help - major crashes since opening non-virus email

[Guest]

2 weeks ago I received an email from a supposedly reliable source. On
highlighting it to open it my computer suffered a major crash. Every time I
tried to get back into Outlook Express to delete the email after reconnecting
to the internet my computer kept crashing because the rogue email was
highlighted by default. I eventually realised that I could delete it by
staying offline. Ever since this episode I’ve had serious problems with my
computer. There have been several times when my internet connection has
severed then a blue screen appears telling me my computer will be shut down
to prevent possible serious damage - there’s a load of info on the blue
screen but it disappears before I can make a note of it all. All I’ve managed
to catch is this:

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

I’ve then had serious problems trying to get my computer restarted. When
I’ve eventually managed to get it started again I’ve been told my computer
has recovered from a serious problem. On one occasion I was told New Hardware
Found - referring to my modem (dial-up). I’ve then had to restart the
computer several times before my modem is finally recognised. Today has been
a really bad day - it’s been happened constantly - my computer kept crashing
when I was working in Word 2002 and not even connected to the internet. On
one occasion when I restarted I was told the computer wouldn’t start because:

MISSING OR CORRUPT FILE
<WINDOWS ROOT>\SYSTEM32\NTOSKRNL.EXE

although I reset the computer a couple of times and have managed to get back
into it. Can anyone please tell me what the hell has happened? The problem
has clearly emanated from this email I received but I’ve done god knows how
many virus and spyware scans and nothing has shown up - including Trend Micro
Housecall. I REALLY need help with this. Thanks

 

[Guest]

I dunno. I'm not to pro at this, but I think it may have been helpful to know
what file in that email was causing the problem... What was the email's
title? was there an attachment? Were there pictures or files loaded directly
onto the email? If you knew the name of the program causing the problem, it
may be helpful to google it.

 

[Guest]

I hope this helps you.

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Q_20837201.html



My advice, since it began happening in coincidence with the e-mail, would be
to run a virus scanner. Perhaps some sort of program has installed it self
that causes the error, or perhaps a program which simply emulates the error
to annoy you is present. In any case, running a virus scanner and a spyware
scanner would be recomended.

Also, try checking the "Messenger" service. Right-click "my computer",
choose "manage" and select "services" under "services and applications".
Locate the "messenger" service in the right panel, doubleclick it and disable
it, if it's not already disabled.

 

[CWatters]

Have you tried a system restore to a date before the email arrived? I would
do that.

If that doesn't work and you have a real Windows CD (NOT a manufacturers OEM
Restore CD) try this....

1) Backup your hard drive (I would use a program like Norton Ghost to image
the drive). The backup is important so that you can put the system back
exactly as it is if the following fails to complete or makes things worse!

2) Start -> Run -> scf /scannow

It might ask for the Windows CD so that it can replace any missing or
corrupted files (eg the missing one).

3) Run Windows update to restore any service packs that might be effected.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for replying chaps. Amongst other things I write for a UK music mag
and the offending email I received was from a promotions agency that has me
on their mailing list. It was just an ordinary-looking email that they
usually send each week with details of their bands - no attachments and
nothing to suggest the evil within it. Strangely enough I've not received an
email from them since so I don't know what's going on there. I've done tons
of scans over the last couple of weeks - AVG / Ad Aware / Spybot / Microsoft
Antispyware and Trend Micro's online scan but nothing showed up. As I was
banging my head into my monitor this afternoon I remembered system restore -
I've never used it before - and restored my system back to about 3 weeks ago
and at the moment it seems to have sorted the problem out. But I'll certainly
make a note of the advice about using a real Windows CD just incase it
happens again.

Cheers

 

[CWatters]

Thanks for replying chaps. Amongst other things I write for a UK music mag
and the offending email I received was from a promotions agency that has me
on their mailing list. It was just an ordinary-looking email that they
usually send each week with details of their bands - no attachments and
nothing to suggest the evil within it. Strangely enough I've not received an
email from them since so I don't know what's going on there. I've done tons
of scans over the last couple of weeks - AVG / Ad Aware / Spybot / Microsoft
Antispyware and Trend Micro's online scan but nothing showed up. As I was
banging my head into my monitor this afternoon I remembered system restore -
I've never used it before - and restored my system back to about 3 weeks ago
and at the moment it seems to have sorted the problem out. But I'll certainly
make a note of the advice about using a real Windows CD just incase it
happens again.

Jolly good. System restore has saved my sanity twice in the last two years.