no desktop, no start button, no task bar

[Guest msnpi]

Running XP home. Something got into my computer that was redirecting me to

sites such as pcprivacycleaner.com and others. My McAffee wasn't finding it.

Ran registry mechanic and several other programs. I decided to download all

XP updates, including SP2, and updated to latest internet explorer. The

downloads and installation completed. Since doing that, when my sys boots it

gets as far as loading the desktop background but thats it. I get no desktop

icons, no start button, no task bar, no office shortcuts bar... even McAffee

doesn't seem to be starting. If i boot into SAFE mode i see all the icons

and task bar and start button and can surf the net with the limited safe mode

capabilities.

If a try to boot normal i can't do anything but cntrl alt del and shut it

down using the task manager.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[Guest Malke]

Re: no desktop, no start button, no task bar

 

msnpi wrote:

> Running XP home. Something got into my computer that was redirecting me to

> sites such as pcprivacycleaner.com and others. My McAffee wasn't finding

> it.

> Ran registry mechanic and several other programs. I decided to download

> all

> XP updates, including SP2, and updated to latest internet explorer. The

> downloads and installation completed. Since doing that, when my sys boots

> it gets as far as loading the desktop background but thats it. I get no

> desktop icons, no start button, no task bar, no office shortcuts bar...

> even McAffee

> doesn't seem to be starting. If i boot into SAFE mode i see all the icons

> and task bar and start button and can surf the net with the limited safe

> mode capabilities.

> If a try to boot normal i can't do anything but cntrl alt del and shut it

> down using the task manager.

> Any ideas? Thanks.

 

Your computer is still infected and you haven't cleaned it up. Since you can

get into Safe Mode, you can try running malware removal steps. However,

since you have run a registry cleaner you may have already damaged your

operating system beyond repair. There's no way for me to know. So try and

clean up your system and if it fails, back up your data from Safe Mode onto

external media (thumb drive, external hard drive) and do a clean install of

Windows.

 

Why you should not use a registry cleaner:

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099

 

For the malware, start by going here and looking for removal steps:

Bleeping Computer removal how-to's -

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum55.html

 

When all else fails, get guided help. Either register and post at Bleeping

Computer or choose one of the specialty forums listed below. Register and

read its posting FAQ. PLEASE DO NOT POST LOGS IN THE MS NEWSGROUPS.

 

http://aumha.net/ - Click on the HijackThis forum. Read the announcement and

the stickies *first*.

http://www.atribune.org/forums/index.php?showforum=9

http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html

http://castlecops.com/forum67.html

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup

http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=25

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Malware_Removal_HiJackThis_Logs_Go_Here-f37.html

http://gladiator-antivirus.com/forum/index.php?showforum=170

http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5

http://forums.techguy.org/54-security/

http://forums.tomcoyote.org/

 

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are

just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;

suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my

suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. If you can't do the work yourself

(and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the

machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent

of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be aware that not all local shops

are skilled at removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be

so infested that Windows will need to be clean-installed. If possible, have

all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest windmap]

Re: no desktop, no start button, no task bar

 

Computer viruses: description, prevention, and recovery

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129972/en-us

 

How to Protect Boot Sector from Viruses in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/122221/en-us

 

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315/en-us

 

 

"msnpi" <msnpi@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:600C6F84-D5E6-4DCD-8007-8BEDC6A03B28@microsoft.com...

> Running XP home. Something got into my computer that was redirecting me to

> sites such as pcprivacycleaner.com and others. My McAffee wasn't finding

> it.

> Ran registry mechanic and several other programs. I decided to download

> all

> XP updates, including SP2, and updated to latest internet explorer. The

> downloads and installation completed. Since doing that, when my sys boots

> it

> gets as far as loading the desktop background but thats it. I get no

> desktop

> icons, no start button, no task bar, no office shortcuts bar... even

> McAffee

> doesn't seem to be starting. If i boot into SAFE mode i see all the icons

> and task bar and start button and can surf the net with the limited safe

> mode

> capabilities.

> If a try to boot normal i can't do anything but cntrl alt del and shut it

> down using the task manager.

> Any ideas? Thanks.