General Computer Suckfest

Basically my room mates younger sister has completely screwed up her computer. Don't know what she did, but for some reason I can't install, open simple things like "regedit" or even move/rename files. It's a Sony desktop with Vista OS. No she doesn't have any anti-virus so I can't even scan for viruses >_>

Can't run system restore either. I am seriously baffled at how messed up this seems to be right now...

Um, did she delete her system32?

No. Turns out her dad has some outside backup company that he pays for. He's going to give it a try, but I suspect that it won't work. Every little thing that I try to do lags the computer to all hell and prevents me from doing anything else without opening whatever it was that I am trying to open.

Boot into Safe Mode

can you copy files?
if so, backup the files they want to a clean flash drive, scan it with other computer with up-to-date anti-virus.
then if they still keep the system-restore CD, use it

depends on how familiar you can handle these situation, I found Hiren's Boot CD quite useful

My advise:
- Plug the broken PC's harddisk into a working PC.
- Back-up (copy) all documents / photo's / music / emails / favorites / etc on the working PC's harddisk.
- Put the harddisk back into the "broken PC".
- Re-partition / Re-format the broken PC's harddisk.
- Fully re-install Windows.
- After Windows is fully installed, copy back the docs/photo's/music/emails/favs/etc back onto the "broken PC" with an USB stick.

Really, if Windows is that broken that it can't copy files, don't try to repair it...

Btw, Good free virus scanner: http://free.avg.com (but this time a virus scanner won't fix anything...)

Good Luck!

Putting in the recovery disks does nothing because I'm unable to even launch the disks...booting into safe mode is going to do what for me? I have general computer knowledge, but not enough to be able to fix this problem through it. Can you be a little bit more descriptive, please?

Putting in the recovery disks does nothing because I'm unable to even launch the disks...booting into safe mode is going to do what for me? I have general computer knowledge, but not enough to be able to fix this problem through it. Can you be a little bit more descriptive, please?

Users who may not be able to boot into normal mode, or are not able to troubleshoot their computer properly, may need to boot into Safe Mode bypassing normal windows settings and startup programs and allowing the user to fix their computer.

It's just another attempt.

Basically my room mates younger sister has completely screwed up her computer. Don't know what she did, but for some reason I can't install, open simple things like "regedit" or even move/rename files. It's a Sony desktop with Vista OS. No she doesn't have any anti-virus so I can't even scan for viruses >_>

Can't run system restore either. I am seriously baffled at how messed up this seems to be right now...

Okay to clear up what you said please check these

Does the Computer start

Does the Computer boot normally

Can the Computer Access the Internet

Can you do a System Restore

If you cannot install programs, i suggest you try using portable programs that do not require installation
(like...go to your computer and download a portable version of some virus detection and removal programs, "Install" them and put them onto a flash drive)
[SIZE="1"]By install i mean unzip, they just call it install[/SIZE]

I have not used these programs but i trust the website and their programs they list
http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/s...r_portable "advanced spyware detection and removal tool"
http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/clamwin_portable "antivirus to go"

Okay to clear up what you said please check these

Does the Computer start
- Yes, however it loads abnormally slow.

Does the Computer boot normally
- Minus the speed, yes.

Can the Computer Access the Internet
- Yes.

Can you do a System Restore
- Nope. I click on it and nothing pops up. When I try it again it tells me the process is already running.

If you cannot install programs, i suggest you try using portable programs that do not require installation
(like...go to your computer and download a portable version of some virus detection and removal programs, "Install" them and put them onto a flash drive)
[SIZE="1"]By install i mean unzip, they just call it install[/SIZE]

I have not used these programs but i trust the website and their programs they list
http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/s...r_portable "advanced spyware detection and removal tool"
http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/clamwin_portable "antivirus to go"

Answers to your questions are in bold.

I'll give the virus protections a go tomorrow if he doesn't just take the computer in. I did load the computer in Safe Mode with no difficulties. However, when I restarted it did nothing to help fix the current problem(s). Any other suggestions?

most of the recovery disc are bootable
put it into the CD rom, restart the computer will kick it into the recover mode, and all old data will be destroyed
u may need to set the boot sequence in the BIOS on starting the computer

(I recommend using safe mode with networking so you can open a browser and search for information if necessary.)
Did you try booting into Safe Mode and then running System Restore?

If that's still a no-go, the next basic step is probably: http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/msconfig_vista.html
Everything in Startup is probably safe to disable -- they won't be system critical.

For Services, you should exit msconfig and run services.msc. The list here: ( http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/servicecfg.htm ) shows the necessary services for Vista.