Windows not starting up completely, no start menu, no task manager

[Jim 5coat]

Had a virus attack and have cleaned it using McAfee including a full scan in
DOS safe mode. No infected files are on the disk based on the scans. When
I start the PC in “normal mode†the desktop displays but the start menu nor
the task bar display. Even when I use the windows key. Right clicks on the
desk top do not work. I normally do not have icons on my desktop so I do
not know if other programs work.

In the safe mode I have attempted to run
windows explorer and the system says in can not find explorer.exe even though
I can see it in the windows directory using the DOS dir command.

I have attempted to do the sfc /scannow process but got the following error
message "windows file protection could not initiate a scan of protected
system files.
The specific error code is 0x000006ba (The RPC server is unavailable.].

I have reviewed what is running in the Task Manager and notice that
explorer.exe is not running and expect it has something to do with the fact
the system can't find explorer.exe for some reason.

Not sure where to go from here.

 

[Malke]

Had a virus attack and have cleaned it using McAfee including a full scan
in
DOS safe mode. No infected files are on the disk based on the scans.
When I start the PC in ?normal mode? the desktop displays but the start
menu nor
the task bar display. Even when I use the windows key. Right clicks on
the
desk top do not work. I normally do not have icons on my desktop so I do
not know if other programs work.

In the safe mode I have attempted to run
windows explorer and the system says in can not find explorer.exe even
though I can see it in the windows directory using the DOS dir command.

I have attempted to do the sfc /scannow process but got the following
error
message "windows file protection could not initiate a scan of protected
system files.
The specific error code is 0x000006ba (The RPC server is unavailable.].

I have reviewed what is running in the Task Manager and notice that
explorer.exe is not running and expect it has something to do with the
fact the system can't find explorer.exe for some reason.

I very much doubt that your computer is still clean. McAfee is really
dreadful and in any case won't catch a lot of malware.

Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do
all scans in Safe Mode.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions
http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums
listed at the first link. Register and read its posting FAQ. PLEASE DO NOT
POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

Or your operating system may have been so damaged that a clean install is
required.

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are
just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;
suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my
suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. If you can't do the work yourself
(and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the
machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent
of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be aware that not all local shops
are skilled at removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be
so infested that Windows will need to be clean-installed. If possible, have
all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke

 

[Jim 5coat]

Thanks for the suggestions I will try them in the AM. 10 hours of messing
with this stuff today is about all I can handle. Though it appears I have
narrowed the issue down to the explorer.exe missing issue. It's like the
file allocation table may have gotten hit because the system just doesn't
recognize the file even though it's there.
--
Jim 5coat

Had a virus attack and have cleaned it using McAfee including a full scan
in
DOS safe mode. No infected files are on the disk based on the scans.
When I start the PC in ?normal mode? the desktop displays but the start
menu nor
the task bar display. Even when I use the windows key. Right clicks on
the
desk top do not work. I normally do not have icons on my desktop so I do
not know if other programs work.

In the safe mode I have attempted to run
windows explorer and the system says in can not find explorer.exe even
though I can see it in the windows directory using the DOS dir command.

I have attempted to do the sfc /scannow process but got the following
error
message "windows file protection could not initiate a scan of protected
system files.
The specific error code is 0x000006ba (The RPC server is unavailable.].

I have reviewed what is running in the Task Manager and notice that
explorer.exe is not running and expect it has something to do with the
fact the system can't find explorer.exe for some reason.

I very much doubt that your computer is still clean. McAfee is really
dreadful and in any case won't catch a lot of malware.

Go through these general malware removal steps systematically -
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Include scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do
all scans in Safe Mode.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructions
http://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructions

When all else fails, get guided help. Choose one of the specialty forums
listed at the first link. Register and read its posting FAQ. PLEASE DO NOT
POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

Or your operating system may have been so damaged that a clean install is
required.

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are
just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;
suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my
suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. If you can't do the work yourself
(and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the
machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent
of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be aware that not all local shops
are skilled at removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be
so infested that Windows will need to be clean-installed. If possible, have
all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke