windows xp Screen saver lock out

[Johnny apple seed]

My emachine windows xp computer has tried to lock me out with the screen saver- I have accessed the e-net via the windows task manager and I have done a restore point but to no avail . all this came about when ATT my internet service provider (I think) asked me to down load a new security system McAfee. Is there a way to get into the screen saver and disable it ?

 

Johnny apple seed

[Tony D]

Try booting to Safe Mode

 

Reboot your computer in Safe Mode.

 

* If the computer is running, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power.

* Wait 30 seconds, and then turn the computer on.

* Start tapping the F8 key. The Windows Advanced Options Menu appears. If you begin tapping the F8 key too soon, some computers display a "keyboard error" message. To resolve this, restart the computer and try again. If F8 doesn't work try F5.

* Ensure that the Safe Mode option is selected.

* Press Enter. The computer then begins to start in Safe mode.

* Log on with an account that has administrator priviledges, usually your own account (NOT the account named Administrator).

 

Let us know if you're able to use Safe Mode.

[Johnny apple seed]

I have tried Safe mode using the F8 key a few times , it will not let me access the computer normally should I try the F5 mode? JOHNNY

[Johnny apple seed]

Safe mode in F5 or F8 will not solve this problem and I did unplug the tower inbetween turn ons.

[RandyL]

What Kelly needs to know is can you boot into safemode? This in itself will not solve the problem but it is the first step.

 

If you can't boot into safe mode (not normal Windows mode) please explain what happens or what you see when trying.

[Johnny apple seed]

going into safe mode I see fuzzy start up mode I see administrator choice and John user choice on same screen I click on John but I have done it both ways then black screen with four corners "safemode" with mouse visable and in order to reach behind the black I go to my windows task master to shut down or to use the internet- JOHNNY A seed

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Not to put too finer point on it I have to say your being rather vague here Johnny.

 

You think your ISP is ATT? Who do you pay service charges to?

 

Who set the password on the screen saver kick in?

 

We need more details Johnny as PC Password issues are a very sensitive subject.

[DirtyPolo]

What Kelly needs to know is can you boot into safemode? This in itself will not solve the problem but it is the first step.

 

If you can't boot into safe mode (not normal Windows mode) please explain what happens or what you see when trying.

 

going into safe mode I see fuzzy start up mode I see administrator choice and John user choice on same screen I click on John but I have done it both ways then black screen with four corners "safemode" with mouse visable and in order to reach behind the black I go to my windows task master to shut down or to use the internet- JOHNNY A seed

 

So the answer is yes you can get into safemode?

 

the view that you have described, shows that you were in safemode.

The reason it looked like that is because Safe mode is the most basic verison of starting windows, it only loads the items that windows NEEDS in order to operate, nothing else.

So your screen may look weird but that's normal.

[Johnny apple seed]

Ok my I can get into "Safe" mode but it acts like Regular mode as I can not access any thing normally as in I have to go thru my windows task manager

my internet provider is Sbcglobal AE att. I am fast heading tward the "final solution" as I bought a storage unit called Free Agent and thru my WTManager am downloading all I hold dear. My screen saver came with the computer and I'm assuming it is a windows thang. Could this be a regestry thing? McAfee is the new kid on the block and it is trying to delete programs .:eek:

[Tootech]

Johnny, does your screen look like this - ie no task bar

 

[ATTACH]387[/ATTACH]

Edited September 27, 2009 by Tootech

[Johnny apple seed]

Yes no task bar no short cuts just screen saver- in safe mode a black screen and no short cuts or task bar Yes just my task manager. JOHNNY

[Tootech]

I thought that was what you were getting at, glad we understand you now.

 

What do you mean by screensaver - what does that mean to you - are you referring to the background of Windows - your desktop?

 

Using your Task Manager, click File, then New Task, in the box type explorer.exe and hit enter.

 

If everything is ok, your taskbar etc should come up. Then I'd go to Add/Remove Programs and remove whatever has caused the problems - McAfee you think?

 

Then reboot

 

If your taskbar doesn't come up, go back to Task Manager and again click File, Run, this time type appwiz.cpl and press enter

 

That should bring up Add/Remove Programs - go and remove McAfee as before.

 

Hope one of the two works......

[Johnny apple seed]

I typed explorer.exe in to my task manager and it would not take Ops did not try the last one one minute!I'm going after the dreaded McAfee . Edited February 13, 2009 by Johnny apple seed

[Johnny apple seed]

McAfee had but one life to give for my computer- it's gone now

I restarted my computer and same-ole thing.

[Tootech]

Ok, just for info, explorer.exe is the program that creates your Task Bar, runs Windows Explorer etc. It's quite common for it not to run in Safe Mode when a PC is infected with spyware. I am wondering if infact your PC does have malware, and McAfee tried to remove it, and making a mess of everything.

 

Can you download MCPR.exe from the McAfee website and run it- it will remove the remnants of McAfee

 

How to uninstall or reinstall supported McAfee consumer products using the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool (MCPR.exe)

 

Go down to step 2 to locate MCPR.exe - that is the removal tool for McAfee products.

 

The easiest way is to copy it to a flash drive, plug that into your poorly computer, use Task Manager and Run again, then Browse to find MCPR.exe on your USB stick, and run it.

 

Reboot to Safe Mode, does the Task Bar come up. If not, can you run explorer.exe now?

 

That's it from me tonight I'm afraid!

[Johnny apple seed]

WHAT A LONG STRANGE JOURNEY THIS HAS BEEN-

I used Regcure to clean up my computer and it took care of my problems ( all be it for $29.95)

a most heart felt thank you to wolfymole, RL,DirtyPolo,ToothTechAKAmrPeabody, and Kelly - JOHNNY APPLE SEED

Edited February 13, 2009 by Johnny apple seed

[Tootech]

One up for registry cleaners I'd say :D

Thanks for letting us know Johnny

Edited February 13, 2009 by Tootech

[RandyL]

Pardon me for jumping in at this late time but I am concerned that there is still the root cause issue that should be addressed.

 

As Tootech noted in post 15 this behavior is very typical of one or more infections. Mcafee should not be related to this in any way. Since you just recently installed it I have to ask if you had any antivirus program before and if so what was it. Also were you experiencing any problems prior to the installation that may have led to your decision to install Mcafee as a first antivirus program or different from what you had before.

 

Regcure may have made a repair or two to the registry to fix certain issues like Policies which would help regain control of those functions. However this does not mean that you are not infected and that this might very well happen again.

 

Please answer my questions as I think a malware disinfection process should be performed lest this happen again.

 

On another note I do not recommend registry cleaners or fixers unless you are very experienced with the registry as they can and often do cause more problems then they solve. I'm glad it worked for you this time but I would be very cautious about using it again.