My computer has gotten this glitch again where the start menu switches to classic view for no reason. I am the only one who uses it, and it scans for no viruses or spyware. I say again, because not more than 2 months ago I formatted my hard drive because of this, and started from scratch.

The worst part is, that when I go to the control panel and go to the taskbar and start menu option, it says that it is not in classic view, and no matter whether I toggle classic view and go back, nothing changes. The only way I can change it is to right click the desktop, and manually select the settings through the properties menu. Here are some screen captures:





So do I have a hacker on my hands, or a virus that has yet to be discovered, or a driver conflict, or what? I am stumped on this one.

Try hosting full size JPEG screenshots at www.imageshack.us and then posting the thumbnails here so we can look at them in full size.

Mods, please move this thread to the 56xx support forum, I don't know what I was thinking when I posted here. My laptop is a np5670.

Sorry, had the problem fixed for a day or so, but now its broken worse. Now I have no option whatsoever for changing to XP style, only Windows Classic.

Ok, so I guess it doesn't automatically thumbnail the images. What do I have to do to keep from tying up the whole screen?

There could be a possibility you have someone accessing you laptop. Are you on wireless? Do you have vpn or pcanywhere installed? those would reduce your settings for others.. but it would also remove your wallpaper.. i am not sure. What is your av?

No PC Anywhere, and no other users. I am on wireless, that is encrypted, but I realize it wouldn't be hard for a hacker to bypass that.

I was wondering if maybe my hard drive may be going corrupt from age. In addition to the Windows Classic glitch, it takes forever for it to boot up now (I mean like several minutes, not just a minute or two).

I had this problem some months back, formatted my drive, and re-installed Windows, and it made it boot quicker for a couple days, and made the Windows classic glitch go away until now. But since it is back, I am thinking it is something else causing the conflict.

This time I didn't load that much software back on the computer though. I have Windows, Office, Nero, and some freeware DVD burning tools, and thats about it. No games, compilers or really anything else.

Also, the reason you see the Windows XP desktop wallpaper instead of what I had before, is because I tried selecting the Windows XP theme by right clicking the desktop and selecting properties. It changed the wallpaper, but didn't change the start menu, or window frames.

I am thinking that somehow these files were deleted, or corrupted, so it is defaulting to Windows classic? Anyone know if there is a way to try to restore them without re-installing Windows?

I did some research for you please read up here is what i got:

This has to do with a Policy setting made either via gpedit.msc or manually via the registry. The side effects are that Windows and Buttons are greyed out under Desktop Properties/Appearance and the check box under System Properties/Advanced/
Performance/Settings that reads: Use visual styles on windows and buttons, does not remain checked. This edit corrects that behavior. Download and apply either one on line 214, they are the same edit.

Windows/Buttons Greyed Out under Appearance and/or Windows XP Style Changes to Windows Classic or (Line 214) http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm.


This is the link for the FAQ. I hope this helps.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

I am away from the computer right now, but I can't wait to give this a try tonight. I really hate the look of Windows Classic. Thank you for all of your help.

I tried all of the above tips on the 11th, and none of it worked. So I re-installed Windows, and found what I think to be the problem.

I did a fresh install, including a drive format, and when I attempted to re-format the drive in NTFS it said that it could not do it because the drive may be damaged. I did manage to get it to work by doing a quick NTFS format, but the full format kept giving the same error.

So my guess is that I just need to pony up the cash for a new drive. Anyone know of a free tool that is good for diagnosing hard drives, so I can be sure, the Windows one (chkdsk) isn't finding anything.

Hi, except for Toshiba, most of the HD manufacturers have diagnostic tools for their drives. I am guessing you have either Toshiba or Hitachi as those are the most common with Sager (although I have not looked lately, WD, Seagate, Samsung or Fujitsu don’t seem to be supplied by Sager but I could be wrong so check). If you have a Toshiba you are out of MFR support tools luck. If you have a Hitachi you can go to:
http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm
and download good diagnostic tools that can fix all but the true hardware problems. Just check what MFR your drive is and except for Toshiba you should be able to find free tools from them. If you do have a Toshiba, I have used the Hitachi tools on one that did the basics, but I don’t know if it would actually do repairs (it did do scans and general checks). Other than that, I would let Google be your friend and hope it can find something for you. HTH, Take Care, Andy

Yeah, its a Toshiba. What I found on Google echoed your response, for whatever reason (I couldn't find out) Toshiba is the only drive company that doesn't make such a tool. I don't get why they wouldn't follow what the rest of the industry seems to do.

Hello, when I received my laptop I had a weird issue with my original Toshiba drive and asked the Sager tech people about diagnostic tools. They said Toshiba releases tools only to companies like Sager so they can test drives that are suspected bad. The Sager tech support guy told me Toshiba does not release the tools to customers to keep people from falsifying results of a good drive. I did ask Sager if they would send me the tools but they did refuse me quite politely . Since every other drive MFR freely gives out diagnostic tools, I think Toshiba is doing a major disservice to it consumers, thus I asked for a Hitachi drive to replace my Toshiba which Sager did. Tools of this type are mandatory in my opinion and I wont give Toshiba my money if they wont support me in a basic way. That said, since your Toshiba is failing you, give the Hitachi tools a try and use the selection that zeros out the drive. Try tools like Killdisk too. Unless XP is choking on a hardware failure not related to corrupt sectors, these other tools might help you repair and get past this problem. It does not sound like you are playing with XP services either, but make sure Themes and associated services are running. Good luck to you, hope you can get this fixed. Take Care, Andy

Before I give the Hitachi tools a try, has anyone had a bad experience performing something like this on a Toshiba drive with different manufacturer tools? I don't want to permanently ruin the drive if thre is another alternative.

Well, I am not allowed to edit, so I will add to my above post. Can someone link to the appropriate tool by Hitachi (or whatever other company) that I should try? I noticed more than one and would rather get the right one for my drive. Its a 40g 5400rpm unit that shipped with a Sager NP5670C computer.

Hello, you can get the Hitachi tools at:
http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/download.htm
Download:
Drive Fitness Test (v4.06) and get the right package for you (Floppy creator or CD creator, etc.)
The function you need within the software is under:
UTILITIES – ERASE DISK
or
UTILITIES – CORRUPTED SECTOR REPAIR
When I used these tools on my Toshiba, if my memory is correct, the Hitachi tools worked correctly even handling the S.M.A.R.T tests, but that was 2 years ago (and MANY software revisions from Hitachi) so a detail or 2 of what I did might floated away. They might have even change their detection routine to look for only Hitachi drives before running. I am guessing that you have corrupt sectors that may or may not be repairable. If they are not reparable, no tools will help. If they are and the Hitachi tools don’t work (most of the tools just tell you they don’t support the drive or a feature and wont continue so risk of doing real damage are small, but use your own discretion on it) give the free version of Killdisk a try at:
http://killdisk.com/
See if it can nuke your drive. If none of these tools work and you just cant get things to work I would start looking at a new drive or contact Toshiba about it. I also hope somebody else chimes in on some suggestions that can help you out if nothing works here.

One last place to check besides making sure the THEMES service is turned on is to check your performance tab under:
(right click) My Computer – PROPERTIES – ADVANCED – PERFORMANCE (SETTINGS) – VISUAL EFFECTS
And make sure
USE VISUAL STYLES ON WINDOWS AND BUTTONS
is turned on. Maybe XP is doing something weird there and turning it off. Good Luck to you. Take Care, Andy