RandyL

Hi dave; Yes you are indeed infected. I'm going to ask you to attempt to run our malware removal guide. Make sure you attempt to update these programs if prompted. I understand you are in safe mode with networking but do what you can even if it's not in the correct order. Your computer could is infected with Malware. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a combination of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. Required Cleanup StepsDisable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF) Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below) Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below) Clear out old System Restore points If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested. The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something. The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed. Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes. The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours. In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer. Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean. For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below. From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range" click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware. http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/printer-selection.gif ____________________________________________ STEP 1 Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2)Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode" On the left hand side, Click on Tools Then click on the Resident Icon in the List Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts. Restart your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 2 Follow these instructions carefully. Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware. You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main. For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored Then click on "Empty Selected". http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner01.gif . http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner02.gif __________________________________________________ STEP 3 Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files. You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next. You can leave the automated check for updates on. You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information. DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings. On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button. Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives. Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so. __________________________________________________ STEP 4 Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes - (direct download) Accept all defaults for the installer Allow the program to update the definitions Click on the Quick Scan and click Next. If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 5 Run an online scan with ESET from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan. If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you must first start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select "Run as administrator" from the popup context menu. Accept the terms and click "Start". Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications". Click "Start" to begin the scan. When completed restart your computer __________________________________________________ Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating. At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted. If required this is the download link for TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool. Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one. Please follow the instructions here How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

We are trying to help but you have to help us too. It is absolutely imperative that you answer all our questions and follow the advice given and then give us the feed back we need. So far you have done none of that aside from replying to the initial first response. The only other thing you have done is ask if there was something else it could be after you were given a clear answer to a possible cause and a path to a solution. 1. What security products do you have. 2. What other scans have you done? 3. Do you have any P2P or other file sharing programs? 4. Do you download music, movies or screensavers? 5. Have you run the scans I suggested? 6. If you have not why? The scans are free and the cause has to be ruled before we proceed further. If they come up clean then we can proceed to fix this. No matter the cause you need to answer our questions please in order for us to help you.

Nothing else that I can think of and I have seen this before. It doesn't matter how long you've had it. The rate of infections is fast and it depends on many factors. Such as poor security products or using file sharing or downloading the wrong programs. Have you downloaded any screensavers? Do you download music or movies? What is your security programs? Either way the scans are free and it has to be ascertained before the repairs.

I know your ports work with other devices but as a last resort you could try it in another computer. To be honest though since it worked before and not now it may be a lost cause. All storage devices of any kind will eventually fail. Try the recovery programs and see what happens. Even the paid ones are no gaurantee though. Data recovery companies exist but they are extremely expensive.

Are things working better now. If so leave well enough alone if it suits your needs. You have plenty for most users. If it isn't broke......

Hi; Welcome and feel free to stick around. We'll figure it out.

Hi again; I have a feeling your desktop policies have been corrupted by malware and needs to be repaired. However we need to be absolutely certain that any malware is removed first. Please follow all these instructions exactly then we can do the repair. Your computer could be infected with Malware. Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is a combination of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. Required Cleanup StepsDisable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF) Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below) Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below) Clear out old System Restore points If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested. The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something. The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed. Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes. The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours. In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer. Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean. For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below. From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range" click the Selection choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware. http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/printer-selection.gif ____________________________________________ STEP 1 Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2)Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode" On the left hand side, Click on Tools Then click on the Resident Icon in the List Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts. Restart your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 2 Follow these instructions carefully. Download ATF-Cleaner from Snapfiles.com to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware. You can also download it from Majorgeeks.com When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main. For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox NOTE: If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored Then click on "Empty Selected". http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner01.gif . http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner02.gif __________________________________________________ STEP 3 Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from SUPERAntiSpyware.com Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files. You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next. You can leave the automated check for updates on. You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information. DO NOT allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings. On the Top Left select the Scan your computer button. Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all Fixed Drives. Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so. __________________________________________________ STEP 4 Install and run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware from Malwarebytes - (direct download) Accept all defaults for the installer Allow the program to update the definitions Click on the Quick Scan and click Next. If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer. __________________________________________________ STEP 5 Run an online scan with ESET from Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner You must use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan. If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you must first start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the Internet Explorer icon in the Start Menu and select "Run as administrator" from the popup context menu. Accept the terms and click "Start". Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications". Click "Start" to begin the scan. When completed restart your computer __________________________________________________ Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help and tell us how the computer seems to be operating. At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted. If required this is the download link for TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool. Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one. Please follow the instructions here How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

If you use IE reset the Advanced funtions in Internet Options. While in Options also click the Security tab and Reset all zones to default levels. Check your OE settings based on those of your other computer. When you click cancel do you get an error message?

Microsoft has blocked new hotmail accounts from Outlook Express since 2005. Since then they have been phasing out the old accounts and more agressively so this year. However you said the same account works with OE on another computer correct? Is your other computer using Internet Explorer 6? I see this one is using IE7. Do as Seth suggests to make sure your system is not still infected first. The tools you used are not good enough.

System Restore is not a reinstall. System Restore simply rolls back your PC to a point before you had issues. Scroll down to Use System Restore and restore to a point before you experienced this problem.

ELLIOT have you tried System Restore yet?

MS lol. If this problem only surfaced recently around the same time as you installed Silverlight try doing a System Restore.

Hi alp; I'm sure Dalo will be back shortly to assist you. He knows your RAM type and your BIOS so please be patient. There is one thing you could try while you wait. Switch the RAM you took out with the RAM you know works using the same slot. This might help determine if the RAM itself is bad.

That is a good question. Built to last.

Hi ELLIOT; Lets try the basics first. Try the Reset IE and see what happens.

Well you can't go by my experience. Until I got Vista I was using WMP7 which would not play some files of course and I didn't have a DVD drive. WMP11 works good but I use the Media Center for DVD. Of course having 5 speakers helps the sound.

It shows on the first screen? Do you mean it shows on the POST screen? I take that to mean it might show up in the BIOS. Have you checked to see if it shows there? If the F drive doesn't show in My Computer or Computer Management then check to see if it shows in the BIOS. If not and based on the fact that you also said that the F drive was acting strangely before and took a long time to do anything and then vanished all together and you said everything else works ok I would say the drive is nearly dead or completely dead. A virus would not affect a drive with no OS on it. It would only affect a drive with Windows on it. Your F drive appears to have failed. Disconnect it and everything should be ok.

OOH!!! A fellow Sci-Fi fan. :)

But once again WinZip is not free. ShareWare (Trial) yes.

The first error appears to say "MasterBootRecord.de". Have you also installed "AdvancedRemoteInfo"? Have you tried uninstalling AdvancedRemoteInfo and Windows Registry Repair Pro?

As for 7-Zip and WinRAR they could come in handy at times for specific type of files but WinRAR is not free whereas 7-Zip is free.

dorsil that second error shows as a Windows Registry Repair Pro error. Did you download this and use it or is this a rogue program? a-squared Malware-Info

Doug for zip files you don't need a third party program. Windows can extract zip files just fine. Just right click a zipped folder and click extract all.

Hi cathy; Paranoia and diligence are two different things. You're doing the right things now. Once you are sure your system is clean by following the guide the AV and firewall should keep you protected. That is unless you allow the malware onto your computer. File Sharing, P2P etc. is one way. Installed free programs like screen savers and smilies is another. If you have any questions on those let us know. We will advise you.