Two installations of XP + error msgs.

[Guest]

Help! I bought a used computer at an estate sale. Got it home and found two
XP OSes installed. Also gives me an error regarding "LSA Shell- Export
Version". This goes by pretty fast so I did not get the full message. The
computer displays something about "Isass.exe corrupt. . . 1073741819" Then
it tells me that it will shutdown in 59 seconds and it counts down. . . sure
'nuff - it shuts down!

Can I (should I, can I) delete both XP installations? Will that also get
rid of the forced shutdown? Of course, I will buy my own copy of XP Home.
If I delete the two versions already on this box, will I be OK trying to
install a new retail XP Home edition?

Thanks for any help.
Confused in Colorado

 

[Ken Blake]

In

Help! I bought a used computer at an estate sale. Got it home
and
found two XP OSes installed. Also gives me an error regarding
"LSA
Shell- Export Version". This goes by pretty fast so I did not
get
the full message. The computer displays something about
"Isass.exe
corrupt. . . 1073741819" Then it tells me that it will
shutdown in
59 seconds and it counts down. . . sure 'nuff - it shuts down!

It's infected with the Sasser worm.

Can I (should I, can I) delete both XP installations? Will
that also
get rid of the forced shutdown?

Yes, and yes. You shouldn't do it just to rid of Sasser (there
are easier ways) but because you have no idea how the computer
has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly, what is
missing, what other viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I
wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems,
possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that
anyone else do either.

Of course, I will buy my own copy of
XP Home. If I delete the two versions already on this box, will
I be
OK trying to install a new retail XP Home edition?

Yes.

 

[Rock]

Help! I bought a used computer at an estate sale. Got it home and found two
XP OSes installed. Also gives me an error regarding "LSA Shell- Export
Version". This goes by pretty fast so I did not get the full message. The
computer displays something about "Isass.exe corrupt. . . 1073741819" Then
it tells me that it will shutdown in 59 seconds and it counts down. . . sure
'nuff - it shuts down!

Can I (should I, can I) delete both XP installations? Will that also get
rid of the forced shutdown? Of course, I will buy my own copy of XP Home.
If I delete the two versions already on this box, will I be OK trying to
install a new retail XP Home edition?

Thanks for any help.
Confused in Colorado

With a computer like that obtained from a prior user, it's always a good
bet to wipe the drives and install everything fresh. No knowing what
nasties are on it - virus, worms, trojans, adware, pornography, etc.