XP Problem (desktop, hard drive, sounds, work)

[DanBev]

Quite some time ago I asked for help and got laughed at.My computer tech could not figure the problem out. Start XP computer than I have to operate control,alt,delete brings up "Window Task Manager"Which is blank click end task I can now operate computer for day. When computer is turned on in morning and you try to operate ichon it would be highlighted and inoperable you have to follow above procedure to make operable. Still good for a laugh.

[Brian.Pearson]

I'm a kind of idea guy, but nothing like the geeks on this board. I was wondering if there's some way you or someone might have accidentally hit the 'lock workstation' button, without putting a password in. If that couldn't be it than I'm sure somebody will shoot it down. I just had a hunch it has something to do with the lock.

[themaster]

Sounds in a way like a badly setup network "client" machine.. and it sounds like the tech is a moron.. there are plenty of them in the computer business I should know I end up cleaning up after a few of e'm

[Radek]

DanBev,

Does the problem exist in safe mode?

[PCDiagDoc]

Try Last Known Good Configuration before the safe mode.

When PC boots, pressing the "F8" to get to the boot menu, then select Last Known Good Configuration and hit enter till PC continue boots.

If already run the safe mode, Last Known Good Configuration will not help.
Hope this helps!

[NHDave]

Originally Posted by themaster

Sounds in a way like a badly setup network "client" machine.. and it sounds like the tech is a moron.. there are plenty of them in the computer business I should know I end up cleaning up after a few of e'm

Ain't that the truth. I had a customer come in wanting a second opinion from the geek squad, he said they told the the laser in his hard drive was bad

[Radek]

Originally Posted by NHDave

Ain't that the truth. I had a customer come in wanting a second opinion from the geek squad, he said they told the the laser in his hard drive was bad

As horrible as these stories are, and as much as I love ragging on Best Buy, FireDog, etc...

I've known not a small amount of these stories to occur because the customer just does not understand what's being said, or gets terms mixed up, etc. That being said, GeekSquad is woefully incompetent.

[themaster]

Geeksquad is just bestbuy employee's.. and we all know there woefully inadequate.. there problem for everything is let's put in the restore disk.. what's funny is if that's always the case the user could have done that themselves..

But yes, customers understanding computers or computer talk is a problem too

[Arcane]

That's an interesting issue. To get this straight, you:
1. boot into a blank desktop
2. Pull up Task Manager which is blank
3. You click End Task (which means you'd be on the Applications tab)
4. Your desktop appears.

You or someone should start by finding out what is in the startup, like msconfig. Could be anything from Explorer.exe having issues or spyware or bad registry entries under the startup keys.