XP won't load, may have a virus, need some ideas.

[mctrotter5]

My computer will only restart to the microsoft screen saver and won't load my icons or start button. Had Spybot and Norton AV which I now am understanding doesn't do a good job. Have tried starting in safemode and trying to go back to earlier settings that worked. It seems I can't even reload Norton..am thinking I may have to reformat and and lose everything to get my laptop back. Ideas? anyone else had the same problem and know how to determine the virus and remove without reformat?

[Berserker]

1. Before you do that

go here and follow there instructions. This is the best help site and page I have ever seen.
Malware Removal and Prevention:
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction

[mctrotter5]

4. Thanks for the suggestion, would love to find I way that I can fix

the problems without wiping out my harddrive.

[jayfish]

2. I Don't Understand.

What do you mean by "restart to the microsoft screen saver"? Do you mean that it loads a blank desktop? Do you have to log in to the OS or does it do so automatically?

Jay

[mctrotter5]

3. It starts up and loads only to the screen on which my icons would

normally come up with my start button and bar but nothing ever comes up. All I have is the first screen not blank with is just the standard microsoft picture of hills. Does that help?

[jayfish]

5. Yup.

Try this:

Once you are at your empty desktop, hit ctl-alt-del
Click "File"
Click "New Task(Run)"
Type "explorer.exe" in the text box and ok.

If explorer comes up (your icons and such), reboot and see what happens.

Jay

[mctrotter5]

6. Jayfish, I am unable to get a response with ctl-alt-del, the entire

loading procedure appears normal through coming on, asking for alt-ctl-del to have my password come up, it accepts my password and goes to the screen on which icons load, then it doesn't respond to ctl-alt-del. Is their any other command which may work?

[jayfish]

7. You Can Try WinKey+e...

to open "My Computer". If you get that to open (which I am doubtful of) you can navigate to .\Windows\System32 and double-click "cmd.exe"

If that doesn't work, can you get to a functional desktop with "Safe Mode"?

Jay

[mctrotter5]

8. How do you access WinKey+e? I have gotten into Safe Mode

but still don't get to a functional desktop. I seem to be unable to boot from either my floppy or CD. Fear my Toshiba my be toast.

[jayfish]

9. It's The Key on Your Keyboard That Has The...

WIndows logo printed on it plus the "e" key. It doesn't sound like your machine is in too good a shape. What happens when you try to boot from floppy or CD?

Jay

[mctrotter5]

10. When I try to boot from floppy or CD it seems to be unable to

recognize as if devices are disabled. I have gotten in to dos in safe mode but comes up as C:/>my documents/judyt/>or something to that effect so I can't figure out how to get a simple C:/ to ask for a format of C. I am to the point of reformating but can't remember of my old dos language thought it was a simple C:/format c: but not working. I think the poor thing is about to become an expensive paperweight. It is so weird as it will go through the whole start up through my passwork and I can even shut it down at that place with cursor working until just beyond.

[jayfish]

11. If Your CD-Rom Drive Isn't Being Recognized By...

your system, a format isn't going to do you much good. You will really turn it into a paperweight Have you tried logging in as administrator. Your explorer problem might be isolated to your normal user account.

Jay

[mctrotter5]

12. I logged in as administrator and had the same sequence just

stopped at the Toshiba screen with no icons loaded. Thank you Jayfish for all your suggestions, seems like something bad has a hold.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

13. Before you reformat...

It does sound like you have a killer virus- it happens occasionally, and when it gets to the point you describe, the likely solution will in fact be to reinstall Windoze.

But, BEFORE you do that- if you have vital documents or files you need saved, any computer techie worth their wages can simply pull your hard drive and copy the files to a backup disk for you. I did exactly that for a client earlier this week- I have a machine set up just for such operations. If you have a few extra bucks, consider having it done. Your important stuff may in fact be salvageable.

[mctrotter5]

14. Thanks Prisoner, I am making some calls to local techies to see if

they can do that reasonably. The laptop is 3 years old but was working great until this baddie got through some back door. Makes me feel vulnerable, thought I was being very careful. I think ol Norton Antivirus will get replaced if the laptop ever gets feet under it again.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

15. Don't feel too frustrated

Almost one hundred percent of the computers I work on- including business machines- have some kind of virus or spyware infection.

I recommend replacing Norton with McAfee. It's far superior, and it looks for spyware that breezes past Norton.

[mctrotter5]

16. I am going to take your advice, it seems that Norton has either

become a target and/or got too big to do their job.

[Crazy Guggenheim]

17. Symantec *has* become a target. However, it seems you can almost

boot into Safe Mode. If you have Windows XP and it stalls just before the desktop appears hold the Ctrl - Shift then hit escape. That should bring up the Task Manager. Choose the Applications Tab and see if notice an obvious virus or the like. Also see if an application has stalled or is not respnding. Use your arrow keys or mouse to highlight it then click on End Task. Then click Ok. If you don't find anything in Applications Click on the Processes Tab and use the previous method for Applications. See what happens.

Note: If you an svchost.exe that has stopped running and End the Task, your system might reboot but let it.

[mctrotter5]

18. I'll give it a try..thanks!

[jayfish]

19. Ohhhh, Nice Shortcut.

I'll add it to my list. :patriot:

Thnx

Jay

[mctrotter5]

20. Follow up to computer issues for all of you that helped. It

turned out I had a CD that had stopped working, fellow I took it to had to clean the optical read, that explained part of the problem. Still could not get it to come up through Safe Mode and other methods so ended up doing a reformat but the good news is I have a working laptop and am only $150 poorer. After my "learning experience" I purchased a book called Surviving PC Disasters Mishaps and Blunders by Jesse Torres and Peter Sideris. There are backup things and recovery disk things I could of done and didn't do that maybe would have helped. Lots of good info on malware, viruses and programs that get them as much as possible. Good stuff and thanks again for your help.