When Windows is starting up I get a mostly blank dialog box with an OK button
at the bottom after the Windows splash screen disappears, on top of the
Windows is starting up screen.

The dialog box that contains a small piece of unrecognizable text in the top
left corner that changes each time I start computer. Most of the icons on
the desktop have changed to the generic I don't know what you are icon and no
applications will run including Internet Explorer except the virus program .
I get an error message that Windows needs to know what application created
that file. (This includes cmd.exe)

The dialog box cannot be closed with the ( X ) in the corner and will only
continue to start windows after sitting for about 10 minutes or clicking the
OK button.

I don't believe it's a virus as the virus program does load and did do a
complete scan without finding a virus.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

"Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:B8687634-0BFD-40C5-8ECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> When Windows is starting up I get a mostly blank dialog box with an OK
button
> at the bottom after the Windows splash screen disappears, on top of the
> Windows is starting up screen.
>
> The dialog box that contains a small piece of unrecognizable text in the
top
> left corner that changes each time I start computer. Most of the icons on
> the desktop have changed to the generic I don't know what you are icon and
no
> applications will run including Internet Explorer except the virus program
..
> I get an error message that Windows needs to know what application created
> that file. (This includes cmd.exe)
>
> The dialog box cannot be closed with the ( X ) in the corner and will only
> continue to start windows after sitting for about 10 minutes or clicking
the
> OK button.
>
> I don't believe it's a virus as the virus program does load and did do a
> complete scan without finding a virus.
>
> Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

There are lots of malicious or poorly-behaved things that anti-virus
programs can't find.

Go to Start, Run, type msconfig and press enter. Go to the Startup tab.
Look through each entry to find what it is that is that's loading. If
you're unsure, remove the checkmarks from everything and restart, and turn
things on one at a time to identify what it is that's loading. Note that
some trojans will not necessarily respect this process and may start anyway.

Also, get ccleaner: www.ccleaner.com and let it delete all temporary files
and temporary internet files. This will help as the temporary directories
are where a lot of malware launches from.

Programs like HiJack This (
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) are also invaluable for
cleaning up malware. When you run Hijack this and tell it to remove
entries, be sure to rescan after the removal. You'll find that some things
reload or similar things take their place. However, HiJack This does
require a greater degree of knowledge to use effectively.

Also, the online virus and spyware scan at TrendMicro -
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ can do a pretty good job of finding
spyware you miss.

HTH
-pk

Patrick,

Thank you very much for their response, however; most applications will not
run including those built into Windows like the MSconfig, CMD, help and
support or even write clicking on my computer and going to properties in an
attempt to use system restore, I've never seen anything like this in windows
before.

"Patrick Keenan" wrote:

> "Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:B8687634-0BFD-40C5-8ECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > When Windows is starting up I get a mostly blank dialog box with an OK
> button
> > at the bottom after the Windows splash screen disappears, on top of the
> > Windows is starting up screen.
> >
> > The dialog box that contains a small piece of unrecognizable text in the
> top
> > left corner that changes each time I start computer. Most of the icons on
> > the desktop have changed to the generic I don't know what you are icon and
> no
> > applications will run including Internet Explorer except the virus program
> ..
> > I get an error message that Windows needs to know what application created
> > that file. (This includes cmd.exe)
> >
> > The dialog box cannot be closed with the ( X ) in the corner and will only
> > continue to start windows after sitting for about 10 minutes or clicking
> the
> > OK button.
> >
> > I don't believe it's a virus as the virus program does load and did do a
> > complete scan without finding a virus.
> >
> > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
>
> There are lots of malicious or poorly-behaved things that anti-virus
> programs can't find.
>
> Go to Start, Run, type msconfig and press enter. Go to the Startup tab.
> Look through each entry to find what it is that is that's loading. If
> you're unsure, remove the checkmarks from everything and restart, and turn
> things on one at a time to identify what it is that's loading. Note that
> some trojans will not necessarily respect this process and may start anyway.
>
> Also, get ccleaner: www.ccleaner.com and let it delete all temporary files
> and temporary internet files. This will help as the temporary directories
> are where a lot of malware launches from.
>
> Programs like HiJack This (
> http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) are also invaluable for
> cleaning up malware. When you run Hijack this and tell it to remove
> entries, be sure to rescan after the removal. You'll find that some things
> reload or similar things take their place. However, HiJack This does
> require a greater degree of knowledge to use effectively.
>
> Also, the online virus and spyware scan at TrendMicro -
> http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ can do a pretty good job of finding
> spyware you miss.
>
> HTH
> -pk
>
>
>

"Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:97C54E10-2608-4D3D-BB91-(E-Mail Removed)
> Patrick,
>
> Thank you very much for their response, however; most applications
> will not run including those built into Windows like the MSconfig,
> CMD, help and support or even write clicking on my computer and going
> to properties in an attempt to use system restore, I've never seen
> anything like this in windows before.
>
> "Patrick Keenan" wrote:
>
>> "Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>> message news:B8687634-0BFD-40C5-8ECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>> When Windows is starting up I get a mostly blank dialog box with an
>>> OK button at the bottom after the Windows splash screen disappears,
>>> on top of the Windows is starting up screen.
>>>
>>> The dialog box that contains a small piece of unrecognizable text
>>> in the top left corner that changes each time I start computer.
>>> Most of the icons on the desktop have changed to the generic I
>>> don't know what you are icon and no applications will run including
>>> Internet Explorer except the virus program .. I get an error
>>> message that Windows needs to know what application created that
>>> file. (This includes cmd.exe)
>>>
>>> The dialog box cannot be closed with the ( X ) in the corner and
>>> will only continue to start windows after sitting for about 10
>>> minutes or clicking the OK button.
>>>
>>> I don't believe it's a virus as the virus program does load and did
>>> do a complete scan without finding a virus.
>>>
>>> Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> There are lots of malicious or poorly-behaved things that anti-virus
>> programs can't find.
>>
>> Go to Start, Run, type msconfig and press enter. Go to the Startup
>> tab. Look through each entry to find what it is that is that's
>> loading. If you're unsure, remove the checkmarks from everything
>> and restart, and turn things on one at a time to identify what it is
>> that's loading. Note that some trojans will not necessarily
>> respect this process and may start anyway.
>>
>> Also, get ccleaner: www.ccleaner.com and let it delete all
>> temporary files and temporary internet files. This will help as
>> the temporary directories are where a lot of malware launches from.
>>
>> Programs like HiJack This (
>> http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) are also
>> invaluable for cleaning up malware. When you run Hijack this and
>> tell it to remove entries, be sure to rescan after the removal.
>> You'll find that some things reload or similar things take their
>> place. However, HiJack This does require a greater degree of
>> knowledge to use effectively.
>>
>> Also, the online virus and spyware scan at TrendMicro -
>> http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ can do a pretty good job of finding
>> spyware you miss.
>>
>> HTH
>> -pk

If you can't run the programs Patrick suggested I don't know what else you
can do but save your data files, format the drive and do a clean install of
WinXP and your software.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/sec...t/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/

"Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:97C54E10-2608-4D3D-BB91-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Patrick,
>
> Thank you very much for their response, however; most applications will
not
> run including those built into Windows like the MSconfig, CMD, help and
> support or even write clicking on my computer and going to properties in
an
> attempt to use system restore, I've never seen anything like this in
windows
> before.

Can you get into Safe Mode?

-pk


>
> "Patrick Keenan" wrote:
>
> > "Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message
> > news:B8687634-0BFD-40C5-8ECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > When Windows is starting up I get a mostly blank dialog box with an OK
> > button
> > > at the bottom after the Windows splash screen disappears, on top of
the
> > > Windows is starting up screen.
> > >
> > > The dialog box that contains a small piece of unrecognizable text in
the
> > top
> > > left corner that changes each time I start computer. Most of the
icons on
> > > the desktop have changed to the generic I don't know what you are icon
and
> > no
> > > applications will run including Internet Explorer except the virus
program
> > ..
> > > I get an error message that Windows needs to know what application
created
> > > that file. (This includes cmd.exe)
> > >
> > > The dialog box cannot be closed with the ( X ) in the corner and will
only
> > > continue to start windows after sitting for about 10 minutes or
clicking
> > the
> > > OK button.
> > >
> > > I don't believe it's a virus as the virus program does load and did do
a
> > > complete scan without finding a virus.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > There are lots of malicious or poorly-behaved things that anti-virus
> > programs can't find.
> >
> > Go to Start, Run, type msconfig and press enter. Go to the Startup
tab.
> > Look through each entry to find what it is that is that's loading. If

> > you're unsure, remove the checkmarks from everything and restart, and
turn
> > things on one at a time to identify what it is that's loading. Note
that
> > some trojans will not necessarily respect this process and may start
anyway.
> >
> > Also, get ccleaner: www.ccleaner.com and let it delete all temporary
files
> > and temporary internet files. This will help as the temporary
directories
> > are where a lot of malware launches from.
> >
> > Programs like HiJack This (
> > http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) are also invaluable
for
> > cleaning up malware. When you run Hijack this and tell it to remove
> > entries, be sure to rescan after the removal. You'll find that some
things
> > reload or similar things take their place. However, HiJack This does
> > require a greater degree of knowledge to use effectively.
> >
> > Also, the online virus and spyware scan at TrendMicro -
> > http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ can do a pretty good job of finding
> > spyware you miss.
> >
> > HTH
> > -pk
> >
> >
> >

"Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:97C54E10-2608-4D3D-BB91-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Patrick,
>
> Thank you very much for their response, however; most applications will
not
> run including those built into Windows like the MSconfig, CMD, help and
> support or even write clicking on my computer and going to properties in
an
> attempt to use system restore, I've never seen anything like this in
windows
> before.

You might also try a repair install using your Windows CD. However, you
should consider whether it might not be faster to back up, format and
reinstall. One of the easiest ways to do that is to add a new hard disk
as the master, converting the old one to secondary or slave. Run the
install on the new dis, create the accounts, install the software, and
simply copy the old data back into the new locations. I personally use
FileSync for this purpose as it doesn't just fail if there's a problem...

www.fileware.co.uk

HTH
-pk

>
> "Patrick Keenan" wrote:
>
> > "Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message
> > news:B8687634-0BFD-40C5-8ECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > When Windows is starting up I get a mostly blank dialog box with an OK
> > button
> > > at the bottom after the Windows splash screen disappears, on top of
the
> > > Windows is starting up screen.
> > >
> > > The dialog box that contains a small piece of unrecognizable text in
the
> > top
> > > left corner that changes each time I start computer. Most of the
icons on
> > > the desktop have changed to the generic I don't know what you are icon
and
> > no
> > > applications will run including Internet Explorer except the virus
program
> > ..
> > > I get an error message that Windows needs to know what application
created
> > > that file. (This includes cmd.exe)
> > >
> > > The dialog box cannot be closed with the ( X ) in the corner and will
only
> > > continue to start windows after sitting for about 10 minutes or
clicking
> > the
> > > OK button.
> > >
> > > I don't believe it's a virus as the virus program does load and did do
a
> > > complete scan without finding a virus.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > There are lots of malicious or poorly-behaved things that anti-virus
> > programs can't find.
> >
> > Go to Start, Run, type msconfig and press enter. Go to the Startup
tab.
> > Look through each entry to find what it is that is that's loading. If
> > you're unsure, remove the checkmarks from everything and restart, and
turn
> > things on one at a time to identify what it is that's loading. Note
that
> > some trojans will not necessarily respect this process and may start
anyway.
> >
> > Also, get ccleaner: www.ccleaner.com and let it delete all temporary
files
> > and temporary internet files. This will help as the temporary
directories
> > are where a lot of malware launches from.
> >
> > Programs like HiJack This (
> > http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) are also invaluable
for
> > cleaning up malware. When you run Hijack this and tell it to remove
> > entries, be sure to rescan after the removal. You'll find that some
things
> > reload or similar things take their place. However, HiJack This does
> > require a greater degree of knowledge to use effectively.
> >
> > Also, the online virus and spyware scan at TrendMicro -
> > http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ can do a pretty good job of finding
> > spyware you miss.
> >
> > HTH
> > -pk
> >
> >
> >

I have already tried going into safe mode but the blank dialog box still
shows up and I am an able to do anything once in safe mode. I have already
attempted to use system repair from the original CD to no avail. Has anyone
ever seen anything like this before in Windows XP.

"Patrick Keenan" wrote:

> "Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:97C54E10-2608-4D3D-BB91-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Patrick,
> >
> > Thank you very much for their response, however; most applications will
> not
> > run including those built into Windows like the MSconfig, CMD, help and
> > support or even write clicking on my computer and going to properties in
> an
> > attempt to use system restore, I've never seen anything like this in
> windows
> > before.
>
> Can you get into Safe Mode?
>
> -pk
>
>
> >
> > "Patrick Keenan" wrote:
> >
> > > "Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> message
> > > news:B8687634-0BFD-40C5-8ECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > When Windows is starting up I get a mostly blank dialog box with an OK
> > > button
> > > > at the bottom after the Windows splash screen disappears, on top of
> the
> > > > Windows is starting up screen.
> > > >
> > > > The dialog box that contains a small piece of unrecognizable text in
> the
> > > top
> > > > left corner that changes each time I start computer. Most of the
> icons on
> > > > the desktop have changed to the generic I don't know what you are icon
> and
> > > no
> > > > applications will run including Internet Explorer except the virus
> program
> > > ..
> > > > I get an error message that Windows needs to know what application
> created
> > > > that file. (This includes cmd.exe)
> > > >
> > > > The dialog box cannot be closed with the ( X ) in the corner and will
> only
> > > > continue to start windows after sitting for about 10 minutes or
> clicking
> > > the
> > > > OK button.
> > > >
> > > > I don't believe it's a virus as the virus program does load and did do
> a
> > > > complete scan without finding a virus.
> > > >
> > > > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
> > >
> > > There are lots of malicious or poorly-behaved things that anti-virus
> > > programs can't find.
> > >
> > > Go to Start, Run, type msconfig and press enter. Go to the Startup
> tab.
> > > Look through each entry to find what it is that is that's loading. If
>
> > > you're unsure, remove the checkmarks from everything and restart, and
> turn
> > > things on one at a time to identify what it is that's loading. Note
> that
> > > some trojans will not necessarily respect this process and may start
> anyway.
> > >
> > > Also, get ccleaner: www.ccleaner.com and let it delete all temporary
> files
> > > and temporary internet files. This will help as the temporary
> directories
> > > are where a lot of malware launches from.
> > >
> > > Programs like HiJack This (
> > > http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) are also invaluable
> for
> > > cleaning up malware. When you run Hijack this and tell it to remove
> > > entries, be sure to rescan after the removal. You'll find that some
> things
> > > reload or similar things take their place. However, HiJack This does
> > > require a greater degree of knowledge to use effectively.
> > >
> > > Also, the online virus and spyware scan at TrendMicro -
> > > http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ can do a pretty good job of finding
> > > spyware you miss.
> > >
> > > HTH
> > > -pk
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>

"Norman V" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:A07AB888-0042-40F5-97BD-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have already tried going into safe mode but the blank dialog box still
> shows up and I am an able to do anything once in safe mode. I have
already
> attempted to use system repair from the original CD to no avail. Has
anyone
> ever seen anything like this before in Windows XP.

Then you may need to strongly consider backing up, wiping the drive and
reinstalling. I would personally suggest putting in a new drive as the
primary (drives are cheap now and *do* wear out, so you will be adding
reliability to the machine) and installing to that, then using the old drive
as a secondary and source for data restoration.

One thing you might want to try is using the default registry, though this
will cost you a bit of time and not necessarily get you very far... you'll
need to modify the procedure here slightly:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

basically you will boot to the recovery console, rename the existing
registry, copy in the default, and reboot. None of your installed apps
will work at this point because their registry entries will be absent. You
will then have to identify a working set of registry files and copy them in.

This may or may not be successful and will quite possibly take the same
amount of time as a reinstall. Plus, it will leave behind any infected or
damaged files.

HTH
-pk



>
> "Patrick Keenan" wrote:
>
> > "Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message
> > news:97C54E10-2608-4D3D-BB91-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > Patrick,
> > >
> > > Thank you very much for their response, however; most applications
will
> > not
> > > run including those built into Windows like the MSconfig, CMD, help
and
> > > support or even write clicking on my computer and going to properties
in
> > an
> > > attempt to use system restore, I've never seen anything like this in
> > windows
> > > before.
> >
> > Can you get into Safe Mode?
> >
> > -pk
> >
> >
> > >
> > > "Patrick Keenan" wrote:
> > >
> > > > "Norman Vickers" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
> > message
> > > > news:B8687634-0BFD-40C5-8ECF-(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > When Windows is starting up I get a mostly blank dialog box with
an OK
> > > > button
> > > > > at the bottom after the Windows splash screen disappears, on top
of
> > the
> > > > > Windows is starting up screen.
> > > > >
> > > > > The dialog box that contains a small piece of unrecognizable text
in
> > the
> > > > top
> > > > > left corner that changes each time I start computer. Most of the
> > icons on
> > > > > the desktop have changed to the generic I don't know what you are
icon
> > and
> > > > no
> > > > > applications will run including Internet Explorer except the virus
> > program
> > > > ..
> > > > > I get an error message that Windows needs to know what application
> > created
> > > > > that file. (This includes cmd.exe)
> > > > >
> > > > > The dialog box cannot be closed with the ( X ) in the corner and
will
> > only
> > > > > continue to start windows after sitting for about 10 minutes or
> > clicking
> > > > the
> > > > > OK button.
> > > > >
> > > > > I don't believe it's a virus as the virus program does load and
did do
> > a
> > > > > complete scan without finding a virus.
> > > > >
> > > > > Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
> > > >
> > > > There are lots of malicious or poorly-behaved things that anti-virus
> > > > programs can't find.
> > > >
> > > > Go to Start, Run, type msconfig and press enter. Go to the Startup
> > tab.
> > > > Look through each entry to find what it is that is that's loading.
If
> >
> > > > you're unsure, remove the checkmarks from everything and restart,
and
> > turn
> > > > things on one at a time to identify what it is that's loading.
Note
> > that
> > > > some trojans will not necessarily respect this process and may start

> > anyway.
> > > >
> > > > Also, get ccleaner: www.ccleaner.com and let it delete all
temporary
> > files
> > > > and temporary internet files. This will help as the temporary
> > directories
> > > > are where a lot of malware launches from.
> > > >
> > > > Programs like HiJack This (
> > > > http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html) are also
invaluable
> > for
> > > > cleaning up malware. When you run Hijack this and tell it to
remove
> > > > entries, be sure to rescan after the removal. You'll find that
some
> > things
> > > > reload or similar things take their place. However, HiJack This
does
> > > > require a greater degree of knowledge to use effectively.
> > > >
> > > > Also, the online virus and spyware scan at TrendMicro -
> > > > http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ can do a pretty good job of
finding
> > > > spyware you miss.
> > > >
> > > > HTH
> > > > -pk
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >

I have already backed up my data, formatted and restore the operating systems
and applications. I would you simply like to know if anyone has ever seen
anything similar to my blank dialog box with the OK button and select call or
programs include with the operating system that do not function.

Again Patrick and Frank thanks for your post.