eli wrote:
> Hi again ,Dave:
>
> Thanks for your detailed post.
>
> I did run the Zone Alarm Removal Tool you referenced whenever I
> uninstalled Zone Alarm Secuirty Suite from the system.
>
> Yes, there were some issues with SR from the time I upgraded to ZASS
> 9.1 , which is why I downgraded back to ZASS 7.0. But restore points
> to before that upgrade were purged by me.
Oops! That was the best way to get out of this loop! That was a mistake
to do this, but what's done is done!
If you really want to cover yourself in the future, you need to
regularly image your hard drive. Then if you get yourself in a similar
pickle in the future, all you would need to do is restore the image. I
prefer Acronis True Image. There are free imaging programs, too,
including DriveImageXML. ATI's strong points are that it allows
incremental imaging as well as the ability to make a clone of the hard
drive.
> My Zone Alarm subscription
> runs out in a month or so anyhow, so perhaps it'stime for a change.
> Of course I'd always run that removal tool for uninstaling ZA
>
> Two questions come to mind at this point:
>
> 1) I'm thinking of trying Trend Micro Internet Security's fee trial
> offer. Would you happen to know if that security system works well
> with system restore. assuming I continue to not be able to run system
> Restore in Safe Mode. Would you happen to know if Trend Micro
> security would allow it in Normal Mode?
I can't recommend this suite. Actually, most people in the know
recommend against *all* suites.
Furthermore, why spend money? Yes, it's a trial offer now, but
eventually you will need to purchase it if you want to keep using it.
There are excellent *free* anti-malware programs. And like I said
earlier, the Windows Firewall is just fine. I would reconsider if I were
you.
> 2) Is there a way I can run the SFC you mention without the Windows
> XP disk. I did try to run it, but it asked for the Windows xP disk.
> There are some defective sectors on that disk, and I fear it doesnt
> read properly. Also many of those system files had been altered by
> windows updates and SP3. The Windows disk goes back to 2001. Since
> the essential system files are all on the PC anyhow [i386?], it would
> seem there should be a way to run System File Check so that
> missing/corrupted files are replaced by ones already installed. Is
> there a fix by which I can run that SFC against essential system
> files already installed in that folder and NOT against the disk?
You have the right idea. You need to change the registry entry that is
pointing toward the CD-ROM drive and change it to C:. More info here:
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html
I would make a copy of your XP installation CD. Actually, you might as
well use the "slipstream" method and integrate SP3 into it. This would
be essential for both Clean and Repair Installs. If you need guidance,
start a new thread.
If you do wind up needing to perform a Repair Install, start a thread
for that, too, because there are some precautions you must take before
doing so (involving IE and perhaps WMP).
In the future, don't purge your recent Restore Points if they are still
good!!! They are there for a reason!
> Thanks in advance:
YW.
> -Eli
>
> ****************************************************
>
>
> "Daave" wrote in message
> news:et1wywUuKHA.3896@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Which Restore Point did you select? It is important to pick a point
>> that is before the time you started experiencing this problem.
>>
>> My hunch is that your Zone Alarm suite was responsible for the
>> problem initially. Furthermore, uninstalling version 9.1 and
>> installing 7.0 might have introduced another layer of complication
>> (especially if you hadn't run the special removal tool first). My
>> recommendation is to uninstall 7.0 (while physically disconnected to
>> the Internet) and then enable the Windows Firewall. Plug back in and
>> download and run the Zone Alarm Removal Tool (this page contains a
>> direct link to the tool at the zonealarm.com Web site):
>>
>> http://www.technibble.com/zone-alarm-removal-tool-repair-tool-of-the-week/
>>
>> Furthermore, I would never place ZA back on your PC! It's more
>> trouble than it's worth IMO. In its place, continue to use the
>> Windows Firewall, which is really all you need for a firewall
>> (outgoing protection is highly overrated; if something nasty made it
>> in in the first place, it very well can disable outgoing monitoring
>> and blocking!). Also use Avira AntiVir for your real-time AV
>> program, which is highly rated, light on resources, and free *and*
>> MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware and SUPERAntiSpyware (both free) for your
>> non-viral antimalware needs. You will be happy with that
>> combination, guaranteed. And you'll never have issues with System
>> Restore again. 
If removing ZA totally doesn't fix the broken
>> system, you might need
>> to run SFC or even a Repair Install. (I hope that's not necessary.)
>>
>> Once everything is working to your satisfaction, turn off SR and
>> then turn it back on again in order to delete all the old
>> problematic restore points. Good luck.
>>
>>
>> eli wrote:
>>> Hi again, david:
>>>
>>> The command prompt:
>>>
>>> %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
>>>
>>> in "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" merely brings up the the exact
>>> same System Restore program and user interface in Safe Mode which
>>> yesterday [Saturday] caused me to "get trapped" in Safe Mode. The PC
>>> didnt reboot at all, and when I "forced" it to , I was told Windows
>>> couldnt load properly-due to some hardware or software change-- and
>>> the only option on that screen was Safe Mode again..
>>>
>>> Not sure how or if I'll get out of Safe Mode this time if the same
>>> expected result ensues.
>>>
>>> I've tried installing n uninstalling minor programs in Safe Mode,
>>> just to see if the same might happen. It went fine , and I could
>>> reboot into Normal Mode smoothly.
>>>
>>> So thus far, it appears that System Restore is the only operation
>>> which causes this baffling cycle of entrapment" in the Safe Mode
>>>
>>> -Eli
>>>
>>> ============================================
>>>
>>>
>>> "Daave" wrote in message
>>> news:ux$xYDPuKHA.5036@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>> Try running it in Safe Mode with Command Prompt:
>>>>
>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449
>>>>
>>>> eli wrote:
>>>>> Hi Dave
>>>>>
>>>>> I had completely uninstalled the most recent version of Zone
>>>>> Alarm Security 9.1, which only allowed SR in Safe Mode,
>>>>> and reverted back to the ealier version : Version: 7.0. last week
>>>>>
>>>>> That earlier version did seem to work with SR in both Safe Mode
>>>>> and Normal Mode unitl I ran that SR "TEST" yesterday. It's then I
>>>>> found that running it in Safe Mode makes it very complicated to
>>>>> get back to Normal Mode.
>>>>> -Eli
>>>>>
>>>>> ********************************************
>>>>>
>>>>> "Daave" wrote in message
>>>>> news:%23XjnZHOuKHA.4220@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> eli wrote:
>>>>>>> Hello:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When I ran system restore in Safe Mode, the restore operation
>>>>>>> took way longer than usual. Ipon reboot, the PC shut down, but
>>>>>>> didnt restart. When I manually shut it and restarted, it was in
>>>>>>> safe Mode again.
>>>>>>> Notice that Windows couldnt laod properly due to change in
>>>>>>> hardware or software. The only way I was able to get out of Safe
>>>>>>> Mode was to run System Restore yet again to an ealier period.
>>>>>>> About a day back. I tried this again, to see if it was still a
>>>>>>> problem. The same
>>>>>>> series of events happened.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So it seems I can now go into Safe Mode and reboot inot normal
>>>>>>> Mode as long as I dont do a system restore while in Safe Mode. I
>>>>>>> can run System Restore in Normal mode without a problem. But if
>>>>>>> I run it in Safe Mode, it doesnt restart properly.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> What might be causing this. and how to remedy it?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thanks in advance:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> -Eli
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Windows XP Professional Edition SP3
>>>>>>> Zone Alarm Security Suite
>>>>>>> Dell Optiplex GX 260
>>>>>>
>>>>>> You didn't mention if you had uninstalled Zone Alarm. (I assume
>>>>>> you didn't.) This page might help:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html