Computer Help!

[InspectorExstead]

I need some major help with my laptop. It's been acting up lately because it has a virus. For a month, every time I turned it on, I would see the desktop but nothing else-no icons, no start up menu.
This week, I turned it on and everything was back. I don't know how.
I was attempting to download some anti-spyware cd onto it yesterday and it froze for over an hour. The only thing I could think of doing was turning it off. But since I couldn't access the shut down button, I just turned it off using the power button.
Now...when I turn it on it says:
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
system23\DRIVERS\isapnp.sys

You can attempt to repair this file by starting Windows Setup using the original Setup CD-ROM.
Select 'r' at the first screen to start repair.

I selected 'r' and the same screen comes up.
What happened? What do I do now? And...is there any way I can do this WITHOUT losing all of my pictures on my laptop?

If anyone can help me out, I'd GREATLY appreciate it! I don't know anything about computers and I don't know if this something I can fix on my own, without losing my files, or if I need to maybe take it into Best Buy.
Help!

[robyrob]

do NOT take it to Best Buy.


try to get to the recovery console and replace the file:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315311

Windows XP
To replace the Isapnp.sys file in Windows XP, follow these steps:

1. Start the computer from the Windows XP CD-ROM.
2. At the Welcome to Setup screen, press R to start Recovery Console.
3. If you have a dual-boot or a multiple-boot computer, type the number that corresponds to your Windows XP installation when you are prompted to select the Windows installation to log on to, and then press ENTER.
4. When you are prompted for the Administrator password, type the password, and then press ENTER.

Note If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
5. At the C:\Windows prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
ren c:\windows\system32\drivers\isapnp.sys isapnp.old
Note The steps in this article assume that you installed Windows XP to the C: drive. The actual location of your Windows installation may vary.
6. At the C:\Windows prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
expand cd-romdrive:\i386\isapnp.sy_ c:\windows\system32\drivers\isapnp.sys
For example, type:
expand d:\i386\isapnp.sy_ c:\windows\system32\drivers
7. After the file is successfully expanded, type exit, and then press ENTER to exit Recovery Console.
8. Restart the computer.


if that doesn't work try to perform a Repair Installation of XP (http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm)(assuming you are using XP of course)


for the spyware/virus reboot into Safemode and scan with your antivirus and antispyware programs there, then reboot into normal mode and post a HijackThis! log

[InspectorExstead]

ah, THANK YOU!!
do you know if i will lose my files though? that's my only concern.

[robyrob]

following those instructions you will not lose any files - I can't promise those fixes will work for sure, but they will not destroy any data.

worst case scenario you could boot to a Linux live cd and copy data over, or take it to anyone other than Best Buy to get the files off of it and then recover the operating system.

[InspectorExstead]

got it. why not best buy though? is it because of their prices?
again, THANKS SO MUCH!
i'm in the process of trying to find the cd-rom so i can get the process going.

[robyrob]

Best Buy will charge you $75 to "look" at it - which translates to them leaving it on their shelf for about a week and if you call back to check on it they will probably charge you extra to wipe the drive do a recovery and tell you they couldn't save your files.

[InspectorExstead]

i can't find my start up cd! a friend of mine who works with computers is supposed to come look at it sometime this weekend/week. so hopefully it is fixable.
thanks robyrob. i will definitely steer clear of best buy. lol.

[Waterston_Fan]

Yeah. Usually a friend is the best one especially if they are really good at computers.

My mom's friend moved back to town and he is really good with computers and I hope I can save some money if I need him to check it.

Oh, and yes, I did take the computer to best buy once to check a rattling noise I had... bad idea...

One time I took my computer to a I guess it was a private company or something to get it looked at and they were good and quick since my computer had a virus.

Then I took it to the place again because it was rebooting and stuff. Well, I think they were only good for viruses because they had my computer for a month and still couldn't' figure it out. My mom asked a co worker of hers for some ideas as to a computer place and he offered to look at it which he did and found a part for my computer which was a motherboard went bad.