Windows has suddenly stopped working

[busylizzie]

Windows has just stopped working on my laptop (Dell inspiron 1525), how can I fix it?

(NB I am using a different comp to ask this question).

 

 

My laptop, although not very old, has been dodgey for a while, occasionally just shutting itself down unexpectedly and deciding not to be able to find the internet after we moved to Virgin, causing me to have to use a dongle but a few days ago Windows just stopped working. I can't access the internet at all now, even with the dongle and the default right hand side bar on the desktop has stopped showing. It claims 'Windows is not available' but I can still access all my documents and other programs. I have been using a make-shift virus protection program (ESET SmartSecurity 3.0.645.0) that a friend installed after my Norton AntiVirus expired, which now claims that it cannot be updated because it's not compatible or something, so I suspect the problem could well have been caused by a virus... Is there any way I can reinstall Windows and some virus protection so that it will work again or do I have to wipe my laptop??

[Plastic Nev]

Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

 

Lets look at the chance of a virus or other malware being responsible as it does sound very likely.

 

Click on this link, and first read all the instructions, then please follow them.

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/threads/10689-Before-posting-for-Malware-Removal-help.

 

Once you have the requested logs, start a new thread and post the explanation you have given here, or link back to this thread, and post the logs here=

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/forums/141-Malware-Infection-Removal

 

One of our malware experts will look after you from there.

 

Nev.

[KenB]

I can't access the internet at all now,

To do what Nev has asked you could download the software ( MBAM & OTL ) to a memory stick then load it onto the problem machine.

Save the logs back to a memory stick and post them here.

 

If you can't run MBAM in normal mode try running it in Safe Mode.

Switch on and constantly tap F8 about once per second.

Select Safe Mode from the list of options.

 

You could try Safe Mode with Networking to see if you can access the internet this way.

[Starbuck]

I have been using a make-shift virus protection program (ESET SmartSecurity 3.0.645.0)

Version 3 is very old and outdated.

The latest version is 5.

Try the options advised by Plastic Nev and KenB, but if they fail let me know and we can use another type of program that won't require Windows to run.

Your profile says you are running Windows Vista... is this correct?

Just double checking.