laptop help

[MrBen5]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Ques tion542410.html

how come noone has answered my Q yet? :(

[The Builder]

Try a System Restore to a date before you tried anything unusual :o)

[MrBen5]

A system restore?
Doesnt that take a long time and remove other stuff?

[The Builder]

Usually only a couple of minutes or so..................none of you files are affected.....................useful if you've installed something, don't like it, and have uninstalled it............the Restore reverses any alterations or demands on the system from the unwanted program..........

[Buenchico]

Possibly because your question refers to dynamic link library (dll) files which nobody has ever heard of.

Normally, when an error message displays a problem with a dll file, it's because the file has become corrupted. The usual solution is to simply download the relevant file and to replace the 'duff' file with the new version. Almost every dll file that's ever existed can be quickly tracked down by a simple Google search. However, Google returns absolutely no results (except for your own question) when searching for the two files you've mentioned.

Similarly, searching for the name of a virus on Google usually throws up hundreds of results. It can take hours to find the right one that offers a useful solution but it's normally there if you look hard enough. However, Google can find no references to PHolmes572. So there's definitely something very odd going on on your laptop.

Try booting your laptop up into Safe Mode. (On most computers, holding down the Ctrl key during the boot up process allows you to access Safe Mode. Sometimes you have to press F8 instead). Then run a virus scan to try to shift the problem. However, I've got a horrid feeling that there's already some nasty damage to your registry. (i.e. additional registry keys have been added, causing your laptop to look for non-existent dll files). In which case, trying running System Restore to go back to a date before the problem appeared. Then disable System Restore while running another virus scan, and then switch System Restore back on).

I freely admit that my answer is 'fumbling in the dark' but something might work. If not, you'll probably need to try an 'on top' reinstallation of Windows. If that doesn't work, it could be time to reformat the drive and do a full reinstall of Windows.

Chris

[MrBen5]

I dont recall installing anything apart from trying to install IE7 a couple of weeks ago.
Is there any way i can fix it without doing a restore?

[Buenchico]

The Builder (and yourself) were posting while I was composing my post. System Restore is perfectly safe. It doesn't remove any data. (Your documents, pictures, emails, etc won't be affected). However, it effectively uninstalls any software you've added since the date you go back to; you simply need to install any such new software again.

Chris

[MrBen5]

Oh no, that sounds bad Buenchino :(
Do i need them dll things?
Its working fine without them.

That Pholmes thing has gone now. I ran that superantispyware and it looks like its got rid of it.
cheers

[MrBen5]

Ok, without sounding thick, how do i do a restore and how do i know what date to go back to?

[Buenchico]

The route to System Restore might vary slightly between operating systems. I'm still using Millennium and the route is:
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore.
You should find it somewhere fairly similar to that with XP and Vista. (If you can't find it, just go to Start > Help and type 'System Restore' in the search box. That should give you a link to System Restore).

Choosing a date? Well, only you knows how long you've had the problem. System Restore will offer you a choice of dates when Windows created a restore point. Simply go far enough back to ensure that you've chosen a date before the problems first occurred.

Chris

[MrBen5]

cheers Chris, i will try it out tomorrow.
i dont really wanna do it now incase summat goes wrong, and then i will be bored all night as i am staying in :(