Desktop display changed

[Jo-Anne]

This morning when I turned on my computer (WinXP SP3), my display had
changed from Classic to Windows XP, and my font size had also changed to the
default setting. I changed them back to what I wanted but am wondering what
happened. Everything was normal when I turned off the computer last night.
The only thing that occurred beforehand was that Norton had run its usual
Monday night scan.

Any idea of what happened--and what I can do to keep it from happening
again?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

 

[sgopus]

an occasional glitch sometimes happens with computers, ie one bit off and it
changes an instruction, or causes corruption in a file somewhere, this is why
they strongly suggest you have a strong backup program in place for all those
important pictures and data.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Thank you for your reassurance! I know strange things happen once in a
while--and I do full backups regularly with Acronis True Image Home, which I
hope is substantial protection against a major glitch.

Jo-Anne

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[Is this the PC with OE compacting issues? Have you used or restored any of
these Acronis backups and did the backup include your OE data?]

 

[Jo-Anne]

No, the PC with the screwed up display is my old desktop computer; it's the
new laptop that has compacting issues. And I didn't restore to the laptop
any of my Acronis backups.

I installed individual programs on the new laptop, and I used OEQB to
"restore" my Outlook Express identities and files to it.

Jo-Anne

[Is this the PC with OE compacting issues? Have you used or restored any
of these Acronis backups and did the backup include your OE data?]

Thank you for your reassurance! I know strange things happen once in a
while--and I do full backups regularly with Acronis True Image Home,
which I
hope is substantial protection against a major glitch.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

But it's the machine with Norton?! I see...

No, the PC with the screwed up display is my old desktop computer; it's
the
new laptop that has compacting issues...

[Is this the PC with OE compacting issues? Have you used or restored any
of these Acronis backups and did the backup include your OE data?]

Thank you for your reassurance! I know strange things happen once in a
while--and I do full backups regularly with Acronis True Image Home,
which I
hope is substantial protection against a major glitch.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Yes, it is the one running Norton. Tell you what. When I return from a
couple-week trip, I'll get rid of Norton.

However, I have to add that my non-Norton computer just did something really
bad (in my opinion). I'm running Avira AntiVir on the laptop (the computer
with the problem with OE compacting). Today, I ran the AntiVir Rootkit
checker--and when I came back to check on its progress, I was faced with the
blue screen of death. In all the years that I've had WinXP and Norton on my
desktop computer, I've NEVER gotten the blue screen. So why on the laptop as
I was running an AntiVir program?

Did you notice, by the way, that I responded to your last post at OE about
my compacting problem?

Thanks much!

Jo-Anne

But it's the machine with Norton?! I see...

No, the PC with the screwed up display is my old desktop computer; it's
the
new laptop that has compacting issues...

[Is this the PC with OE compacting issues? Have you used or restored
any
of these Acronis backups and did the backup include your OE data?]

Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you for your reassurance! I know strange things happen once in a
while--and I do full backups regularly with Acronis True Image Home,
which I
hope is substantial protection against a major glitch.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

At the risk running OT in one of your threads again...

What was the STOP error displayed on the BSOD?

Why did you run Avira AntiRootkit Tool? Is it the beta v1.0.1.17?

Yes, it is the one running Norton. Tell you what. When I return from a
couple-week trip, I'll get rid of Norton.

However, I have to add that my non-Norton computer just did something
really
bad (in my opinion). I'm running Avira AntiVir on the laptop (the computer
with the problem with OE compacting). Today, I ran the AntiVir Rootkit
checker--and when I came back to check on its progress, I was faced with
the
blue screen of death. In all the years that I've had WinXP and Norton on
my
desktop computer, I've NEVER gotten the blue screen. So why on the laptop
as
I was running an AntiVir program?

Did you notice, by the way, that I responded to your last post at OE about
my compacting problem?

But it's the machine with Norton?! I see...

No, the PC with the screwed up display is my old desktop computer; it's
the
new laptop that has compacting issues...

[Is this the PC with OE compacting issues? Have you used or restored
any
of these Acronis backups and did the backup include your OE data?]

Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you for your reassurance! I know strange things happen once in a
while--and I do full backups regularly with Acronis True Image Home,
which I
hope is substantial protection against a major glitch.

 

[Jo-Anne]

I don't know what the STOP error was and didn't know what to look for. I
tried doing a screen print of the blue screen, but nothing happened when I
went to paste it after I restarted the computer. Maybe I should have taken a
picture of it with my camera. I ran the Rootkit tool because I was told the
regular Avira scan doesn't look for rootkits but this one does. It appears
to be part of the regular program, though, and my version is 8.2.0.337. I
run it now and then (at the suggestion of some people at the Avira support
forum). I've never had a problem with it before.

Jo-Anne

At the risk running OT in one of your threads again...

What was the STOP error displayed on the BSOD?

Why did you run Avira AntiRootkit Tool? Is it the beta v1.0.1.17?

Yes, it is the one running Norton. Tell you what. When I return from a
couple-week trip, I'll get rid of Norton.

However, I have to add that my non-Norton computer just did something
really
bad (in my opinion). I'm running Avira AntiVir on the laptop (the
computer
with the problem with OE compacting). Today, I ran the AntiVir Rootkit
checker--and when I came back to check on its progress, I was faced with
the
blue screen of death. In all the years that I've had WinXP and Norton on
my
desktop computer, I've NEVER gotten the blue screen. So why on the laptop
as
I was running an AntiVir program?

Did you notice, by the way, that I responded to your last post at OE
about
my compacting problem?

But it's the machine with Norton?! I see...

Jo-Anne wrote:
No, the PC with the screwed up display is my old desktop computer; it's
the
new laptop that has compacting issues...

[Is this the PC with OE compacting issues? Have you used or restored
any
of these Acronis backups and did the backup include your OE data?]

Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you for your reassurance! I know strange things happen once in
a
while--and I do full backups regularly with Acronis True Image Home,
which I
hope is substantial protection against a major glitch.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

If you think the utility caused the STOP error, contact Avira Support.
Otherwise, I wouldn't run the AntiRootkit Tool if there's no reason to do so
other than curiosty or boredom.

Patient (demonstrating): "Doctor, it hurts when I do this!"
Doctor: "Dont do that."

<rimshot>

I don't know what the STOP error was and didn't know what to look for. I
tried doing a screen print of the blue screen, but nothing happened when I
went to paste it after I restarted the computer. Maybe I should have taken
a
picture of it with my camera. I ran the Rootkit tool because I was told
the
regular Avira scan doesn't look for rootkits but this one does. It appears
to be part of the regular program, though, and my version is 8.2.0.337. I
run it now and then (at the suggestion of some people at the Avira support
forum). I've never had a problem with it before.

At the risk running OT in one of your threads again...

What was the STOP error displayed on the BSOD?

Why did you run Avira AntiRootkit Tool? Is it the beta v1.0.1.17?

Yes, it is the one running Norton. Tell you what. When I return from a
couple-week trip, I'll get rid of Norton.

However, I have to add that my non-Norton computer just did something
really
bad (in my opinion). I'm running Avira AntiVir on the laptop (the
computer
with the problem with OE compacting). Today, I ran the AntiVir Rootkit
checker--and when I came back to check on its progress, I was faced with
the
blue screen of death. In all the years that I've had WinXP and Norton on
my
desktop computer, I've NEVER gotten the blue screen. So why on the
laptop
as
I was running an AntiVir program?

Did you notice, by the way, that I responded to your last post at OE
about
my compacting problem?

But it's the machine with Norton?! I see...

Jo-Anne wrote:
No, the PC with the screwed up display is my old desktop computer;
it's
the
new laptop that has compacting issues...

[Is this the PC with OE compacting issues? Have you used or restored
any
of these Acronis backups and did the backup include your OE data?]

Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you for your reassurance! I know strange things happen once in
a
while--and I do full backups regularly with Acronis True Image Home,
which I
hope is substantial protection against a major glitch.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Given that I don't know why it happened, I'll hold off doing anything--and I
won't run the Rootkit utility. If it doesn't happen again, great! If it
does, I'll be back with questions...

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

If you think the utility caused the STOP error, contact Avira Support.
Otherwise, I wouldn't run the AntiRootkit Tool if there's no reason to do
so other than curiosty or boredom.

Patient (demonstrating): "Doctor, it hurts when I do this!"
Doctor: "Dont do that."

<rimshot>

I don't know what the STOP error was and didn't know what to look for. I
tried doing a screen print of the blue screen, but nothing happened when
I
went to paste it after I restarted the computer. Maybe I should have
taken a
picture of it with my camera. I ran the Rootkit tool because I was told
the
regular Avira scan doesn't look for rootkits but this one does. It
appears
to be part of the regular program, though, and my version is 8.2.0.337. I
run it now and then (at the suggestion of some people at the Avira
support
forum). I've never had a problem with it before.

At the risk running OT in one of your threads again...

What was the STOP error displayed on the BSOD?

Why did you run Avira AntiRootkit Tool? Is it the beta v1.0.1.17?

Jo-Anne wrote:
Yes, it is the one running Norton. Tell you what. When I return from a
couple-week trip, I'll get rid of Norton.

However, I have to add that my non-Norton computer just did something
really
bad (in my opinion). I'm running Avira AntiVir on the laptop (the
computer
with the problem with OE compacting). Today, I ran the AntiVir Rootkit
checker--and when I came back to check on its progress, I was faced
with
the
blue screen of death. In all the years that I've had WinXP and Norton
on
my
desktop computer, I've NEVER gotten the blue screen. So why on the
laptop
as
I was running an AntiVir program?

Did you notice, by the way, that I responded to your last post at OE
about
my compacting problem?

But it's the machine with Norton?! I see...

Jo-Anne wrote:
No, the PC with the screwed up display is my old desktop computer;
it's
the
new laptop that has compacting issues...

[Is this the PC with OE compacting issues? Have you used or
restored
any
of these Acronis backups and did the backup include your OE data?]

Jo-Anne wrote:
Thank you for your reassurance! I know strange things happen once
in
a
while--and I do full backups regularly with Acronis True Image
Home,
which I
hope is substantial protection against a major glitch.

 

[Kayman]

Given that I don't know why it happened, I'll hold off doing anything--and I
won't run the Rootkit utility. If it doesn't happen again, great! If it
does, I'll be back with questions...

Well, if I were you I'd consult an expert forum which specializes in
examining your (perceived) rootkit issue (it certainly would harm your
operating system and the outcome may be surprising and/or educational).

*ComboFix* - A guide and tutorial on using
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/combofix/how-to-use-combofix
http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/index.php?board=3.0
(ComboFix should not be used without guided assistance.)

*GMER* - is an application that detects and removes rootkits.
http://www.gmer.net/index.php
http://antirootkit.com/forums/index.php?sid=9e746bb696ac0bb38781ffe4361c3a17

I'd register to:
http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/index.php?board=3.0
and state my problem and request for assistance in relation to scan results
of both Combofix and/or GMER.

Good luck

 

[Jo-Anne]

Thank you, Kayman! I'll do a lot of checking on my return from a 2+ week
trip.

Jo-Anne

 

[Kayman]

On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:06:36 +0700, Kayman wrote:

Correction!

(it certainly would harm your operating system and the outcome may be
surprising and/or educational).

....it certainly would *not* harm...

 

[Jo-Anne]

Got it, Kayman! Thank you!

On Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:06:36 +0700, Kayman wrote:

Correction!


...it certainly would *not* harm...

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[I am no longer watching this thread.]

Thank you, Kayman! I'll do a lot of checking on my return from a 2+ week
trip.

Jo-Anne