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Thread ID: 20576	2002-06-08 04:25:00	Can't end programs with ctrl+alt+del anymore!	Guest (0)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
53117	2002-06-08 04:25:00	Hi all. I am using a fairly old (by today's standards) computer - a P133 with 32M of RAM. It's been fine since I got it in about 1996, but over the past couple of months when a program locks up - as they are wont to do in Win95 - I can't seem to 'end task' when I press crtl alt del. It used to work fine, but now when I press ctrl alt del and highlight a program and 'end task', the computer totally freezes. Even the Start button won't work. If I press alt/tab, I can bring up the program changing thing, but it has no effect. Someone told me it might be a registry thing? Is there anything I can to do to remedy the situation? It's getting really annoying having to reset the whole machine when a program locks. Thanks N	Guest (0)
53118	2002-06-08 09:15:00	Hi Neuromacer, How long is it since you did a complete reinstall of Windows? It certainly sounds like it is due for it :-)Doing a clean reinstall can work wonders for inexplicable problems like this. Possibly reinstalling over the existing installation may fix the problem, but if it's been some time since the last install I would wipe the existing c:\Windows and start fresh. Cheers, Rod.	Guest (0)
53119	2002-06-08 10:38:00	Hi Rod, thanks for your answer. Um, actually, I have NEVER reinstalled Windows again. I didn't know it was something I was supposed to do? I wouldn't have any idea how to go about it, and I'd be afraid of losing stuff I could never get back - I don't have a Zip drive or anything to back stuff up with. I can just overwrite Windows and keep all my stuff? Neuromancer.	Guest (0)
53120	2002-06-08 22:02:00	Hello Neuromacer, A bit of a cleanup of old files might help you can clean the contents of your temp. folder, also cookies, temporary internet folder and history. Run scandisk to check for errors also. cheers, Bob	Guest (0)
53121	2002-06-09 00:35:00	Thanks. Yes, I do regularly clean the temp files, and I have IE set to automatically empty the cache when I close it. I also have AdSubtract, and clean up the cookies with it. I do have a lot of stuff on the drive, but ctrl alt del has always worked before. N	Guest (0)
53122	2002-06-09 05:27:00	Hi Neuromacer, I can definitely recommend reinstalling Windows to fix this problem. I find a reinstall every 6 to 12 months works wonders. You could try doing a reinstall over the current installation and this MAY cure the problem you describe. You won't have to reinstall your applications in this case, and your data should be OK. If you do a clean install you will have to reinstall all your applications, I'm afraid. Check out this web page which has detailed step-by-step instructions: www.hexff.com It would be a good idea to print it out before you begin the process. Also to create a bootable floppy disk that has CD-Rom support see this page: freepctech.com Choose the 'Windows 98 & 98SE' option (that will give you CD-Rom support from the DOS prompt). It isn't always necessary to wipe the hard drive by running FDISK and FORMAT. That will mean your data will remain intact, although backing up your data is a VERY good idea in any case. If you have plenty of hard drive space you could try booting from the floppy disk, renaming c:\windows to c:\winold and install Windows in a new folder c:\windows. That way any driver files, etc, you can't find elsewhere will be available, and your data will be intact. Hope this helps, Rod.	Guest (0)
53123	2002-06-09 05:36:00	Hi again Neuromacer, This is a very good explanation and step-by-step guide to reinstallation too: freepctech.com Cheers, Rod J.	Guest (0)
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