Hard to say, but I'd be going back to the repair shop. It sounds like they may have messed something up. Have them make it right rather than waste tons of time trying to fix strange problems yourself.

Give us a make and model of the computer.

Are we worrying about the printer or the computer basically? If both them get the computer sorted out first then attack the printer issue. List as fully as possible what the issues are so suggestions can be made or questions asked of you.

HP 750n, XP Home. Repair shop closed. Can't use most of the icons on home page, internet. Most of the time, links won't work, on any internet page. Have problem using mouse to change up and down on internet, not a problem on any other programs. Cannot print anything except from internet page. Cannot scan or fax,copy anything. Were no printer problems before install of OS on new hard drive.
Do I need to reformat hard drive? Larger hard drive(320G) installed, do I need to make any changes in Bios?
Have been trying for almost 2 years to fix this without reinstalling OS. Have spent "tons" of hours on it. I do want to tackle OS first, then will reinstall printer. It has not worked in 2 years.

XP Home with SP3 and all the latest updates? Do you have the original XP CD that came with the computer?

What safety programs are installed?
When were they last updated?
When did you last run a scan with each of them?
Were there infections and were they removed successfully?
It would seem to me you are possibly infected based on some of your findings.

We'll forget the printer till the computer is running right but I suspect that after 2 years of no activity it is garbage because all the jets may be clogged with dried ink.

Leaving the O/S concerns to O so as not to step on him,

As to the printer:

Are you over-writing the initial installation? For sure HP printers, and it can't hurt with others, printers should be removed from the system according to the manufacturer's protocol, and then reinstalled using the manufacturer's protocol.

As to the Internet:

Is your Java, Flash Player and Shockwave current?

I ask as I had the H/D replaced on my system at work, and the wonderful IT Department forgot to re-install Java. Having taken for granted they had, my Internet use was an adventure.

I finally tired of the fiasco and checked for all the above?

Antiquated Flash and Shockwave. No Java.

I am probably going to now raft across the river Styx, but I did the installs myself. That took care of the concern.

DA

If it can't be fixed by the techs here, call HP. I did that after someone "fixed" my PC. It was really messed up, I called HP and bought an extended warranty even though mine had expired. It cost me $98, they said they would fix it or replace it. They fixed it and was warrantied for a year.

After reinstall of OS, all fixes, sp3 were added, went to all sites regarding drivers, etc. for all updates. Original XP Cd, Avira installed and run, monthly,no infections or problems noted, check disc scan run several times, Spybot installed and run, defrag done,both regularly. Have "hidden" taskbar, it "stutters" up the page when on internet, am rarely able to shut down normally, start, log off, icons on desktop gone, desktop stays, never goes to shut down screen, must turn off using power button. Rarely is about 95% of the time, I shut off using power button. Did my os maybe get copied twice and is causing all these problems? Should my hard drive have been reformatted first, and if it wasn't, could this be the problem?

Did my os maybe get copied twice and is causing all these problems? Should my hard drive have been reformatted first, and if it wasn't, could this be the problem?
Not likely the OS was copied twice if you mean it was also installed on another computer. If the replacement hard drive was new it should be good to go so formatting is likely not the issue either.

Have a look at your Event Viewer and see what we have
click Start
click Control panel
click Administrative Tools
click Event viewer

In the new window click System on the left side
Now you should see data on the right side, scroll down looking for red error messages or yellow warnings. We are more interested in any red error messages if they are there.

Double click on any error message and another window will appear giving you the error data. If you do not understand it either click on the link that will be provided or write the error message on your post here and someone will interpret it.

While we are clicking about have a looksee at the Device manager.
click Start
click Control panel
click System
click Hardware
click Device manager

Do you see any entries with a yellow exclamation mark or question mark? If so give us the details.

Device manager checked, no problems. Event viewer, Warning, EvntAgnt,event Id 1025, trace level parameer not located in registry fefault trace level used 3. ERROR- hang app, iexplorer.exe, event 1002, version and address are all zeros. No other issues. I can't afford to call for ext. warranty.

OK so we have no issues showing in the Device manager - one for the good guys

Was there only the one error message 'event 1002'? If so that is good, we do not see a long list of red errors showing - almost 2 for the good guys.

You say you have Spybot, is that Spybot Search and Destroy?
When did you last run that?

You have a "hidden" taskbar that "stutters" up the screen.
What does that mean?
What program are you running when this happens?
What tools are linked off this toolbar?
If you right click on the taskbar the pop up will show 'Toolbrs', click on it and see which toolbars you have activated.

Don't worry over paying for help just yet, we might just get this sorted out before you need to spend anything.

Have you tried Safe Mode? If so, is the system conduct the same?

I've looked, but maybe I missed it. What version of IE do you currently have installed?

I know your working hard at this so when you get a chance take a look at Google using the keywords "iexplore.exe event 1002" (sans quotes). Maybe one of the entries might help. They are varied and numerous.

DA

Hidden taskbar at bottom of screen, disappears when not using, when paused over, when in IE, it shows itself copied on top of itself 5 times. Spybot S&D run last week. I run all my checks at least once a month.
Are we way off point here? I just wanted to know if I need to change anything or take any special precautions before re-installing XP on this beast. I have run in safe mode, no changes in problems. Am thinking install was corrupted or done wrong at shop, and it's closed. I need this thing to work right, I have to apply for jobs on it, usually I can't complete an application for it not accepting my input or not changing to next page of application. Problems are numerous, and I have not been able to fix them myself. 6 Oct '09 was date of shop install, I've probably spent 2 or 3 hundred hours attempting fixes. Last time I tried re-install, before new hard drive, it took 12 hours. That included install of high speed internet connect, 4 in 1 printer,(succesful) Avira, Spybot, Money, Works, Keyboard and mouse, camera program, all drivers, SP3, etc. I was careful to shut down between all installs, as directed. I could not get to this site, which I had read and occasionally used for years. Many problems with IE8. I'm so grateful you have all taken your time to try to help me. I'm so frustrated after all this "investigating" and most of what you've all asked me to check, I'd already done. Thanks so much for your help.

Instead of wiping and installing everything have you considered doing a repair install? This way all your programs are intact still and only the Windows program gets affected. Check out the link below or even Google 'repair Windows XP' without the quotes, there are thousands of tutorials on the subject.

If you try this then you should go to the Windows update site afterwards to see if it removed any updates during the checking process.

If you do not wish to use that route you can try running the System File Checker, to do this
click Start
click Run type sfc /scannow
hit Enter

At some point you will likely be asked to insert the XP CD and I am fairly certain you will need to visit the Windows update site afterwards

Here is a link that might be useful: How to repair Windoes XP

Have done the system file checker, long ago. Have been avoiding doing the re-install because of the time involved. I think there were changes made to my system when the install was done at shop and it's what is causing all these strange problems. Several times, when I logged onto this site, the background was red, real hard to read. Other times, it's normal, like now. What could possibly cause that? I just want to know if doing an install would be the correct solution, and if so, what steps should I take before doing the install?
HP 759n, XP home, HP 4in1, high speed connection, IE8, Avira, Works, Money, Spybot S&D, installed programs.
Original Hard Drive was 80G, new Hard Drive is 320G. Do I need to make any changes in BIOS before or after install to make this work right? I have 3 page instructions from Microsoft site for install of XP. TIA

The red doesnt have anything to do with your computer. It has to do with a paint ad on this forum (all garden web forums). If you hit the refresh button, the red will go away, as a new batch of ads presents itself.

Thanks, the red drives me nuts, and I don't need any more help in that area, the computer does it all for me. :)

Run Adblock on Firefox and you see no adverts.

Tried system file checker, error msg. says it can't find file, tried "search" it won't even work! Also went to How to Repair windows, no go, the cd runs, starts, gets to black screen with option to exit or use enter to cancel recovery console. This in not the way the screens are shown on Microsoft Repair windows site. It looks like I'm not going to be able to "repair" anything. I have 8 cds I had to write to mfg. for, many years ago. Also have one cd given to me by repair shop, it is the one I used to attempt repair. Looks like it's 8 cd's and lot of work to remove all the bloat included, and BackWeb is in there too. Thanks everybody for all your suggestions, and time. I really appreciate it.