Do you have the XP Pro disc? (or just an upgrade copy?)
If you have the disc then it should have a utilities menu (if you go into the contents on the disc) and you should be able to format the hard drive. This will erase any copies already on the hard drive and also any data relating to the computer identity/key for the Windows copy.
If not there are plenty of free formatting software programs which can be downloaded by a friend on to a disc and then used to wipe your hard drive. You should then be able to do a clean install from the Windows disc, but all data will be lost and also all software updates you have done, though these can be easily reloaded from Microsoft.
I am assuming your ordinary XP is not a genuine copy (drivers missing) so there is probably an identity key corruption? Not sure if the XP Pro drivers will automatically load XP Home either. I assume you have tried pressing F8 button on start up to try & boot up in Safe mode?

yes i have the pro disc
but stopped half way through loading
now just goes back to where it was loading
saying restarting set up
trying to format disc now

Find out who's tracking you on the web with Collusion (for Firefox)

Firefox plugin reveals the small army stalking you on the web

Is there a way in excel to make it open an embedded hyperlink in Chrome as opposed to IE ?

I think only if your default browser is Chrome.

Yes - sounds obvious really - I'll have a play later - thanks.

Is anyone having problems with Hotmail last few days not opening reading or updating email??

I'm having problems this morning. Web page won't open.

try this, I used and changed to https

http://windowslivehelp.com/thread.aspx?threadid=c9b2e755-590e-4d7f-89d5-c3753b65f41d

Thanks Rich. Working OK now but I'll keep a note of the link.

I downloaded some stuff, all of which is in RAR file status, I have downloaded several
bits of software which allegedly will open an RAR file=NOPE!!!!

HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Most of the software that opens .zip files will unPACK .rar files. there are lots of such apps. try 7-Zip

It's FREE.

http://www.7-zip.org/

High compression ratio in 7z format with LZMA and LZMA2 compression
Supported formats:
Packing / unpacking: 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM
Unpacking only: ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, CramFS, DEB, DMG, FAT, HFS, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MBR, MSI, NSIS, NTFS, RAR, RPM, SquashFS, UDF, VHD, WIM, XAR and Z.
For ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip
Strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats
Self-extracting capability for 7z format
Integration with Windows Shell
Powerful File Manager
Powerful command line version
Plugin for FAR Manager
Localizations for 79 languages

Ah cheers Haystack works a treat

thanks!

I seem to have a Trojan infection (JS/IframeRef). It pops up 3 or 4 times a day when Microsoft Essentials say it has suspended it, then I take the option to remove and ME says it has been removed. I also have Threatfire which occasionally picks it up and removes. AVG my other antivirus has not seen it so far. Any ideas on how best to permanently remove it?
It also comes up when I try to reload my AOL software which disappeared for some reason, leaving the links but nothing else. Once ME removes it, a message then says I haven't sufficient hard disk space to load the software, despite the fact that I have 15GB free. Appreciate any helpful advice,

thanks H

I think that's a generic detection of a Javascript 'exploit' which is embedded in a web page. It could be a site that has been hacked without the owners knowledge. The exploit can be used to deliver malware.. Your AV software is presumably picking up the exploit and stopping the browser from running the malicious script. But every time you go back to the infected page, it will probably show the warning again.

If you think your PC has a trojan then I'd suggest running Malwarebytes (the free version not the paid for version) as it's pretty good at removing spyware/trojan's that some other program can't. Make sure to update definitions before running the scan. If it's a really difficult one then the people at the Bleeping Computer forums really know their stuff, but bear in mind individual assistance is not immediate, it can take about a week for them to help.

As a side note running more than one anti virus program (i.e. MSE and AVG) at the same down will slow your PC down and will probably make it less secure. I'd suggest removing AVG.

A good defence against this sort of thing is to use Firefox with the Noscript plugin.

Theres another good trojen remover call "A squared " which might also deal with the problem, also if it has a name, google it and you can usually find a remedy for removal.,.

Thanks both for your help, I have removed AVG. The malware software didn't work. I have googled it and it seems the Trojan can reside in Java. This seems to be my case, as when I open any website needing java I get the warning. I will remove java and reinstall it as per google advice later today and let you know if that works. Again help much appreciated. H

Can anyone recommend a decent photo-printer that is economical to run? I have a Canon MG6150 photoprinter but it is turning out to be horrendously expensive to run. We can't seem to be get through more than 10-15 A4 sheets of art work (son's college work) without most of the cartridges running out. And those cartridges are b***dy expensive (despite ordering them from justinkandpaper)!

klal

I have an Epsom which uses 4 cartridges. Three primary and 1 black.
I get my compatibles from internet-ink.co.uk.
Used them for over a year.Never any trouble,fast delivery
and they are about half the price.
edit
They also have about twice the ink.

klal,as i understand it Kodak printers are the cheapest printer to run ink cartridge wise i think both the black and colour ones together are only about £20 and rather than have many differant variations of cartridge they just have one size across all the printer range.