I went on that site and I reviewed my installed updates. It says that I have succeeded in all of them, except for SP2. I also downloaded that file but things are the same still.
You won't be able to use all the tools in this program (unless you register for $5), but see if any of the free ones which apply to your situation are of any help.
/SCANNOW Scans all protected system files immediately.
/SCANONCE Scans all protected system files once at the next boot.
/SCANBOOT Scans all protected system files at every boot.
/REVERT Return scan to default setting.
/PURGECACHE Purges the file cache.
/CACHESIZE=x Sets the file cache size.
...It says that I need my Windows XP CD. I do not have it with me right now...
The good news is that means it has found some System Files which aren't the proper versions, or are missing altogether. Hopefully when you get your disc back the replacement files will solve your problem.
I wanted to know one thing. I have Windows XP Professional but it's not the original CD. It's a burned version of the Operating System, and I was wondering if that would affect me in terms of using Service Pack 2.
I'm not sure if I understand you correctly, but if you're asking if an exact copy of the XP CD will work the same as the original, then the answer is yes.
You shouldn't need it to update your computer to SP2. It should allow you to patch things with the sfc /scannow tool, though.
I ran sfc /scannow and inserted my XP CD and this blue progress bar came up. After it finished, nothing else happened, and I waited about a minute. Then I rebooted my computer and I still have the same problem.
If I've missed it I apologize, but have you tried creating a new user account and logging in to that? If the new account works properly it would help narrow down the problem.
Note: You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to follow these steps. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from follow these steps.
1. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then clear the Process System.ini File, Process WIn.ini File, and Load Startup Items check boxes. You cannot clear the Use Original Boot.ini check box.
3. On the Services tab, select the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then click Disable All.
4. Click OK, and then click Restart to restart your computer.
5. After Windows starts, determine whether the symptoms still occur.
Note Look closely at the General tab to make sure that the check boxes that you cleared are still cleared. Continue to step 6 if none of the check boxes are selected. If the Load System Services check box is the only disabled check box, your computer is not clean-booted. If additional check boxes are disabled and the issue is not resolved, you may require help from the manufacturer of the program that places a check mark back in Msconfig.
If none of the check boxes are selected, and the issue is not resolved, you may have to repeat steps 1 through 5, but you may also have to clear the Load System Services check box on the General tab. This temporarily disables Microsoft services (such as, Networking, Plug and Play, Event Logging, and Error Reporting) and permanently deletes all restore points for the System Restore utility. Do not do this if you want to retain your restore points for System Restore or if you must use a Microsoft service to test the issue.
6. Click Start, click Run, type msconfig in the Open box, and then click OK.
7. On the General tab, select the Process System.ini File check box, click OK, and then click Restart to restart the computer. If the issue continues, the issue is with an entry in your System.ini file. If the issue does not continue, repeat this step for the Process Win.ini File, Load Startup Items, and Load System Services check boxes until the issue occurs. After the issue occurs, the last item that you selected is the item where the issue is occurring.
Note: Microsoft strongly recommends that you do not use System Configuration Utility to modify the Boot.ini file on your computer without the direction of a Microsoft support engineer. Doing so may make your computer unusable.
Since things work normally in Safe Mode, something else loading is messing you up. What this procedure does is eliminate all of them, then adds them back in a few at a time. When things suddenly turn bad again you know the problem lies in the area you just re-enabled.
I ran MSCONFIG and I clicked Selective Startup, and then cleared the Process System.ini File, Process WIn.ini File, and Load Startup Items check boxes. Then I clicked the Services tab, selected the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then clicked Disable All. Then I restarted my computer. None of the check boxes were selected when I came back so I continued to step 6. I selected the Process System.ini File check box, clicked OK, and then clicked Restart to restart my computer. I guess the problem is is with an entry in my System.ini file because the issue still continued.
Double-click it and it should open automatically. Then click Edit>>Select All, then Edit>>Copy, then right-click in a new message here and click paste.
The problem has been resolved. My brother couldn't wait any longer so he just resorted to formatting it, lol. Anyways, I wanted to thank everyone who helped me trying to solve this problem. I just have one more thing to ask. Is there a way you can check to see if my system is completely clean? Because sometimes even after formatting, viruses and spyware and trojans and the like seem to come back, is there a way that I can keep my system clean on a regular basis?
Here is a list written by Buckeye_sam, that you should follow to keep your computer clean.
Now that you are clean, please follow these simple steps in order to keep your computer clean and secure:
Disable and Enable System Restore. - If you are using Windows ME or XP then you should disable and reenable system restore to make sure there are no infected files found in a restore point left over from what we have just cleaned.
You can find instructions on how to enable and reenable system restore here:
Renable system restore with instructions from tutorial above
Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:
From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
Click once on the Security tab
Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
Click once on the Custom Level button.
Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.
Use an AntiVirus Software - It is very important that your computer has an anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future.
See this link for a listing of some online & their stand-alone antivirus programs:
Update your AntiVirus Software - It is imperitive that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out.
Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. I am very serious about this and see it happen almost every day with my clients. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly.
For a tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones see the link below:
Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site Frequently - It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly. This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.
Install Spybot - Search and Destroy - Install and download Spybot - Search and Destroy with its TeaTimer option. This will provide realtime spyware & hijacker protection on your computer alongside your virus protection. You should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Install Ad-Aware - Install and download Ad-Aware. ou should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Install SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster will added a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs.
A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
Update all these programs regularly - Make sure you update all the programs I have listed regularly. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious programs are released.
Follow this list and your potential for being infected again will reduce dramatically.
Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4
Ad-Aware SE Personal v1.06
I'd recommend running them at least once a week (each only takes a few minutes to scan your entire computer), and anytime you have reason to suspect that something is amiss.
Get a good Anti-Virus program and keep it up to date. Scan your computer fully at least once a week.
Be wary of email attachments, even if you know the sender. Your friend might have gotten infected and not yet know it. There are also viruses which spoof the senders address, meaning that the name attached to the email is not the actual sender.
Also at the Security Download page, get HijackThis v1.99.1 and keep it handy. Careful - unlike Spybot and AdAware, most of what it finds is good, if not downright necessary. If you think something may be going on with your computer behind your back, come back here to the Spyware/Virus/Trojan Discussion Forum and post a copy of the HijackThis log in a new thread.
Good luck to you.
EDIT: Trogan_1000 has you covered. I type too slow.
Comments
I went on that site and I reviewed my installed updates. It says that I have succeeded in all of them, except for SP2. I also downloaded that file but things are the same still.
You won't be able to use all the tools in this program (unless you register for $5), but see if any of the free ones which apply to your situation are of any help.
I used some of the tools that applied to my situation but none of them worked. I rebooted after restoring some of the tools, but same problem still.
sfc /scannow
"SFC" is the System File Checker utility. Make sure your WinXP CD is handy.
I did that and this is what comes up:
Microsoft(R) Windows DOS
(C)Copyright Microsoft Corp 1990-2001.
C:\>sfc / scannow
Microsoft(R) Windows XP Windows File Checker Version 5.1
(C) 1999-2000 Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved
Scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Mi
crosoft versions.
SFC [/SCANNOW] [/SCANONCE] [/SCANBOOT] [/REVERT] [/PURGECACHE] [/CACHESIZE=x]
/SCANNOW Scans all protected system files immediately.
/SCANONCE Scans all protected system files once at the next boot.
/SCANBOOT Scans all protected system files at every boot.
/REVERT Return scan to default setting.
/PURGECACHE Purges the file cache.
/CACHESIZE=x Sets the file cache size.
C:\>
sfc / scannow
should be
sfc /scannow
It says that I need my Windows XP CD. I do not have it with me right now, I lent it to my cousin. I'll try to get it as soon as possible.
I wanted to know one thing. I have Windows XP Professional but it's not the original CD. It's a burned version of the Operating System, and I was wondering if that would affect me in terms of using Service Pack 2.
You shouldn't need it to update your computer to SP2. It should allow you to patch things with the sfc /scannow tool, though.
I ran sfc /scannow and inserted my XP CD and this blue progress bar came up. After it finished, nothing else happened, and I waited about a minute. Then I rebooted my computer and I still have the same problem.
I did make a new account, but the problem wasn't fixed. It was the same thing, no desktop or no taskbar.
How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
and follow this procedure:
Since things work normally in Safe Mode, something else loading is messing you up. What this procedure does is eliminate all of them, then adds them back in a few at a time. When things suddenly turn bad again you know the problem lies in the area you just re-enabled.
I ran MSCONFIG and I clicked Selective Startup, and then cleared the Process System.ini File, Process WIn.ini File, and Load Startup Items check boxes. Then I clicked the Services tab, selected the Hide All Microsoft Services check box, and then clicked Disable All. Then I restarted my computer. None of the check boxes were selected when I came back so I continued to step 6. I selected the Process System.ini File check box, clicked OK, and then clicked Restart to restart my computer. I guess the problem is is with an entry in my System.ini file because the issue still continued.
Then open System.ini with Notepad and copy & paste the text here.
How do I open System.ini with notepad?
The problem has been resolved. My brother couldn't wait any longer so he just resorted to formatting it, lol. Anyways, I wanted to thank everyone who helped me trying to solve this problem. I just have one more thing to ask. Is there a way you can check to see if my system is completely clean? Because sometimes even after formatting, viruses and spyware and trojans and the like seem to come back, is there a way that I can keep my system clean on a regular basis?
Panda Activescan
Trend Micro: Housecall
Here is a list written by Buckeye_sam, that you should follow to keep your computer clean.
Spybot Search & Destroy 1.4
Ad-Aware SE Personal v1.06
I'd recommend running them at least once a week (each only takes a few minutes to scan your entire computer), and anytime you have reason to suspect that something is amiss.
Get a good Anti-Virus program and keep it up to date. Scan your computer fully at least once a week.
Be wary of email attachments, even if you know the sender. Your friend might have gotten infected and not yet know it. There are also viruses which spoof the senders address, meaning that the name attached to the email is not the actual sender.
Also at the Security Download page, get HijackThis v1.99.1 and keep it handy. Careful - unlike Spybot and AdAware, most of what it finds is good, if not downright necessary. If you think something may be going on with your computer behind your back, come back here to the Spyware/Virus/Trojan Discussion Forum and post a copy of the HijackThis log in a new thread.
Good luck to you.
EDIT: Trogan_1000 has you covered. I type too slow.
Besides, you gave good info which I didn't think of
I wanna thank you all. I really really appreciate what you guys have done for me. It must hard saving the world one computer at a time.