPLY' for you. The difference is that OK saves your changes and closes the box, while APPLY only saves the changes, leaving the box open for you to do other things.
CANCEL closes the box and doesn't save.

Of course you are correct......I just wrote it the way I do it out of habit.;)

[guanche]

What poorsod is saying is what i thought. Anyway i've tried as itsplayed says and no way. I find it pretty weird because when i start, sometimes the theme is OK but the sound config. isn't, or the sound is OK but there is the default screensaver (although i set it to none)

I'm gonna try what tech1 says.

BTW, I've XP sp2 but the sp2 is downloaded from the net. So, when i tried to format inserting the win. cd, i had a message saying that it doesn't work because the version of win. that i have is later than the one in the cd. (which is sp1). I had to uninstall sp2 and then use the win. cd. I don't know how did it happend but the computer started installing xp without formating (which took a lot of time, around two hours). After that i could go to DOS and format c: from there, which i couldn't do before installing xp over over the xp that was already in the pc. What did i do wrong? And, how should i do the next time?

Maybe i'm not being very clear. Sorry. Let me know if so...

[itsplayed]

What poorsod is saying is what i thought. Anyway i've tried as itsplayed says and no way. I find it pretty weird because when i start, sometimes the theme is OK but the sound config. isn't, or the sound is OK but there is the default screensaver (although i set it to none)

I'm gonna try what tech1 says.

BTW, I've XP sp2 but the sp2 is downloaded from the net. So, when i tried to format inserting the win. cd, i had a message saying that it doesn't work because the version of win. that i have is later than the one in the cd. (which is sp1). I had to uninstall sp2 and then use the win. cd. I don't know how did it happend but the computer started installing xp without formating (which took a lot of time, around two hours). After that i could go to DOS and format c: from there, which i couldn't do before installing xp over over the xp that was already in the pc. What did i do wrong? And, how should i do the next time?

Maybe i'm not being very clear. Sorry. Let me know if so...

Download Service Pack 2 "for multiple computers" Link (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=049C9DBE-3B8E-4F30-8245-9E368D3CDB5A&displaylang=en) and burn it onto a CD. Do not connect to the net until SP2 is installed.
Install the WinXP CD and let run....Press the F8 key to agree and press enter to continue.
You will then see a list of hard drive partition information. Delete all partitions(highlight and press the "D" key) and then the enter key.
You will now get to a confirmation menu of the deletion procedure....select the "L" key to confirm.
Next you will be asked to create a partition....highlight the empty partition and select the "C" key. You will also be asked to confirm it's size....you can leave as is or you can create multiple partitions here. Select the "enter" key to create.
Highlight the C: drive partition that you just created and select "enter" to install the OS. It should now bring you to a format menu that asks what file system should be used....choose "Format the Partition using the NTFS file system"
Now, allow Windows to do it's thing....do not press any keys when Windows reboots.
After the install of WinXP SP1 perform a disc cleanup and defragmentation of the drive....reboot, then install the SP2 disk you just made and load as an upgrade.

[guanche]

I have my old sp2 already installed in the pc. So, what should i do to have the xp sp1 cd working?

Merci for the input!!

[itsplayed]

I have my old sp2 already installed in the pc. So, what should i do to have the xp sp1 cd working?

Merci for the input!!

I have never tried this myself, but did you look within the system restore menu to see if there is a roll back entry before service pack 2 was installed?
Personally, I would just follow the procedure that I laid out for you....a hassle....indeed!, but at least you'll know where you stand.
I would never update to SP2 via the net....do this independent of the internet.
Try rolling back to the initial Windows SP1 install if possible.....download SP2 and burn to CD.....Disconnect from the net and upgrade to SP2 using the CD you just burned of SP2.

That said, I'm still unclear as to what your issue was with the initial SP1 install........you sould not have had to go into the DOS command in order to format the drive.

[guanche]

All right!!

I've formated again and installed sp2 with the cd as you say. I had no problem this time! Tomorrow (it is five after midnight here) im gonna install the drivers and tweak the os.

will let you know how is it working.

[itsplayed]

All right!!

I've formated again and installed sp2 with the cd as you say. I had no problem this time! Tomorrow (it is five after midnight here) im gonna install the drivers and tweak the os.

will let you know how is it working.

Glad to hear that your in a "so far, so good" state guanche.....keeping my fingers crossed that the rest of the install goes just as smooth for ya'....cheers!

[guanche]

Ok, the same sh*t again!!!

I've configured everything and everytime i start the laptop some settings are gone!!!

Help!!!!!!!!!

[itsplayed]

Ok, the same sh*t again!!!

I've configured everything and everytime i start the laptop some settings are gone!!!

Help!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like you may have a locked or mandatory user profile.....are you logged on the system as administrator?

If not, try creating a new user account with administrative privileges, then delete your current account or you can modify the Administrators properties to include your current account.

[guanche]

are you logged on the system as administrator?


Yes...!!!!

[itsplayed]

Yes...!!!!

Okay, have you tried to save the theme after making your mods?

[guanche]

Yes, and it doesn't work. The sound scheme also changes.

It's weird because it changes but not everytime i start the laptop. It didn't change anything in the las couple of hours so maybe its fixed (although i don't know how!!).

tomorrow i'll tell you something

Thank you for your help.

[itsplayed]

Yes, and it doesn't work. The sound scheme also changes.

It's weird because it changes but not everytime i start the laptop. It didn't change anything in the las couple of hours so maybe its fixed (although i don't know how!!).

tomorrow i'll tell you something

Thank you for your help.

Your welcome guanche,
Are you running anti-virus software?

[Bops2000]

sounds to me you have a Dell, ....nuff said...to run the laptop install disk prior to installing anything. Thats why I hate 'em they are too propriortary, contact vendor, perhaps an easy fix as opposed to bustin your arse to fix.
i am thinking a direct drive via usb, if you get that far, to boot it, then go from there. I had better results running an xp os from scratch without a win2000 boot, but it is painfull to boot, no pun. even run a fdisk routine from DOS in some laps. I just a hacker with alternatives.
Last resort, ride bike near river, on windy day, and have the wind drop it in the water, call insurance company.

[itsplayed]

Bops brings up a good point.....is this a "recovery disk" install or a regular copy of WinXP OS?
If it's the former, get yourself a real copy of WinXP SP2.....download the latest XP drivers for all your laptop devices and burn to disk first. Install the OS(not recovery) and then load the latest drivers for your devices. Check with manufacturer on what device drivers should be loaded first.....there's usually a procedure.
What's the make/model of the computer?

[guanche]

ride bike near river, on windy day, and have the wind drop it in the water, call insurance company.

That's a good one!!

I didn't install the antivirus yet because i don't see the point, but if you say so, i'm installing it the next thing.

It's a proper winxp cd, not a recovery disk.

About the drivers, yes, maybe i should check for the latest updates, although i don't understand: if it was fine before formating, why the same drivers shouldn't work in the same laptop with the same settings?

It's a HP pavilion zv5000.

i am thinking a direct drive via usb, if you get that far, to boot it, then go from there. I had better results running an xp os from scratch without a win2000 boot, but it is painfull to boot, no pun. even run a fdisk routine from DOS in some laps.

Do you mean to copy the winxp data from the cd to a usb stick and start from there? Otherwise i don't understand you. Probably because english isn't my mother languaje...

Merci guys!!

[itsplayed]

I was only curious about the anti-virus software and if you tried to scan the boot sector. However, have you looked in the device manager for any problems?

[guanche]

However, have you looked in the device manager for any problems?

Yes, and no problem. he he, in a way, it's funny don't you think?

[itsplayed]

Yes, and no problem. he he, in a way, it's funny don't you think?

Well, it's certainly perplexing....I'm getting to the point of recommending a low level format to the drive.
After you installed Windows, did you update the drivers for your graphics and sound card or are you running with the generic drivers from XP for those devices?

[guanche]

No, i'm using the specific drivers.

Anyway, it seems that in the last hours nothing wrong happend si I would say that everything is OK. It's like the pc didn't want to "accept" that is me and not him the one who decides, and finaly he realized that i have the last word. Something like that. Is it possible that my laptop is begining to think by himself?!!!

Yes, me neither, but however, the problem looks solved!!!

Thank you VERY much for your help!!!