WINDOWS XP PRO = I NEED HELP!!!!!

[gigapet]

ok heres the deal:

I come home from my long weekend away and reboot my computer since it seemed to be lagging a bit. No big deal as it is usually up for weeks at a time.

XP begins to load and I notice it is taking a bit longer than normal to get through the "progress bar" portion of the OS boot up.

Finally my desktop image appears....and I am waiting and waiting for the start button and task bar to appear. Nothing

No desktop icons....just the wall paper

wierd.


I open task manager and note that explorer.exe isn't running in my processes. so I open the run a new task diaglog box and type in explorer. It opens a process and then immediately shuts down again.

I run the antivirus and ad-aware and come up clean.

I can open up my broswer and other apps as well through the run new task dialog.

I decide to do a chkdsk. Fixed some errors but again windows wouldn't fully load.

This has been a stable as a rock system for sometime.

Any ideas what could be causing this bizzare behavior??? Possible solutions?? HELP!!!

 

[MrChad]

How long did you wait for explorer.exe to start up?

 

[gigapet]

Originally posted by: MrChad
How long did you wait for explorer.exe to start up?

i saw it open in the processes almost immediately. And nearly as quickly it disappeared again.

Also on a cold boot up the start menu and task bar appear on screen for about 2 seconds then disappear

 

[MrChad]

Hmm, have you tried booting into safe mode?

You might want to try creating a Bart's PE CD and running a virus / spyware scan on the drive, as they may be causing explorer.exe to crash.

 

[gigapet]

Originally posted by: MrChad
Hmm, have you tried booting into safe mode?

You might want to try creating a Bart's PE CD and running a virus / spyware scan on the drive, as they may be causing explorer.exe to crash.

logged in as administrator in safe mode and recieved teh same results.

 

[stnicralisk]

Have you attempted booting to the CD and choosing to attempt to repair your installation? Do you have a time you can roll back to? What antivirus are you using? What does your hijackthis log look like? What color shoes are you wearing? Does anyone else access this computer?

 

[gigapet]

Originally posted by: stnicralisk
Have you attempted booting to the CD and choosing to attempt to repair your installation? Do you have a time you can roll back to? What antivirus are you using? What does your hijackthis log look like? What color shoes are you wearing? Does anyone else access this computer?

1) not yet
2) no
3) AVG anitvirus
4) haven't looked at it
5) black
6) no

 

[Hyperlite]

Download HiJackthis and give it a try.

 

[gigapet]

can I do a repair install with the xp upgrade cds or do I need the original full version?

 

[scottish144]

The upgrades might work, but the full version will definately work. Use the upgrade CDs if u can, as the orginal will not have updates and there may be many glitches in Windows (i.e. random error pop-ups) after the repair. Also, GET RID OF AVG!!! Especially if its the free version. The only two competent AVs are McAfee and Norton. Also, do u have a firewall? Your computer may have become a zombie if u were hacked. Also, try Spybot. Sometimes it picks up things adaware doesn't.

Regardless of if it its a virus or not, chances are u still need to reinstall windows. Also, reinstalling windows DOESN'T erase HD data, so if it is a virus it may still be active after the reinstallation.

 

[Oakenfold]

Originally posted by: scottish144
The upgrades might work, but the full version will definately work. Use the upgrade CDs if u can, as the orginal will not have updates and there may be many glitches in Windows (i.e. random error pop-ups) after the repair. Also, GET RID OF AVG!!! Especially if its the free version. The only two competent AVs are McAfee and Norton. Also, do u have a firewall? Your computer may have become a zombie if u were hacked. Also, try Spybot. Sometimes it picks up things adaware doesn't.

Regardless of if it its a virus or not, chances are u still need to reinstall windows. Also, reinstalling windows DOESN'T erase HD data, so if it is a virus it may still be active after the reinstallation.

Got proof that AVG is not competent? I've been using it for quite some time, even had it pickup stuff that Norton did not.

 

[stnicralisk]

Originally posted by: Oakenfold

Originally posted by: scottish144
The upgrades might work, but the full version will definately work. Use the upgrade CDs if u can, as the orginal will not have updates and there may be many glitches in Windows (i.e. random error pop-ups) after the repair. Also, GET RID OF AVG!!! Especially if its the free version. The only two competent AVs are McAfee and Norton. Also, do u have a firewall? Your computer may have become a zombie if u were hacked. Also, try Spybot. Sometimes it picks up things adaware doesn't.

Regardless of if it its a virus or not, chances are u still need to reinstall windows. Also, reinstalling windows DOESN'T erase HD data, so if it is a virus it may still be active after the reinstallation.

Got proof that AVG is not competent? I've been using it for quite some time, even had it pickup stuff that Norton did not.

There was a test setup that someone did with all the free AV programs and I believe AVG only got like 70% of the viruses.

My advice is to use Hijackthis. I would try to do a repair using the CDs first before doing anything else. If there were bad sectors who knows what may have become corrupt. Once you use Hijack this come back and copy and paste the entire log.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: scottish144
The upgrades might work, but the full version will definately work. Use the upgrade CDs if u can, as the orginal will not have updates and there may be many glitches in Windows (i.e. random error pop-ups) after the repair. Also, GET RID OF AVG!!! Especially if its the free version. The only two competent AVs are McAfee and Norton. Also, do u have a firewall? Your computer may have become a zombie if u were hacked. Also, try Spybot. Sometimes it picks up things adaware doesn't.

Regardless of if it its a virus or not, chances are u still need to reinstall windows. Also, reinstalling windows DOESN'T erase HD data, so if it is a virus it may still be active after the reinstallation.

If you think Norton or Mcafee are better at anything... than you haven't been around AT much. And judging on your post count I'm right. I think the general concensus here is the Norton and Mcafee both suck beyond recognition, and there are tons of free anitvirus AND firewalls out there that do a better job. AVG is good Antivir is good too.

 

[nimo]

Originally posted by: Oakenfold
Got proof that AVG is not competent? I've been using it for quite some time, even had it pickup stuff that Norton did not.

I do

I had the free AVG & Sygate Firewall combo.
And for a free antivirus/firewall they are pretty good
but after I installed Symantec corp. 9 it made me reevaluate the effectiveness of AVG.
Not only did Symantec found existing viruses AVG overlooked it also seems to detect ?incoming? viruses much better
On more than one occasion Symantec poped a warning and AVG did nothing

I now run Symantec corp. 9 and client security 2 as well as AVG but AVG is there simply cos it not taking up res.

 

[Zugzwang152]

open a command prompt and do a sfc/scannow.

 

[AKA]

Here is what you need to do first.

Go into regedit and look for this path.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

Look for the name Shell on the right hand side panel.

The data for the Shell entry should only have Explorer.exe

If there is anything else after explorer.exe on that line then you need to change it.
Right click, modify and just type in Explorer.exe

However your not done, if there was something else in it then there is something on computer changing it.

Whatever name was in there after explorer.exe, you need to do a search for it and delete it.

Go into msconfig and disable all startups and non-microsoft services.

Verify in your taskmanager after rebooting that nothing else is running except WinXp stuff. Uninstall & reinstall any antivirus, firewall, antispyware stuff on computer and update. Be sure to enable the Xp firewall before hand if its not.

If there was nothing in the Shell line other than Explorer.exe then look in eventvwr and see if it gives any details to it. Also go ahead and do msconfig anyways, incase something starting up is causing it to close.

If not then just replace the explorer.exe from disc and try again.

 

[scottish144]

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: scottish144
The upgrades might work, but the full version will definately work. Use the upgrade CDs if u can, as the orginal will not have updates and there may be many glitches in Windows (i.e. random error pop-ups) after the repair. Also, GET RID OF AVG!!! Especially if its the free version. The only two competent AVs are McAfee and Norton. Also, do u have a firewall? Your computer may have become a zombie if u were hacked. Also, try Spybot. Sometimes it picks up things adaware doesn't.

Regardless of if it its a virus or not, chances are u still need to reinstall windows. Also, reinstalling windows DOESN'T erase HD data, so if it is a virus it may still be active after the reinstallation.

If you think Norton or Mcafee are better at anything... than you haven't been around AT much. And judging on your post count I'm right. I think the general concensus here is the Norton and Mcafee both suck beyond recognition, and there are tons of free anitvirus AND firewalls out there that do a better job. AVG is good Antivir is good too.

First, post count doesn't determine intelligence (ur post shows that well enough). Second, I used AVG Free edition for a time, and when I switched to Verizon DSL I got their complementary McAfee and it picked up several trojans AVG missed. Saying that AVG is better than Norton and McAfee is like saying that Via is better than AMD and Intel. Also, unlike u, I don't base my technical knowledge entirely on AT.

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: scottish144

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: scottish144
The upgrades might work, but the full version will definately work. Use the upgrade CDs if u can, as the orginal will not have updates and there may be many glitches in Windows (i.e. random error pop-ups) after the repair. Also, GET RID OF AVG!!! Especially if its the free version. The only two competent AVs are McAfee and Norton. Also, do u have a firewall? Your computer may have become a zombie if u were hacked. Also, try Spybot. Sometimes it picks up things adaware doesn't.

Regardless of if it its a virus or not, chances are u still need to reinstall windows. Also, reinstalling windows DOESN'T erase HD data, so if it is a virus it may still be active after the reinstallation.

If you think Norton or Mcafee are better at anything... than you haven't been around AT much. And judging on your post count I'm right. I think the general concensus here is the Norton and Mcafee both suck beyond recognition, and there are tons of free anitvirus AND firewalls out there that do a better job. AVG is good Antivir is good too.

First, post count doesn't determine intelligence (ur post shows that well enough). Second, I used AVG Free edition for a time, and when I switched to Verizon DSL I got their complementary McAfee and it picked up several trojans AVG missed. Saying that AVG is better than Norton and McAfee is like saying that Via is better than AMD and Intel. Also, unlike u, I don't base my technical knowledge entirely on AT.

I think AVG does a great job. Does it miss things? Of course, but so does Norton and McCaffee. I have noticed that none of the virus scanners do it all perfectly... Sometimes it takes a combination of programs to clean up everything.

I think the AVG guys do an excellent job and especially for their free version. Norton is getting more expensive all the time and it is going to be hard to justify their cost. However, one thing Norton has going for it, is its ease of use, user friendly and is well know.

For a paid version, I would say Norton if the best based on network sercurity for a server environment. For a free version? Hmm, I guess AVG among others ranks up there. Not happy with AVG? Do not use it... But do not discredit it. Because everyone seems to have a story to discredit the "other" guy.

 

[scottish144]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: scottish144

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: scottish144
The upgrades might work, but the full version will definately work. Use the upgrade CDs if u can, as the orginal will not have updates and there may be many glitches in Windows (i.e. random error pop-ups) after the repair. Also, GET RID OF AVG!!! Especially if its the free version. The only two competent AVs are McAfee and Norton. Also, do u have a firewall? Your computer may have become a zombie if u were hacked. Also, try Spybot. Sometimes it picks up things adaware doesn't.

Regardless of if it its a virus or not, chances are u still need to reinstall windows. Also, reinstalling windows DOESN'T erase HD data, so if it is a virus it may still be active after the reinstallation.

If you think Norton or Mcafee are better at anything... than you haven't been around AT much. And judging on your post count I'm right. I think the general concensus here is the Norton and Mcafee both suck beyond recognition, and there are tons of free anitvirus AND firewalls out there that do a better job. AVG is good Antivir is good too.

First, post count doesn't determine intelligence (ur post shows that well enough). Second, I used AVG Free edition for a time, and when I switched to Verizon DSL I got their complementary McAfee and it picked up several trojans AVG missed. Saying that AVG is better than Norton and McAfee is like saying that Via is better than AMD and Intel. Also, unlike u, I don't base my technical knowledge entirely on AT.

I think AVG does a great job. Does it miss things? Of course, but so does Norton and McCaffee. I have noticed that none of the virus scanners do it all perfectly... Sometimes it takes a combination of programs to clean up everything.

I think the AVG guys do an excellent job and especially for their free version. Norton is getting more expensive all the time and it is going to be hard to justify their cost. However, one thing Norton has going for it, is its ease of use, user friendly and is well know.

For a paid version, I would say Norton if the best based on network sercurity for a server environment. For a free version? Hmm, I guess AVG among others ranks up there. Not happy with AVG? Do not use it... But do not discredit it. Because everyone seems to have a story to discredit the "other" guy.

For a FREE version, AVG is great. I was speaking in general terms.

 

[Oakenfold]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: scottish144

Originally posted by: gorcorps

Originally posted by: scottish144
The upgrades might work, but the full version will definately work. Use the upgrade CDs if u can, as the orginal will not have updates and there may be many glitches in Windows (i.e. random error pop-ups) after the repair. Also, GET RID OF AVG!!! Especially if its the free version. The only two competent AVs are McAfee and Norton. Also, do u have a firewall? Your computer may have become a zombie if u were hacked. Also, try Spybot. Sometimes it picks up things adaware doesn't.

Regardless of if it its a virus or not, chances are u still need to reinstall windows. Also, reinstalling windows DOESN'T erase HD data, so if it is a virus it may still be active after the reinstallation.

If you think Norton or Mcafee are better at anything... than you haven't been around AT much. And judging on your post count I'm right. I think the general concensus here is the Norton and Mcafee both suck beyond recognition, and there are tons of free anitvirus AND firewalls out there that do a better job. AVG is good Antivir is good too.

First, post count doesn't determine intelligence (ur post shows that well enough). Second, I used AVG Free edition for a time, and when I switched to Verizon DSL I got their complementary McAfee and it picked up several trojans AVG missed. Saying that AVG is better than Norton and McAfee is like saying that Via is better than AMD and Intel. Also, unlike u, I don't base my technical knowledge entirely on AT.

I think AVG does a great job. Does it miss things? Of course, but so does Norton and McCaffee. I have noticed that none of the virus scanners do it all perfectly... Sometimes it takes a combination of programs to clean up everything.

I think the AVG guys do an excellent job and especially for their free version. Norton is getting more expensive all the time and it is going to be hard to justify their cost. However, one thing Norton has going for it, is its ease of use, user friendly and is well know.

For a paid version, I would say Norton if the best based on network sercurity for a server environment. For a free version? Hmm, I guess AVG among others ranks up there. Not happy with AVG? Do not use it... But do not discredit it. Because everyone seems to have a story to discredit the "other" guy.

Honestly AVG+Free Zonealarm>Norton or Mcaffe in my book.

 

[mechBgon]

For home users, Kaspersky is my first recommendation.

Regarding the topic of the thread, if there's still some possibility that the system is infected, then it would be interesting to slave the drive into a second computer and scan it from there. TrendMicro Housecall might be worth a shot as a "second opinion" to supplement AVG: TrendMicro Housecall, use Internet Explorer with an Admin-class account.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: A.K.A.
Here is what you need to do first.

Go into regedit and look for this path.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]

Look for the name Shell on the right hand side panel.

The data for the Shell entry should only have Explorer.exe

If there is anything else after explorer.exe on that line then you need to change it.
Right click, modify and just type in Explorer.exe

However your not done, if there was something else in it then there is something on computer changing it.

Whatever name was in there after explorer.exe, you need to do a search for it and delete it.

Go into msconfig and disable all startups and non-microsoft services.

Verify in your taskmanager after rebooting that nothing else is running except WinXp stuff. Uninstall & reinstall any antivirus, firewall, antispyware stuff on computer and update. Be sure to enable the Xp firewall before hand if its not.

If there was nothing in the Shell line other than Explorer.exe then look in eventvwr and see if it gives any details to it. Also go ahead and do msconfig anyways, incase something starting up is causing it to close.

If not then just replace the explorer.exe from disc and try again.

Also make sure the stuff that starts with explorer isn't hanging it:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnceEx
(You don't want ANYTHING in runonce, unless you just installed something during the last reboot.)

and I've even seen Active Desktop fubar a system like this once:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\BrowserHelperObjects

(Safe to clean that out. Any antivirus programs will realize they're gone and replace them to keep your IE sessions safe.)