[Samantha0101]

If only I backed up more often.
Well, i had a corrupted system file and was told I may be able to recover documents by installing Windows over what I already had - so I did. It now works (but as I'm at university all my program disks are at home), can't do much but at least it's not a black screen of nothingness.

So, question - any way to recover my documents? I was comp admin (as were all other users - but their account was not password protected and their My Docs not hidden from the other users), mine were hidden. On clicking them it says 'Access Denied'.

Also, do I actually have to set up IE? When clicking the IE link for the first time after re-installing Windows it came up with dial up and setting up your modem, I'm going to be using wireless.

In addition, my dad is also having problems with his two systems at home, the one he's working on getting to work is coming up with a blue screen saying something like 'Invalid boot device', I think the same computer can't keep the time either (it's set at January 1998), he said he's tried replacing the ..CMOS battery, is it? But that's made no difference.

Thanks

[Carbon]

Let's figure out the access denied stuff first. When you right click a folder, do you get the option "Sharing and Security"?

If not, follow these steps:

1.Click Start, and then click My Computer.
2.On the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the View tab.
3.In the Advanced Settings section, clear the Use simple file sharing (Recommended) check box
4.Click OK.

Once that is done, right click the folder you want to be accessible, and hit Sharing and Security, then the Security tab. Select your username in the Group or User names list and click "Allow" on Full Control, then OK out of the dialog. It should then be accessible.

You don't have to set up IE, just ignore its prompts. If you want to use it with your wireless, you can tell it you have a internet connection already somewhere in there, I think it'll figure it out if you have the connection set up in Network Connections as well.

Tell your dad to try flashing the CMOS by either moving the jumpers or pressing a button on the motherboard. If that doesn't work, make sure he has the outlet cable unplugged and the power supply off when replacing the battery and that he leaves it out for at least 5-15 minutes to allow the motherboard to "forget" the old settings.

In the future, these problems can usually be fixed more easily by running SFC.EXE /scannow at the Run prompt (Start -> Run), which will scan and fix it if you can get into windows and should be able to do so in the recovery console as well if you can't.

[Samantha0101]

Thanks, I'll try that and report back.
When I got a corrupted file I couldn't get into Windows as it wouldn't boot and I didn't know the admin pass for RC.

[Samantha0101]

Thank you so much!
It worked
You're amazing