Hit ctrl-alt-delete, click shutdown and select restart, when the system
reboots, start tapping F8, this should eventually bring up a menu, select
Safe Mode, decline the option to go to System Restore, in Safe Mode, if you
don't have the same issue, try running a virus scan on your system, be sure
you antivirus software is up to date and then run the scan.
Also, download, install and run Ad Aware,
www.lavasoftusa.com.
We are starting to see a lot of posts complaining of this issue and that's
almost a sure sign of some type of virus activity going around.
If your system comes up clean on the virus scan and Ad Aware turns up
nothing, go to Start\All Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore
and try taking your system back to a time prior to when this began. If Safe
Mode has the same issue as when you are at the XP desktop, reboot the
system, start tapping F8 and again choose Safe Mode. This time, if
presented with the option to go to System Restore as you enter Safe Mode,
accept the option and do as I suggested, try taking the system back to a
time before this began.
