Computer completely screwed up after uninstall

A few weeks ago I tried to install Flyakite but was unable to complete the installation due to a lack of disk space. I subsequently uninstalled all the files except the uninstaller itself. When, today, I went back to uninstall the uninstaller and restart the computer, I now find that my computer exists in a half-Windows XP, half-Flyakite sort of interface. My 'quick launch' toolbar is gone, none of the icons in the start menu or the desktop work, the icons in the bottom right corner for the internet connection and that sort of thing aren't there, and key Windows features such as the add/remove programs dialog, the help file and, yes, the system restore do not function. Installations, also, such as an Adobe Acrobat update I was about to install when I restarted the computer, don't appear to work. I don't have the disk space to reinstall XP from the CD, either, so I'm at a loss for what to do.

Is there anyone else who has experienced this problem and/or can tell me what to do about it? My computer is basically dysfunctional at present, so I'd appreciate some help.

#378639

what I would do is a complete backup of every file (such as music, doc files, pictures, etc) and then formating the hard drive, and then everything will be ok. You don't need space in your disk to be able to format.

#378640

I know nothing about computers at all, really. How do I do that?

#378641

okay, i'm gonna be a complete d1ck here: you say you know "nothing about computers at all, really" but have the nerve to come here and say - as your first post!! - that a proven piece of software "completely screwed" up your system. well, maybe you shouldn't be messing with stuff you don't understand.

yeah. i'm a d1ck.

#378642

How did you uninstall everything but the uninstaller?

My recommendation is to download the installer again, run it, restart etc., and then you should have a fully Flyakited system. Then run the uninstaller.

-NC

#378696

per his first post, the installer crapped out when he ran out of room. maybe offload some of your data to cd or a 2nd hard disk and free up some space. then re-install (and uninstall).

see? i'm not always a d1ck!

#378724

yeah. i'm a d1ck.

And I can presume you have few friends....

#378727

I'm willing to bet what you did was to delete some of the backed up system files, so when Flyakite when to uninstall (and restore those files) they weren't there, so things got hosed....

#378728

I know nothing about computers at all, really. How do I do that?

well, if you wanna backup u can burn cds or dvds (u must have a drive that is capable of that), or u can use a removable disk (they are very popular these days) or you can pass it form one computer to another if you have a LAN in your house (this is the most complicated).

then, once the backup is done, insert the windows xp cd and then restart the computer, at the beginning before the boot screen a message will appear "Press any key to continue..." do that, now select the option "Install windows" and then the different partitions will appear, what u have to do in order to format is to delete the current partition (a message will appear that prevents u that if do delete the partition u will lost all the data, not a problem 'cause it's already been backup), confirm your decision, and then create a new partition with every space available, and then it will ask you to format, done!, now there are different formatting options (one is the quick one and the other is the normal, if u have never formatted the hard drive before I recommend the normal one). Once that is done formatting, it will install windows, I think u can handle it from there, if u have more doubts post it here.

#378730

And I can presume you have few friends....

true. i have alienated everyone to the point where i have just 30 or 40 close personal friends left.

#378816

I hope you've fixed this by now, but did you try to do a system restore? If you created a setpoint when you installed flyakite, a system restore might get you back where you were before all the trouble. (0r you might have another setpoint you could use.) In the future, always create a restore setpoint before installing any software, especially if it alters as many things as this program alters. And even better, create a backup of your entire system. I use an imaging program from Terabyte that is terrific at doing this and is quite inexpensive.

(He said in his post that System Restore wasn't working. -NC)

#378943

I've just had the time now to sit down and start fiddling with the computer. I had problems with the reinstall because I'm a techno-idiot, but now that theMAN has explained the bit about the partitions I think I should be able to stumble through it.

Thanks everyone for your help -- and I'm glad to see that, looking through the threads, I'm not the only person who has had this problem.

[Update, one hour later:] Having tried fiddling a bit, I have discovered that I cannot install into the current partition because I don't have the space (I've got about 300MB free space) and I can't delete this partition because it holds temporary files necessary for install.

Thanks everyone for your help, but as the computer is by no means inoperable at present (once I try to sort out the problem with my iPod) I think I'll hold on for the time being and not try to screw with it just now. That only seems as if it will cause more problems.

I just wish I'd never downloaded the thing in the first place. :-(

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Posts merged. Please DO NOT double post. - Pe8er

#381061

Same thing happened to me, only worse. And, I had 15 GB of free space.

Installed version 3.5. Ran it for two days. Really enjoyed it.

Before recommending it to a friend, I wanted to see how smoothly the uninstallation process went.

First part of uninstall seemed to go fine. However, when I noticed that the Fly a Kite folder was still in the Programs menu, I decided to proceed with the final step of the uninstallation process. I uninstalled the uninstaller and bakup files. From that point forward, my computer became unusuable.

Most desktop icons are now generic and do not work.

Programs meun does not open.

Quick Launch icons don't work.

Add/Remove Programs window is completely empty.

Al the same problems in Safe mode.

Despite having chosen to create a restore point during installation, the System Restore window is completely blank (using either the Safe Mode GUI or command line).

No network connections, nor the ability to recreate them, so no Internet.

Looks like a job for the FORMAT command. Fortunately, my USB CD-ROM is still recognized.

Oh, well... Nice idea. I hope that this software actually works someday.

#384743

Yup, sounds exactly like what happened to me.

What's the FORMAT command? How does that work?

#384760

it's erasing your partition and reinstalling windows... ouch

#384778