HUGE problem with... well the programs that make Windows Windows

[Guest]

ok there are some really bad problems with my Windows XP.
The first thing is whenever I try to open Task Manager,
it flashes for a few seconds, then dissapears. It
dissapears to fast to do anything and then ends up as an
icon by the clock and then dissapears, and sometimes the
task manager doesn't come up. I've tried to run MSCONFIG,
but the same thing happens, it appears, flashes for about
2 seconds, then dissapears. I can't even use search
because everytime I put in a search, it just freezes up
and then it exits out, and then the screen goes blank,
loads up, and all the programs that were running are
exited out of. I know it's not a problem due to the
administrator because I've tried it on every username and
they all react the same way and it seems that NOONE HAS
EVER HEARD OF THIS AND THERE IS ZERO INFORMATION
ANYWHERE! I know that it's not a setup problem, because
this was never a problem since I've had this computer in
2002. Everything else works just fine, just the search,
task manager, and MSCONFIG are not working at all. I've
tried doing the system volume error search nothing, I've
downloaded at 3 different kind of programs that look for
spyware (Spy Sweeper, Ad Aware, and Pest Patrol), I've
looked for viruses with Zone Alarm's antivirus program,
and Norton Anti Viruses, so a virus isn't a problem...
Does anyone have any clue of what I should
do?????????????????????

 

[Chuck]

ok there are some really bad problems with my Windows XP.
The first thing is whenever I try to open Task Manager,
it flashes for a few seconds, then dissapears. It
dissapears to fast to do anything and then ends up as an
icon by the clock and then dissapears, and sometimes the
task manager doesn't come up. I've tried to run MSCONFIG,
but the same thing happens, it appears, flashes for about
2 seconds, then dissapears. I can't even use search
because everytime I put in a search, it just freezes up
and then it exits out, and then the screen goes blank,
loads up, and all the programs that were running are
exited out of. I know it's not a problem due to the
administrator because I've tried it on every username and
they all react the same way and it seems that NOONE HAS
EVER HEARD OF THIS AND THERE IS ZERO INFORMATION
ANYWHERE! I know that it's not a setup problem, because
this was never a problem since I've had this computer in
2002. Everything else works just fine, just the search,
task manager, and MSCONFIG are not working at all. I've
tried doing the system volume error search nothing, I've
downloaded at 3 different kind of programs that look for
spyware (Spy Sweeper, Ad Aware, and Pest Patrol), I've
looked for viruses with Zone Alarm's antivirus program,
and Norton Anti Viruses, so a virus isn't a problem...
Does anyone have any clue of what I should
do?????????????????????

1) Verify your antivirus with an online scan.
2) Try additional spyware detection, including HijackThis AND expert advice.

Try one or more of these free online virus scans, which should complement your
current protection:
<http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php>
<http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan>
<http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/>
<http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp>
<http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp>

Now check for, and learn to defend against, additional problems. Have you
downloaded these programs before? Download them again, as the latest version
may be needed to keep up with the current level of malware being attempted
constantly - get the absolutely most current version of each product listed.
They're all free - and most pretty small, so they download quickly enough.

Start by downloading each of the following free tools:
CWShredder <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>
CoolWWWSearch.SmartSearch (v1/v2) MiniRemoval
<http://www.safer-networking.org/minifiles.html>
HijackThis <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155>
LSP-Fix and WinsockLSPFix <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>
Spybot S&D <http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>
Stinger <http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=stinger>

Install and run Stinger.
<http://us.mcafee.com/virusInfo/default.asp?id=stinger>

Create a separate folder for HijackThis, such as C:\HijackThis - copy the
downloaded file there. Spybot S&D has an install routine - run it. The other
downloaded programs can be copied into, and run from, any convenient folder.

Start by closing all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, and running
CoolWebSearchSmartKiller, then CWShredder. Have the latter fix all.

Next, run Spybot S&D. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a scan
("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and delete everything ("Fix Problems")
that is displayed in Red.

Then, run HijackThis ("Scan"). Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log.
<http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=227>

Finally, have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the
following forums (and post it, or a link to your forum post, here):
<http://forums.net-integration.net/>
<http://forums.spywareinfo.com/>
<http://spywarewarrior.com/index.php>
<http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
<http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.