Severe graphical error situation in windows XP pro

[Erik S]

My windows display characters all over the windows environment has gone
completely bananas. That means that the textual fonts in all menus and
objects with a few exceptions has gone from the usual wetsern alphabet to a
chryptic font set. The Interface of my screen for all the system desktop in
all modes (programs and functions) are influenced beyond recognition and
usability.
Have anyone experinced this any time, please help me, the pC is useless. It
is absolutely my first experience of this frightening matter.
It happened like this: I started my PC this morning as usual and there it
was the completely ununderstandable fonts all over the MS windows and office
environment.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Malicious software ("malware") could be installed on your computer.

Make sure that your anti-malware software is running, then download the
latest signatures and run a full scan.

If you don't have comprehensive anti-malware software, that's like
driving a car without seats belts or air bags. Either way, you're
eventually going to get hammered. Install comprehensive anti-malware
software and learn how to use its features. A 'comprehensive' solution
scans for all types of malicious software in the background, on demand
and on schedule.

For now try scanning your system with /several/ of the better online
scanners, such as:
Kaspersky Antivirus (http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner)
Panda ActiveScan (http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan)

Download HijackThis from www.trendsecure.com. Run it, save a log, and
post the log at one of the many sites that support HJT, such as
spywarewarrior.com, bleepingcomputer.com, and temerc.com -- but not
here. Within a day, sometimes within an hour, you'll have one-on-one
step-by-step advice from a security expert on cleaning up any
infestations—or you'll have a clean bill of health from the volunteer
expert.

Even the best detection and removal software can't fix every malware
infection. If none of the above remove the infection, you may want to
show the computer to a professional.

---
Leonard Grey
Errare Humanum Est

Security Tips for Everyone, from PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2334856,00.asp

 

[Erik S]

Hey Leonard.

Well, okay it could make sense, but as you maybe has guessed I have a virus
and malware protection software program installed, it is the AVG 8. Okay let
me jump to the ugly scenario of this theory of yours and suppose I have a
severe malware.
Here are an additional characteristic of the matter on this machine: The
keyboard characters does not either show up normal. They are rubbish sqiubble
there too. Are someone having fun with me beyond the firewalls and the
anti-virus walls? If so, how will I manage getting access to the precise
doings like your suggestions with a such useless interface like the one I
have at the moment?

And do you have any idea what virus or what kind of malware this is?
Have anyone head of this problem before in the win xp several yo long.ears
of history?

So long.

 

[Leonard Grey]

If your computer is unusable, call for help from your local professional
geek.

If you have a bit of the geek yourself, remove the hard drive, install
it in a known good computer as a secondary drive, and use the good
computer to test your hard drive.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare Humanum Est

Security Tips for Everyone, from PC Magazine
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2334856,00.asp

 

[Twayne]

My windows display characters all over the windows environment has

gone completely bananas. That means that the textual fonts in all
menus and objects with a few exceptions has gone from the usual
wetsern alphabet to a chryptic font set. The Interface of my screen
for all the system desktop in all modes (programs and functions) are
influenced beyond recognition and usability.
Have anyone experinced this any time, please help me, the pC is
useless. It is absolutely my first experience of this frightening
matter.
It happened like this: I started my PC this morning as usual and
there it was the completely ununderstandable fonts all over the MS
windows and office environment.

I hope you've backed up your data:
During boot, and before Windows loads, is the text OK? Do you get the
normal windows logo and the "Press Fx for ..." type messages OK?
Just to eliminate the BIOS and some hardware.
IF it is, any chance you have another monitor in order to eliminate
the monitor as a problem? Or not.

At what point during the boot do you first notice the unreadable
presentation?
Are images also messed up in the same way?

Does it still do that if you boot to Safe Mode?

Do you have an XP install CD? You could try doing a Repair Install of
XP. In theory it shouldn't damage any data but "things happen" so
proceed carefully and read the screens carefully. You will have to let
windows update reinstall some updates after diong that though.
IF, using the XP CD you still have the same problem, then it's likely
your video card or monitor that went south.

What experience level are you with working with the operating system?
It might be necessary to reinstall the OS eventually, to get around
this, assuming it IS a software/malware program and not your monitor or
video card. But answering some of these questions first may help a lot.

If you don't have a lot of experience with this sort of thing, then
perhaps a trip to the shop is the best thing to do. It might be faster
in the long run albeit cost a bit.

HTH

Twayne

 

[Erik S]

So far I have done a AVG scan which showed a Trojan Horse. It had its source
related to a Driveragent program I just used the day before. What the extent
of such damage is, I do not know. The problem is general in all modes except
for the DOS prompt mode, and probably I will work in some extent from there
concerning some backup parts.
I wonder if Win xp when reinstalling / repair keep all the updates for the
SP3 winXP state?
I gonna try to get some information somewhere about how the AVG act when
identifying malware, and others that can illuminate the situations.
Yes I think i can manage the reinstall after a while of preparations, I am
not all lost.
I wonder if it is the explorer program that is carrieng the malfunctional
code, so then maybe it is enough do a swap from some backup.


Best regards.
ES