Blagh. I went through the system32 file (yes, I know, not smart for somebody who isn't a computer expert) in a desperate attempt to delete the spyware/worms that were taking over.. well, I got rid of some.. but I accidentally deleted one of the necessary files my computer needed to run.

So, I burned windows xp home onto a CD and booted that onto my computer, used system restore and what not. I thought it would all go back to normal, but EVERYTHING got deleted.

I'm in the process of getting my data/media back, but some things just don't work. For example, when I restart the computer, all my settings are changed back to default.. also, I can't do any appearance customization, when I go to desktop or taskbar properties.. well, basically nothing works. I can't even look at pictures, .jpeg is supposedly an invalid format, etc...

What did I do wrong?!Your question should be "What did I do Right?"

You should use malware removal tools such as AdAware, Spybot S&D or specific removal tools instead of doing things manually!!

If you burned a corrupt XP system then re-installed from that CD then you have just re-installed the corrupt system.

Do you have an original full XP cd or and older full version with an XP upgrade disk?System restore & last known good config do tend to send your computer back in time.
To a time when it had virtually no brain at all.
I have never recommended anyone to use it.1. You didn't make a drive image shortly after installing everything when the system was running well. If you had you could restore ... easily.

2. You didn't keep a running up-to-date drive image so you could restore ... easily. (Yes I am. Everyone else says so too. I just think that they hate Engineers.)

3. You relied on system restore which can make a real mess of things and which is a misnomer too. (Microsoft hates me as well.) (Misrepresentation.)

4. You used an XP Home CD when your system is XP Professional. (Probably not, but when you're doing things wrong you might as well make a mess of this as well.)

5. You tried using scanreg /restore and couldn't understand why it wouldn't work when you should have been using sfc /scannow. (Typical mistake made by most people who upgraded from '98/ME)

6. You didn't make your own Windows CD by using base cunning and AutoStreamer 1·0

7. You didn't attempt a Repair install which might have saved your bacon. But then your 'religion' irrationally forbids you to eat bacon which is why you didn't think of it and have other problems with irrational things happening all the time.

8. You use a computer for just about anything except computing and have no idea why that should be so and how the world was run before anyone ever invented these Big Brother machines. (Blame Orson Welles whose descendants probably have shares in MS)

9. You didn't realise that you could do just about everything without paying if you used open source programming and, by this simple measure alone, allow Ms French to SEE a great deal more of her husband instead of being a Windows Widow forever staring out of the Windows of their home waiting for Bill to come home.

10. You didn't write to the government and the monopolies commision asking "Why is it that if we can have open source for free that Windows isn't for free as well?"

Don't worry! I am doing all of these things wrong too!  

Just don't tell anyone!  

Forgot to mention.

11. You have never realised that you are just a number in a numbers game where the rich and private enterprise  corporations get richer by selling things that people don't really need to those whom they regard as suckers instead of enlisting and putting an end to private enterprise business, wheeler dealers crooks, hoodlums and drugs bosses in defence of the womenfolk of the country in which you live.

Instead you, along with just about everybody else allow women to appear in pornographic editions and to sell their 'charms' in bordello windows like so much meat hung up for sale.

Apparently this sort of behaviour has something to do with a litany, whatever that is and apparently has something to do with 'holiness' whatever that is.

(Just like NERO Burning which has its more - sinister - side.)Mac - WOW what a rant - enough to scare erestremulent away from this forum forever and probably me too.. Do you think that we should have a political forum where people can propose a "STATE of the Planet Address"?

Or was Gettysburg and the Charter of the United Nations enough?NOPE. Lets settle for a drug-crazed frenzy and a drunken orgy, Roman style. Quote

System restore & last known good config do tend to send your computer back in time.
To a time when it had virtually no brain at all.
I have never recommended anyone to use it.