Could this be a virus?

[MG]

I was clicking on a message in an email in Live.com, a window popped up
saying there wa a problem, and Windows had to shut down. Then rec'd a 2nd
message from "Dr Watson Postmorten Debugger, and did I want to report the
problem, and I said yes. I've never seen this before, but after googling, it
appears that I might have a major problem, virus, trojan, etc. I am new to
the computer, so I don't know what I should do. All my scans show no
infection.Can you give me some guidance please?

 

[Alan Edwards]

It could be, if you really see "Dr Watson Postmorten Debugger" but if
it is actually "Dr Watson Postmortem Debugger", then you may (?) not
have a huge problem.
You may be able to disable the Dr.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308538/EN-US/

I note you have multiposted this message to an XP group (multiposting
will not win you any friends)

What version of XP are you using? (Sp1,SP2, SP3?)
What are you using IE6 in XP instead of the more secure IE8?

....Alan

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

I was clicking on a message in an email in Live.com, a window popped up
saying there wa a problem, and Windows had to shut down. Then rec'd a 2nd
message from "Dr Watson Postmorten Debugger, and did I want to report the
problem, and I said yes. I've never seen this before, but after googling, it
appears that I might have a major problem, virus, trojan, etc. I am new to
the computer, so I don't know what I should do. All my scans show no
infection.

Can you give me some guidance please?

Find the drwtsn32.log and extract the Stack Back Trace for the relevant
dump event. Assuming the Stack Back Trace shows you module names
in it and not just addresses (as I have seen in some Win2000 snap dumps)
you can get some clues that way about how the crash might have occurred.
In particular if you find a third-party module referred to there that would be
reasonably indicative that it could have some kind of incompatibility with IE
(assuming the crash is occurring in IE or one of its modules.)

BTW always disclose your OS when you ask for help in these newsgroups.
The only thing we can infer about that in your case is that you do not run Vista. ; )


HTH

Robert Aldwinckle
---

 

[Perrin Wardle]

I was clicking on a message in an email in Live.com, a window popped up
saying there wa a problem, and Windows had to shut down. Then rec'd a 2nd
message from "Dr Watson Postmorten Debugger, and did I want to report the
problem, and I said yes. I've never seen this before, but after googling, it
appears that I might have a major problem, virus, trojan, etc. I am new to
the computer, so I don't know what I should do. All my scans show no
infection.Can you give me some guidance please?

It is possible that you have a major virus, even then it is possible that
you have a problem with your Windows XP installment.

One way, if it is a problem with your installment is to get your cd put it
in the drive and go "Repair" even then it might come back so just try if your
problem isnt resolved.


Smartest kid in Australia, over and out"

PS contact me at (e-mail address removed) if it persists and i will try find a
fix