|[...]About 6 months ago, upon [loading Windoze],
|I started getting [error] messages[...]
|I didn't know how to fix it, and didn't have alot of time to, so i laid it off.
| John

Dear fellow procratinator,  8-)

|ON JANUARY 1st[...]I[...]was asked for the windows registration code.
|From then on[...]It always does this when it [loads Windoze]:
|[. . .]the only thing apparent is my desktop background picture. Thats it.
|
|I searched the internet for solutions, but tried everything I found.
|
The smart thing to do is pull the old HDD
then buy another HDD[1] and install the OS on it.
Mount the old drive as a slave and BACK UP YOUR DATA TO EXTERNAL MEDIA.

DO NOT transfer any non-data files (read: executables)
until you have scanned them with a RECENTLY updated virus killer and spyware killer.

I also recommend a *second* scan using an online scanner.

DO NOT **RUN** any executables from this suspect drive until scanned either.

I suspect either an infection or a HDD on its last legs.

A surface scan of the old HDD (Scandisk; Thorough)
will indicate if the media (oxide layer) is kaput.
I'd start this before going to bed; it takes a LONG time.


[1] Don't go crazy on the size.  Look for Windows 98 on the box.

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