Problem w/ Start button Win XP

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 10 May 2014 11:11 am

Lately when I click the start button (lower left corner) for log out or list of programs, the button is lit up, and I get a "ding" sound,,,,but the menu doesn't come up,,,keep clicking,,,keep getting ding sound. Have to do control-alt-delete to log off. Seems like it started doing this a couple of weeks ago. What could be wrong???

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 10 May 2014 2:34 pm

Well known distress signal which emanates from obsolete versions of the Windows operating system, just prior to their ultimate demise, to warn the user that unless an upgrade occurs very soon, the system will take control and let the smoke out.

Kidding. Just kidding. Sorry - couldn't resist.

You could try opening a DOS box (Start/Run) and type sfc/scannow to see if the OS files are present and intact. Personally, I would have already run my registry check software, too.

But you may end up having to do a repair with the XP install disc. Not seeing it, and having forgotten most of what I ever knew about XP, that's about all I can offer.

Good luck.

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 11 May 2014 9:53 am

Next time you plan to log out, or shut down, close all open software, then open Task Manager and look through the list of running processes and applications. See if any are consuming all or most of your CPU. That or those processes or files may reveal the source of the lockup.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 11 May 2014 10:51 am

If you have a System Restore point that is back when it did work right you can try the System Restore and it may fix it.

System Restore will work if you boot to Safe Mode, too, in case you can't do anything in the regular Windows mode.

F8 BEFORE Windows starts to load will give you a DOS menu and one of the options will be Safe Mode (no networking).

Wiz Feinberg · Post by **Wiz Feinberg** » 11 May 2014 11:21 am

If you do choose to run System Restore, and if the last restore point available that works is prior to the last Windows Updates for XP on April 8, you must run Windows Update again to get up to date with the final patches for that OS.

Also, Microsoft released an out-of-band final patch for Internet Exploder, late in April. You will need that update as well.

While you are at it, don't neglect to update Adobe products: Reader, Acrobat, Flash, Air and Shockwave, if you have any of them installed.

Java must also be updated, or better, uninstalled. At least update it, then unplug it from your web browsers.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 12 May 2014 6:34 am

Hey THANKS guys!!!! Seems to be working OK now,,,haven't done anything other than shut down, re start. Seems to be a sometimes thing????

Dave Potter · Post by **Dave Potter** » 12 May 2014 7:04 am

Sonny Jenkins wrote:Seems to be working OK now,,,haven't done anything other than shut down, re start. Seems to be a sometimes thing????

Glad it "normalized". These things actually do have limited capacity to "fix themselves" for some issues.

My personal belief is that it's still good practice to run sfc/scannow in a dos box occasionally. Windows system files can be modified by malware, and they can become corrupted on their own, as well.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 19 May 2014 6:05 am

Hey Wiz,,,I ran system restore,,,,how to I run windows updates?

***Never mind Wiz,,,this "dummy" found it!!!!,,,,LOL