Wow!! This PC is jacked up!!

G

Guest

WinXP Home SP2. Owner tells me when he goes onto Internet, it closes
automatically as soon as he opens it. Sure enough, it's true.
I then try to open My Computer, and the screen loses background, goes to
blank blue, back to icons, and then finally to the white screen with the
Restore Active Desktop button.
Try running other programs, uh uh.
This pc is seriously messed up and I would like to know where to start on
fixing it.
 
K

kenkcj

I'd start by trying to take a look at the event log to see what exactly is
going on where it closes... I've honestly never seen anything like that
before but thats definitely where I'd start. You may be able to find some
clues from errors to steer you in the right direction on searches or at
least give further information for the MVPs and other various regulars on
these newsgroups to further assist you.
Hope this helps
-kenkcj
 
P

PA Bear

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log
to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware with
assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums for expert
analysis, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
 
G

Guest

Rockitman said:
WinXP Home SP2. Owner tells me when he goes onto Internet, it closes
automatically as soon as he opens it. Sure enough, it's true.
I then try to open My Computer, and the screen loses background, goes to
blank blue, back to icons, and then finally to the white screen with the
Restore Active Desktop button.
Try running other programs, uh uh.
This pc is seriously messed up and I would like to know where to start on
fixing it.

Did you checked the Client does not have a Monty dandy Wallpaper installed
as Web page?. Check the Display settings specially under Desktop >> Customize
Desktop and make sure there are not any check boxes checked there.
Does this behaviour occur in safe mode.

Try to start with clean boot
How to configure Windows XP to start in a "clean boot" state
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Go through these Cleaning steps:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Taps:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Renable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Run a scan from here on-line:
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner (offline scanner) from here:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html
After the scan run disk cleanup on your drive.

Do you have other accounts on this machine?, try them or create a new account.
How to Identify a Damaged User Profile and Create a New Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151
How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151

Have a look in the Event Viewer for error messages(X) that can shed some
light and post it back in your next post by performing the following and also
the System File Checker (SFC) sfc /scannow:

Open a Notepad, customize or minimize to the taskbar as you will need it
later for this step to copy the error message on it.
Open a run command and type in:
eventvwr.msc click [OK] you will get the Event viewer control Panel.
click on each of these:
Application
System
Security
Look in the right Pane/window for error message with red (X) or Yellow
exclamation mark /!\ , double click each one to get more info about the
causer.
On the Event error properties message you will see:
Up Arrow
Down arrow
Two pages
Click on the two pages to copy the error message then bring up the Notepad
you opened earlier and right click on the first line and select Paste from
the list, this will paste the error message on a Notepad.
Please don't duplicate the error message one of each kind will be sufficient.
HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

Please we need just the error messages with Red (X) and don't repeat the
error, just one of each kind and post them back in your next post.
HTH.
nass
 

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