Command prompt, et. al., will not open

[Guest]

Running XP Pro SP2, automatic updates is turned on. This problem started
while I was switching a NIC from DHCP to static IP and back. Don't see how
that would cause this, but all was well prior.

Here's the problem:

1) Unable to run CMD.EXE. It opens a window, shows the command prompt and
immediately exits. Trying to run anything with 'cmd -c' does the same thing.
No diagnostics are reported. I also tried running cmd.exe from a cygwin
bash shell to make sure I wasn't missing any error messages.

2) Unable to open the task manager. Main window opens, icon appears in the
system tray, then exits, icon goes away.

3) System updates are not functioning correctly. System repeatedly prompts
for the same set of updates. Installation claims to be successful but the
'new update notifier' immediately turns around and prompts for the same set.

Have rebooted, run chkdsk. Unfortunately the CD in this box is fried so if
the only option involves a system reinstall I will have to replace the drive.
Is there any other way around this?

Thanks,
-Brian

 

[Wesley Vogel]

You have a trojan, virus or worm.

Update your antivirus software and run a full system scan.

Update whatever antispyware applications that you have and run scans with
those also.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

That was it - mytob.ke to be precise. NAV had expired and let this one in.
Thanks.