Been Troubleshooting for 2 weeks. Please Help!

Hello,
I will start off by saying i have self taught myself everything i know on my PC, so i am a novice user. How-ever when i do have PC issues i am patient at searching for help and diligently try to fix whatever issue i am having. This time though, i think i have messed things up beyond figuring out by myself. I have been trouble-shooting for the past 2 weeks and i am beginning to think everything i have done has made BOTH OF MY HOME COMPUTERS WORSE AND WORSE.

I think i have tried so many things i know longer know what i have tried. It also seems like since i am not that computer smart i am on the PC for hours and hours searching for answers, and sometimes my time does not allow me ENTIRE DAYS to troubleshoot. Then i end up forgetting where i left off when i return at a later time.

What caused my initial problem is i have/had a network between my two home computers. The network is set up from my desktop PC which is Windows Vista Home Premium 32bit and it is networked to my laptop which is Windows 7 64bit.

For some stupid reason i used windows easy file transfer to move files from windows vista to windows 7 (laptop). Since then NOTHING HAS SEEMED THE SAME ON EITHER SYSTEM. I have ran registry editors, computer management tools, did system restores, etc etc etc to try and get both PC'S back to previous settings. Now i am afraid i have changed too many settings that i should not have.

Can anyone help me? I also feel as if my user profile settings are wrong as somewhere along this 2 weeks of troubleshooting i have tried to change USER OBJECTS AND SERVICES..I used to go to both machines and did not have to log in through user accounts on either machine as i am the ONLY USER of my pc's. I used ONE USER ACCOUNT but now i have 2 or 3 user accounts set up on both machines which was ANOTHER SOLUTION I TRIED to fix the PREVIOUS PROBLEM of transferring files from Vista to Windows 7. Then i could not delete the user accounts that i added on my vista to get back to using my ONE ACCOUNT..I am sorry, i could go on and on...i have basically tried to do too much troubleshooting and changed way to many settings to even remember all i have done now.

I know nothing about registry keys and i was even lead to them through all my troubleshooting. I also notice on Windows Vista i have no restore points to even try a system restore. Can anyone look at my system settings somehow by me sending a copy OF WHATEVER IT TAKES and tell me how messed up my DESKTOP AND LAPTOP ARE? I am so frustrated! I cannot seem to get away from troubleshooting to do anything i enjoy doing on my pc. For instance i have 853 emails now, as i dont do anything but troubleshoot. I guess i am one of these people who does not give up, and i like my pc running as smoothly as possible. As i said i am the only user and i am picky about keeping my pc set up too suit me.

Thanks so much, i hope its not a lost cause.

Are you ready to clean reinstall? Do you have a Vista and Win7 DVD so we could help you do one on each? This will make your computer better than new, since most new PC's are loaded with corrupting factory bloatware.

We can show you how to get a perfect reinstall of both over a period of time you choose, then once you get it setup - but before you start getting tweaky - we can help you save a backup image of both PC's so you never have to reinstall again as you have a baseline image to restore in 15 minutes using the DVD.

Short of that, I'd System Restore the one machine all the way back if you still have restore points, and run a Repair Install on the other.

Repair Install
Clean Install Windows 7
SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

I think i am ready for about anything..right now i am sitting here with laptop beside my desktop, troubleshooting on both. Been messing with HELP SINCE AROUND NOON TODAY, and no better off. So may as well start over, right? Thanks so much for any help.

gregrocker said:

Are you ready to clean reinstall? Do you have a Vista and Win7 DVD so we could help you do one on each? This will make your computer better than new, since most new PC's are loaded with corrupting factory bloatware.

We can show you how to get a perfect reinstall of both over a period of time you choose, then once you get it setup - but before you start getting tweaky - we can help you save a backup image of both PC's so you never have to reinstall again as you have a baseline image to restore in 15 minutes using the DVD.

Short of that, I'd System Restore the one machine all the way back if you still have restore points, and run a Repair Install on the other.

Repair Install
Clean Install Windows 7
SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

I think good idea, in fact, I am going to do that as soon as I migrate my personal data to my external HDD's.

I think the OP is at a point where I was a year or so ago, trying to multitask and diagnose/repair 2 or more PC's, with only an admitted limited knowledge. My knowledge is still not up to snuff with you senior members here though

But creating a "perfect image" to basically go back to is something I always neglect and then end up regretting. I do system restore points, and generally no issue. But constant tweaking right off the bat eventually gets me in trouble.

I will suggest a cool tool that the OP could try, once he has two stable systems, as he seems to probably forget where he was when he tweaked something ( been there b4 ). It won't cover them all, but saves a fair bit of grief on many common and uncommon tweaks, in one easy package/location. And compatible with both his OS's.

Ultimate Windows Tweaker, a TweakUI for Windows 7 & Vista | The Windows Club

I think i need to get more familair with how this website works..I did not realize that i could read messages from another spot just between two people..trying to get more familair with browsing this sight, so i dont feel totally stupid.

Sorry Greg, i am seeing the private conversations, but when i click reply to sender it is not letting me..that is why i replied here.

I will be glad to help you get a perfect reinstall on your machines. But first I would like to make clear what all of us beta testers who have been wtih Win7 for nearly two years have found out, often the hard way:

Tweaking is NOT needed whatsoever in Win7. It will always come back to bite you. Win7 is a perfectly balanced, lightweight OS which only needs normal system settings changes.

Holy Moses said:

gregrocker said:

Are you ready to clean reinstall? Do you have a Vista and Win7 DVD so we could help you do one on each? This will make your computer better than new, since most new PC's are loaded with corrupting factory bloatware.

We can show you how to get a perfect reinstall of both over a period of time you choose, then once you get it setup - but before you start getting tweaky - we can help you save a backup image of both PC's so you never have to reinstall again as you have a baseline image to restore in 15 minutes using the DVD.

Short of that, I'd System Restore the one machine all the way back if you still have restore points, and run a Repair Install on the other.

Repair Install
Clean Install Windows 7
SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

I think good idea, in fact, I am going to do that as soon as I migrate my personal data to my external HDD's.

I think the OP is at a point where I was a year or so ago, trying to multitask and diagnose/repair 2 or more PC's, with only an admitted limited knowledge. My knowledge is still not up to snuff with you senior members here though

But creating a "perfect image" to basically go back to is something I always neglect and then end up regretting. I do system restore points, and generally no issue. But constant tweaking right off the bat eventually gets me in trouble.

I will suggest a cool tool that the OP could try, once he has two stable systems, as he seems to probably forget where he was when he tweaked something ( been there b4 ). It won't cover them all, but saves a fair bit of grief on many common and uncommon tweaks, in one easy package/location. And compatible with both his OS's.

Ultimate Windows Tweaker, a TweakUI for Windows 7 & Vista | The Windows Club

Yes that is exactly what i have done..changed stuff and not sure exactly what now..i am also brand new here, and quickly finding out that i am not great at navigating here yet either. Looks like i need to set up a profile, and read some rules. I am seeing messages when i click my user name that are "between two people" but when i click on reply i see no where to type. Therefor please bear with me until i am more familair with rules here. Trying to read them, and log off of way to many troubleshooting searches on TWO COMPUTERS..

gregrocker said:

I will be glad to help you get a perfect reinstall on your machines. But first I would like to make clear what all of us beta testers who have been wtih Win7 for nearly two years have found out, often the hard way:

Tweaking is NOT needed whatsoever in Win7. It will always come back to bite you. Win7 is a perfectly balanced, lightweight OS which only needs normal system settings changes.

Thank you, i would be glad to take your help, and i will never again change ANYTHING on any pc..i dont think i have changed much on my windows 7..except i did that windows easy file transfer from Vista to windows 7. Thinking i would have all my files from desktop to laptop..and it turns out it has not been easy at all, like they claim it is.

I don't recommend Easy Transfer because it imports settings which may be corrupt to begin with. It also copies in an obtuse way that is not straightforward or easy to understand. Much better IMO to just drag the active User sub-folders onto External or DVD's, or drag the entire User's folder onto an External.

Do you still have restore points on one of your machines? Can you restore all the way back to see if you get before the corruption?

On the other machine, do you have a Win7 install DVD to try a Repair Install first, or do you want to go ahead with a clean reinstall?