NEED URGENT HELP! Windows update messed up my computer!

[Quackzilla]

I installed the latest windows update, restarted my computer, and it will not work.

It boots, goes through the login, I can see my background picture. Then the taskbar at the bottom flashes on screen for a second and disappears.

Nothing will work, it's just the mouse arrow and my desktop picture.

I have rebooted several times, safe mode doesn't help.

Anybody know anything that could help me? This is a very important computer that I use every day, it is my college laptop! It has papers on it, and some important work that I need to finish before the fall semester starts!

HELP! I am panicking!

Oh, yeah, Windows XP, 2 month old thinkpad laptop. Worked perfectly, no spyware, no viruses, and the security is tighter than a virgin asshole.

[Strell]

Can't run system restore while in Safe Mode? I assume you are saying you get the same stuff in Safe mode...no icons or anything.

C-A-D don't let you get into Task Manager?

And do you have a Windows Install and/or Boot CD?

[Quackzilla]

yeah, I have the install CD...

I would hate to have to resort to that, though, because I have some stuff on it that I really don't want to lose...

[Strell]

You could run a repair of Windows though. Or should, if you put it into the computer while inside Windows.

Might be able to do it from boot even....

I haven't done one of those in a while, but it should just reinstall Windows on top of itself exactly without deleting files and things.

But I'll be honest - I dunno. Maybe someone else can correct/confirm me.

[NoRain]

Have you tried the f8 on reboot and do the line by line "start from last known good configuration" option?

[evilmax17]

Latest Windows Update completely messed up my IE. It crashes whenever I load a page. I'm waiting to see if they patch the update in the next few days.

I had to finally download Firefox in the mean time. Bleh.

[NoRain]

You could run a repair of Windows though. Or should, if you put it into the computer while inside Windows.

Might be able to do it from boot even....

I haven't done one of those in a while, but it should just reinstall Windows on top of itself exactly without deleting files and things.

But I'll be honest - I dunno. Maybe someone else can correct/confirm me.

Yep you are right to the best of my knowledge, but I don't make any guarantees on that kind of thing. Generally if you tell it to install and don't tell it to format you keep your files.

[NoRain]

I haven't noticed any issues with the last updates. I however don't use IE, but I do use Avant Browser which is IE based . You might try avant evilmax you might like it better although firefox is much more secure. I use both and like them both pretty well.

[Quackzilla]

yeah.. I used a live cd to boot and copied the necessary files...

Then I booted it from the secure partition and overwrote windows... I am so glad that partition was there, Lenovo rocks!