You never mentioned Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) before in this
thread, Daniel.
Two hours online (or connected to a local network) without a functional,
fully-updated anti-virus application installed is more than ample time to
infect a computer. (Actually, two minutes would suffice!) The fact that
you couldn't download/install MSE very strongly suggests a hijackware
infection is causing your problem.
Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then format the HDD & do a clean install of
Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will
NOT fix this!
HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307
After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a local network (i.e., other computers)
and before using a flash drive or SDCard that isn't brand-new or hasn't
been freshly formatted:
4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx
Other helpful references include:
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b
Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029
NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial AND download/run the
appropriate removal tool BEFORE installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades AND BEFORE installing your new anti-virus application
(which likely will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).
Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe
McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe
Good luck!
1. New hard drive
2. SP2
3. Yes
4. 2 hours, while I tried to get MSE installed, when MSE would not
install I
downloaded AVG.
This is a stand alone PC.
thanks
Daniel
PA Bear said:
[Please don't answer my questions within the quote of my post, just
answer
by number.]
1. Why did you need to do a "fresh install?"
2. Did this fresh install leave you with WinXP SP1 or SP2?
3. Did you use the disks that came with the computer-in-question to
install WinXP?
4. How long was the computer connected to the internet or any local
networks (other computers) before you got AVG installed & fully updated?
Daniel wrote:
Why did it take you 2 years to get SP3 installed?
It was a fresh install of XP on a formatted hard drive and Auto Update
installed SP3
What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current?
AVG Free v9
What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
None
What third-party firewall (if any)?
None
Were any of these applications running in the background when you
installed SP3?
Yes AVG
Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
bought it)?
No
Daniel wrote:
I have a PC with XP Home SP3 (SP3 installed yesterday) it has been
working
well but
today, when I double click, or right click/open on a shortcut or
select
an
item in the
start menu nothing happens except that the mouse arrow turns to a
working
hourglass and
the program does not open.
Any ideas on what could be happening or what I should look at.
