Virus scanning??

[Korporativ]

I've run quite a few different virus scanners for windows XP each have found nothing. AVG, Pantasoft, and the online trendmicro. But the odd behavior of my computer lately has me convinced I have some sort of virus, perhaps a boot sector one. When I reboot, the computer occasionally hangs at the login screen. My HDs will occasionally 'hang' for a second. Can any of you reccomend a really good free anti-virus that would perhaps scan my bootsector etc. just to put my mind at ease? I've cleaned the registry out etc. in hopes of avoiding a complete reinstall... but it looks like the reinstall is becoming a reality.

 

[emmetfitzhume]

Im not sure how quickly the issue you are talking about is occuring but boot time issues are frequently power supply related.

 

[johnjkr1]

If those three programs didn't catch it, nothing will. I would disagree that a power supply has anything to do with boot time. You might have an actual hard drive problem, did you run the full diagnostic from the drive maker?

 

[Korporativ]

Yeah actually, i ran the WinDlg from western digital for the drives. Overall the drives seem to perform fine. I thought at first it was a conflict with IRQs and sound, but i've swapped out the drives. It seems to happen a lot when I have certain combinations of programs open. For example when i've got winamp open with Internet Explorer, and windows Explorer, and something that starts the Java protocalls. Occasionally some games will do it too. I've messed with my swap file and all sorts of things aswell. Checked active background processes. Though, one thing i've noticed is occasionally my CD burner will access itself for no reason and that seems to temporarily hang the system. I don't think any of those anti-virus programs scan the boot sector... un less i'm missing an option to turn on somewhere. I've had no problems with my power supply and have actually removed components so that should not be the source of the problem. Maybe my install of windows XP is just due for a fresh install.

 

[amdskip]

Do you have the spyware cleaned off the system?

 

[Korporativ]

Yup i use both Ad-Aware 6 and Spybot search&destroy.

 

[par]

format c: is always the best fix for a slow box..

once you format though, protect immediately

always update, buy *cough* norton antivirus & update constantly, use a firewall built in with xp, use spybot, adaware, and cwsshredder

don't use p2p crap and use google bar for blocking popups

goodluck