Multiple Problems From Just a Couple of Unknown Keystrokes

[Darth Do'Urden]

Ok, here's the multiple problems I'm experiencing out of the blue as of last night:

-Desktop stuck in 'Classic Syle' mode. Unable to change to 'XP Syle' under 'Display Properties>Appearance>Windows and Buttons'.

-Unable to use shortcut combo 'Windows Button+L' for user quick change. That combo now brings up a box stating the computer is in use and locked, and can only be unlocked by the current user. It has two windows, one for user name (filled in automatically), and one for password. I simply leave the password blank, hit 'OK', then it returns to the desktop like I didn't do anything. I can only switch users the old-fashioned way of clicking START>etc.

-Volume has mysteriously disappeared altogether and the volume button is no longer on the taskbar.

-And worst of all...I no longer have any system restore dates! I can't even go back to a previous date and start over! They've all been completely erased!

This all happened after a friend hit a couple of keys trying to show me something (don't know what he hit, neither does he). That was it. I watched him, he didn't do anything out of the ordinary, but now I have all these stupid problems.

Specs:
-Windows XP Pro (SP1)
-AMD Athlon 2100+
-512 MB DDRAM
-30 and 80 gig HD (seperate, XP installed on the smaller)
-256 MB nVidia 5800 LE video card

Haven't had any problems with anything until last night. It literally went from being fine one minute to stupid the next.

Hope I included all the pertinent info. Thanks.

[neil121183]

-Desktop stuck in 'Classic Syle' mode. Unable to change to 'XP Syle' under 'Display Properties>Appearance>Windows and Buttons'.

Try using display properties>themes>windows xp
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-Unable to use shortcut combo 'Windows Button+L' for user quick change.

If you are a member of a domain then this shortcut will lock your computer, if you use XP Home or are not a member of a domain then it will fast user switch.

Fast user switching is not available to xp professional when part of a domain.
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-Volume has mysteriously disappeared altogether and the volume button is no longer on the taskbar.

Try going into 'sounds and audio devices in the control panel, then select - 'place volume icon on the taskbar.
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I don't know about the system restore sorry.

[Darth Do'Urden]

Try using display properties>themes>windows xp

I tried that as well. There's not an XP Theme option there to choose from.

If you are a member of a domain then this shortcut will lock your computer, if you use XP Home or are not a member of a domain then it will fast user switch.

I don't know anything about domains, and I've never been set up as part of one. Is there a way that a couple of keystrokes (in conjunction with the Windows key) could have enabled this somehow?

As for an update: I did a "repair" installation using the XP disc. It fixed the issues with the user switching and volume, however I am still stuck in Classic Syle. Some might think this is a very minor thing not worth worrying about, but one of the things I like so much about XP is the facelift. The Classic Style is "so '90s" =P, and I want my XP style back, not to mention the System Restore dates. I can live without the restore dates (since everything's working fine now except the style setting).

Thanks for the help, though, Neil.

[neil121183]

The only other way I could think of doing it is to go into system properties. (control panel>system)
Then click on advanced and click on the settings button under performance.

Then scroll right down to the bottem and select - 'use visual styles on windows and buttons'.

If this is already enabled, deselect it, click apply, then reselect it and apply it.

That's the only other way I know how to do it.

There could be someone else who could edit some sort of file and get right down to the nitty gritty, but I'm not really that 'advanced' sorry.

Hope that works

[Darth Do'Urden]

Originally posted by neil121183
The only other way I could think of doing it is to go into system properties. (control panel>system)
Then click on advanced and click on the settings button under performance.

Then scroll right down to the bottem and select - 'use visual styles on windows and buttons'.

If this is already enabled, deselect it, click apply, then reselect it and apply it.

This was something I hadn't tried. However...still no joy. I even clicked the option "Adjust for best appearance", and still just Classic Syle.

I don't know what's wrong. Some file must have gotten mysteriously corrupted, so much that even a repair install didn't fix it.

I don't know what I'm going to do =(.

[neil121183]

If something strange like that happens to my machine I just format it.

Make sure you backup what you need and zap it.

[Darth Do'Urden]

How do I go about backing up 10 gigs of information, everything ranging from pictures to favorites to profile preferences to drivers and patches, etc.?

There's no telling how much crap I'd lose if I format. Of course, the next comment is "What happens when (not if) your HD crashes?"

Heh...I guess I'll just cry. I have super-important info like finances and most pictures saved to floppy or cd, so nothing life-threatening will be lost. But if there's a way to save myself the immense headache and week's worth of time to rebuild my HD, I'd sure like to find it.

Right now, the alternative is living with my XP being stuck in Classic Style.

[Darth Do'Urden]

**UPDATE**

Ok, I'm a huntin' dog that's caught a scent!!

Here's what I've discovered that I believe is causing my woes: in the folder 'C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes', there's a folder called 'Luna', and next to that folder is a file called 'luna', which is a windows visual style file.

When I click this file, the Display Properties comes up with Windows XP style in the little window (under Appearances tab). I select XP, then select one of the three color schemes, then hit 'Apply'. But I get this error: Visual styles could not be applied. Service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion.

So now I am at least getting an error. Any more help out there with this more specific problem/error? Keep in mind, I've already done a repair installation, but for some reason this wasn't fixed.

Here's to hopin' someone can help me =).

[Darth Do'Urden]

**RESOLUTION UPDATE!!!**

Alrighty, I guess Microsoft IS good for something.

I spent an hour with Tech Support, but to her credit, she solved my problem.

Somehow, the Luna visual theme file was corrupted in some way. So, she expanded the theme file from the XP disc through the Command prompt (I didn't even know you could do that). But then we had to activate the theme service by going through Right-Click My Computer>Manage>Services and Applications>Services>Themes (on the right-hand side of the screen)>Automatic (in the Startup Type field)>'Start' radio button>Service now says 'Started'.

I now have my XP theme style back. Hooray for me. Hope this info helps someone else in the future.

Thanks Neil for the suggestions.

[WRStrong]

Can you tell us more about the steps that were taken to expand & re-install the theme?

I follow everything except where the correct files are on the cd.

Thanks,

B.

[Darth Do'Urden]

Originally posted by WRStrong
Can you tell us more about the steps that were taken to expand & re-install the theme?

I follow everything except where the correct files are on the cd.

Wish that I could. The tech rep on the phone had me go through certain steps in DOS with the disc in the drive. It was in that manner that she helped me extract the exact files from the disc. She had some sort of manual that she was following, and the extraction coding was too complicated for me to remember.

If you're having similar problems, then I recommend calling Microsoft Tech Support, especially if you don't have two seperate issues on file yet (the first two are free, any more are charged).

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.