I am using a lenovo PC. Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit service pack 2. 4GB DDR3 RAM. My computer is messed up. The speed is much much slower. The theme WAS windows vista aero, but it is now the classic windows theme. There are only 2 items in the desktop (recycle bin and network magic folder) When I start my computer and get to the desktop I get this error message "Location Not Available C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on this computer, or on a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted or that you are connected to the internet or your network, and then try again. If it still can not be located the information might have been moved to a different location." I can not do system restore because every time I try I get the message "There are no backups on this computer".(I had backups yesterday, but now it says I do not) For almost any program I try to run it says "the dependency or service group failed to start". I can get my computer into safe mode and the programs do work there. I was not able to do a system restore during safe mode either. I ran a full system scan with Norton 360 during safe mode but it only found tracking cookies and I removed them. That is what is happening to me right now. What happened right before this happened is the following: I wanted to use my PS3 controller for my PC so I downloaded this program from the link provided: "http://www.motioninjoy.com/download" I downloaded the "Version 0.4.0002" "64bits Windows vista,Windows 7: site 1". Then I followed the steps on this site : "http://www.motioninjoy.com/help/sixaxis-dualshock-3-driver-install-instructions" . Apparently this was some type of driver which I clicked OK to when windows asked me if I wanted to install it. I got to step 6. So what I was supposed to do was restart my computer and press F8 to get to the startup thing screen. Also something you should know, I downloaded windows updates and I needed to restart for them to take effect, so the updates were applied during this restart. Then as it said in the instructions I chose the "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" option. As it was showing me the "welcome" screen it also said that the updates were taking effect. As my computer took me to my desktop, I noticed the problems. All the problems listed above are what was happening. I could not even access event viewer. I could open up Norton 360 from the little part of the taskbar at the bottom right of the screen. I did a diagnostic and it said that my CPU speed was very slow and I should consider upgrading to a new one(it never said this before) Also it said that the number of logical CPU's active was 4. It was after this that I rebooted in safe mode and changed the start bar so I could access the "Run" and the administrative options part of the computer. This also was the time when I ran the norton 360 scan. I also removed "motionjoy" ( the program I was in the process of installing). I am not sure if by removing it via control panel it also removed the driver I installed with it. I also ran "regcure" and it fixed about 390 things (this is normal). Then I restarted my computer on normal mode and all my desktop icons which I had before were now there. Also the "run" and administrative options were now on my "start bar". I am still unable to use programs and keep on getting the "the dependency or service group failed to start" error. Also since this problem started I have had no internet connection to my computer but the wireless still works around my house. Now, I do not receive the error message "Location Not Available C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on this computer, or on a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted or that you are connected to the internet or your network, and then try again. If it still can not be located the information might have been moved to a different location" when I start up my computer. I am still unable to use programs.
Please help, If any information is needed just post. Thank you in advance for all your help.
Is there any chance that this problem is due to a virus or some kind of malware? And is there any idea you can give me to try to resolve this problem? I will talk to lenovo support too.
I am using a lenovo PC. Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit service pack 2. 4GB DDR3 RAM. My computer is messed up. The speed is much much slower. The theme WAS windows vista aero, but it is now the classic windows theme. There are only 2 items in the desktop (recycle bin and network magic folder) When I start my computer and get to the desktop I get this error message "Location Not Available C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on this computer, or on a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted or that you are connected to the internet or your network, and then try again. If it still can not be located the information might have been moved to a different location." I can not do system restore because every time I try I get the message "There are no backups on this computer".(I had backups yesterday, but now it says I do not) For almost any program I try to run it says "the dependency or service group failed to start". I can get my computer into safe mode and the programs do work there. I was not able to do a system restore during safe mode either. I ran a full system scan with Norton 360 during safe mode but it only found tracking cookies and I removed them. That is what is happening to me right now. What happened right before this happened is the following: I wanted to use my PS3 controller for my PC so I downloaded this program from the link provided: "http://www.motioninjoy.com/download" I downloaded the "Version 0.4.0002" "64bits Windows vista,Windows 7: site 1". Then I followed the steps on this site : "http://www.motioninjoy.com/help/sixaxis-dualshock-3-driver-install-instructions" . Apparently this was some type of driver which I clicked OK to when windows asked me if I wanted to install it. I got to step 6. So what I was supposed to do was restart my computer and press F8 to get to the startup thing screen. Also something you should know, I downloaded windows updates and I needed to restart for them to take effect, so the updates were applied during this restart. Then as it said in the instructions I chose the "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" option. As it was showing me the "welcome" screen it also said that the updates were taking effect. As my computer took me to my desktop, I noticed the problems. All the problems listed above are what was happening. I could not even access event viewer. I could open up Norton 360 from the little part of the taskbar at the bottom right of the screen. I did a diagnostic and it said that my CPU speed was very slow and I should consider upgrading to a new one(it never said this before) Also it said that the number of logical CPU's active was 4. It was after this that I rebooted in safe mode and changed the start bar so I could access the "Run" and the administrative options part of the computer. This also was the time when I ran the norton 360 scan. I also removed "motionjoy" ( the program I was in the process of installing). I am not sure if by removing it via control panel it also removed the driver I installed with it. I also ran "regcure" and it fixed about 390 things (this is normal). Then I restarted my computer on normal mode and all my desktop icons which I had before were now there. Also the "run" and administrative options were now on my "start bar". I am still unable to use programs and keep on getting the "the dependency or service group failed to start" error. Also since this problem started I have had no internet connection to my computer but the wireless still works around my house. Now, I do not receive the error message "Location Not Available C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on this computer, or on a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted or that you are connected to the internet or your network, and then try again. If it still can not be located the information might have been moved to a different location" when I start up my computer. I am still unable to use programs.
Please help, If any information is needed just post. Thank you in advance for all your help.
Hi snipes1988:
I'm thinking it is more likely to be related to the 390 errors in the registry. That should not be normal. Any registry cleaner can be harmful if allowed to think on its own. If you can get to one of the backups it made before the latest installations, it may be helpful.
Lenovo might suggest running some diagnostics on the hard drive. It sounds as though it has lost some crucial parts of data.
Try this First as it's easier then the one below,
Go to "C:\Users\[Yours]" and right click on the Desktop folder and choose Properties. On the Location tab, click on Restore Default.
Then go to "C:\Users\Public" and do the same Proceedure for the (hidden) Public Desktop folder.
Restart the PC, Work??
OR
Go into "C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile" See if there is a "Desktop" folder??
If not go into your user folder "right click" on the desktop folder and "copy"
Paste the folder into "C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\" So once copied you have a path of "C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop" ,
During the copying a message may ask whether to overwrite "desktop.ini" as there is a newer version make sure you overwrite this to the older one.
Reboot the PC.
It can Also be done by just creating a new Folder called "Desktop" that is empty in the "systemprofile" Folder, if NO "desktop" folder exists, but a lot of programs may have to be reinstalled after.
Quads
Thank you for your reply. Should I start the computer in safe mode and use the backup?
And Quads I tried doing what you recommended but no luck. When I went to the folder's property's and then to location, it did not have a "restore default" option. And I could not access the "systemprofile" because I did not have permission even though I am the computer Administrator. Should I try doing this in safe mode?
You can change folder permissions in Safe Mode, To give yourself rights to that folder.
Sound similar http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1533568
Quads
I was able to go into safe mode and replace the file in the systemprofile with the one in my user. At this time I also used my regcure backups and I restored all the changes they had made. Then I restarted my computer normally but when it came to the desktop, I got this error message "Location is not available C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop is not accessible. Access is Denied.
I also checked out that link you gave me, it is very similar to my situation. Except I am able to access control panel in normal mode. In safe mode I still can not use system restore because it says no restore points have been found.
Also, I have a windows vista CD. Is there a way I can use that to fix this problem. If yes, then please give me step by step instructions.
Thank you
You have to change the permissions for folders to give your account permission, Not the admin account, and settings given in Safe Mode, if logged into the Admin account
Quads
In safe mode I made it so that I had full control over the file. Not just the administrator account, but also these other ones too. But when I tried without safe mode It still said I do not have permission. I am not sure if I am doing it exactly like how you mean. If you could tell me exactly step by step what to do then it may work.
The Windows Updates, and / or the program installed and / or the registry cleaner looks like has corrupted the user account
Do you have System Restore points available in Safe Mode, and logged into the Admin account??
Quads
I know that I have system restore points, but windows says I do not. Or they somehow may have been deleted. But I know I had them 2 days ago. And I am not able to create a new user. Not even in SafeMode. It seems like all the options which have the shield symbol on them (the ones that need UAC confirmation) are not working. Are there other ways to create new users? Are there other ways to fix this problem? And will that windows vista CD do anything?
The problem is Fixed! I used the Recovery CD and it all got fixed. Thank you for your time and help. And especially Quads, Thank you for the help!
No Problem, I was thinking of other things and gulp, how much typing would be needed.
Like
a) Use the Vista Recovery Disc to use the System Restore points
b) Use the Command Prompt in the Recovery Disc to swap backup the ones in use then swap the registry files over with the repair versions. A fair bit of typing and Programs would need to be installed after the swaps, but your personal data would be safe.
Quads