OK here's an update, first ESET HAS been my AV of choice for 3+ years now NOTHING holds a candle to it!
Second, on to the problem(s) at hand
Now I not only re-formatted the whole drive I also bought a new 1TB drive as a damage control item (in case I throw the original out the window) !
After reformatting ad re-installing Win7Ult 32 bit I don't have the same problem but yet they are similar! Go figure! (I also tried Win7Ult 64 bit and the new WD 1TB 7200 drive)
After a successful install, randomly at boot up, it might go fine or it can go black or it can go to a Win7 light blue screen with the 4 color MS Flag logo and then freeze! If it does boot up ok and go to the desktop WIT all of the Icons, if it goes to sleep it will come back with the light blue Win7 screen with the MS logo/flag and be locked/froze!
An F8 at boot up ALWAYS brings you to the desk top with ICONS!
I tried going back to a Windows XP Pro install and got an install error!
So at this point I'm reloading Win7Ult 64bit and will run it in safe mode!
What I've tried to solve this . . .
2 different hard drives both fresh,re-formatted with NOTHING on them! nfg
I tried swapping and eliminating ram modules to ensure there's no memory problem! nfg
Cleared CMOS. nfg
Tried proper shutdowns (versus yanking the power plug after a successful bootup) nfg
Looked for overheating issues nfg (air blew dust out of everywhere including my ears)
One thing I am REALLY curious about with this DELL Vostro 420 is the CPU! It is a Intel Q6600 2.4ghz that is a supposed 64 bit cpu but yet dell shipped it with a 32 bit Win XP OS!
How is that possible? You can't load Win7 32 bit OS on to a current Intel I3, I5, I7 or any other current 64 bit cpu cause it will tell you that you have the wrong OS Architecture and halt the install!
Not with this cpu???
So at this point I'm stumped, the rootkit is gone (was it EVER there?) according to Gmer and the funky file name "fwriyuog" it was. But that can't be the issue now!
Any thoughts?
thanks