Cannot shutdown/restart windows xp

[Val G]

System: windows XP SP1
Already scanned for the msblast virus- not found.
The symptoms are: Cannot shutdown/restart windows, cannot
start Task Manager etc. The only way to reboot is to
physically power off the system.
Is this a new virus ?
Began happening few weeks ago.
Any help is grately appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Sharon F]

System: windows XP SP1
Already scanned for the msblast virus- not found.
The symptoms are: Cannot shutdown/restart windows, cannot
start Task Manager etc. The only way to reboot is to
physically power off the system.
Is this a new virus ?
Began happening few weeks ago.
Any help is grately appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

If you think you have a virus and you think your AV
program may be affected, Norton provides an online scan
here:

http://security.symantec.com/default.asp?
productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym

Other online scanners:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
http://www.avp.ru/remoteviruschk.html
http://www3.ca.com/virusinfo/virusscan.aspx

Might help to do a quick online check for adware, spyware, hijackers and
other nasties. Many of these things can cause virus like symptoms as well:
http://www.aumha.org/a/noads.htm

You'll also find links on the noads.htm page leading to doxdesk.com, a site
well-known for documenting various parasites.

Another good resource site: http about parasites:
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/

And finally, although the part about Task Manager is disconcerting, you may
just be experiencing a normal shutdown problem. A good online shutdown
troubleshooter for XP can be found here:
http://www.aumha.org