No icons, no task bar, no access

[Charles W Davis]

Started to work on Computer Club member's computer. No icons on desk top, no
task bar, no access to start menu.

I was able to log on using the provided password. The only thing that I was
able to do was to open the Task Manager using the keyboard short cut. From
there, I could start iexplore.exe. Was able to connect to the internet and
it is running IE8.

What is the Start Menu .exe?

 

[Jose]

Started to work on Computer Club member's computer. No icons on desk top,no
task bar, no access to start menu.

I was able to log on using the provided password. The only thing that I was
able to do was to open the Task Manager using the keyboard short cut. From
there, I could start iexplore.exe. Was able to connect to the internet and
it is running IE8.

What is the Start Menu .exe?

From Task Manager, run explorer.exe (not iexplorer.exe) to get your
desktop back, then start with:

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/

They can be uninstalled later if desired.

 

[Charles W Davis]

Started to work on Computer Club member's computer. No icons on desk top,
no
task bar, no access to start menu.

I was able to log on using the provided password. The only thing that I
was
able to do was to open the Task Manager using the keyboard short cut. From
there, I could start iexplore.exe. Was able to connect to the internet and
it is running IE8.

What is the Start Menu .exe?

From Task Manager, run explorer.exe (not iexplorer.exe) to get your
desktop back, then start with:

Download, install, update and do a full scan with these free malware
detection programs:

Malwarebytes (MBAM): http://malwarebytes.org/
SUPERAntiSpyware: (SAS): http://www.superantispyware.com/

They can be uninstalled later if desired.

Thank you... Malwarebytes was able to find 87 bad guys in safe mode without
being able to access the internet with the fake anti-virus program blocking
internet access. Things seem to be working well and so am running a deep
scan with Malwarebytes, it has again found 3 more infected files.

Thanks so much for your knowledge in this matter.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What anti-virus application is installed and is the subscription current?

 

[Charles W Davis]

Very Sad. The member had just installed Norton Anti-Virus 360. The malware
had prevented it from starting, three of its four services never started.. I
have just removed 18 items using HijackThis. I was only in Safe Mode that
any thing could be accomplished until Malwarebytes could get a grip on the
first batch. Then I was able to get Malwarebytes to update and from then on
things went better. I believe that it is about ready to be returned to the
member. I'll run some tests in the morning after it has been left on
overnight.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

What AV app was installed before member installed Norton 360? Did the
member purchase N360?

If the answer to my first question is None, don't waste your time. Backup
any personal data (none of which should be considered trustworthy), then do
a format & clean install of Windows. Please note that a Repair Install (AKA
in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

cf. http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a USB key that
isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/advanced/xppc.mspx

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c

HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx

Rogue Security Software - Microsoft Security:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/rogue.mspx

 

[Kelly]

Some of the "expected" need to be renamed.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm