how to restore previous security settings

[harlan_da]

I am running xp pro. Last week windows took it upon itself to change the
security settings to 'default'. Now I have lost the ability to run many
windows programs and functions such as IE, media player, system restore and
the ability to move files, etc. How can I figure out what windows has
changed and how do I put the security settings back like they were to restore
use of the programs and functions.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

I am running xp pro. Last week windows took it upon itself to change the
security settings to 'default'. Now I have lost the ability to run many
windows programs and functions such as IE, media player, system restore
and
the ability to move files, etc. How can I figure out what windows has
changed and how do I put the security settings back like they were to
restore
use of the programs and functions.

Windows may not have made the changes. Have you checked for the presence of
spyware?

 

[harlan_da]

Windows may not have made the changes. Have you checked for the presence of
spyware?


--

Mike Hall - MVP Windows Experience
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/

I don't think this is spyware. Windows made these changes as I was booting in on what looked like a DOS screen then booted on into windows. I didn't know what was going on at the time or how to stop it. Now when I try to open a program such as IE or media player it very quickly flashes an outline and goes away, non windows programs give a 'system error has occurred. Description: Service is not online. Application terminates'.

 

[Peter Foldes]

Yes it is spyware\malware that causes this. Use something like Malwarebytes and
SuperAntiSpyware to remove the rogue malware and then run your AV along with some
online ones.

 

[harlan_da]

After running a few different versions of sypware and malware including the
ones listed nothing has changed any other suggestions?