Why are the colours all jacked up?/Norton message

[Meerkat]

All of a sudden my monitor isn't displaying colours properly.  Reds show as black and everything else is muted shades of blues grey and yellow.  It's an emachines bought nov 2005.  I have no idea what I did.  As far as I know I just restarted it and the colours were gone.  I have also been getting a #$^%#!!! message from Norton saying that a remote system wants to access my computer, and no matter what option I choose, the msg comes back immediately. It's driving me nuts.
Can anyone help? please?

[GX1_Man]

Start here and let us know what you find:

http://www.computerhope.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1134123580

[Meerkat]

Start here and let us know what you find:

http://www.computerhope.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1134123580

Thanks, X_Man.  I ran Avast anti-virus. It's updated, but listed no viruses or other spooky stuff.  Maybe the colours are wrong if I am in Safe Mode?  How do I know if I am in Safe Mode and how do I get out?

Many gracious thanks.

[GX1_Man]

Safe mode will state this when you boot up and you will see "Safe Mode" in all 4 corners of the screen.

What shows in Device Manager? Any yellow exclamation marks? What video adapter is listed? Is that correct?

By the way an antivirus, ANY ANTIVIRUS, is not enough protection. I encourage you to run the full suite just to be sure your system is clean before we proceed further.

[Meerkat]

By the way, I am cyber retarded, so It would be great if you dumb it down for me.  Meaning, if you tell me to check my BIOS or load my GPX Converter 2000 into my USB wizard and then run my F portal from my win32 application and launch my fatal exception doo-hickey and spin my daisy chain, I'll still be lost.

Many thanks

[Meerkat]

Safe mode will state this when you boot up and you will see "Safe Mode" in all 4 corners of the screen.

What shows in Device Manager? Any yellow exclamation marks? What video adapter is listed? Is that correct?

By the way an antivirus, ANY ANTIVIRUS, is not enough protection. I encourage you to run the full suite just to be sure your system is clean before we proceed further.

Oh Wise One,
I knew this would happen.  I don't know what my Device shows, I really only look at it when I take a shower.  Meaning, what the sam-hill is a device manager?  
As far as a full suite, I am taking a guess that you mean I need to use some of those spyware and ghost ware and other-ware scanner thingies that you listed in your other post.  I will immediately proceed with attempting to install or download from the sites that you graciously listed, and I will advise you of the results.  If I'm off base here, please guide me back.  Be gentle, though. I bruise easily.

[GX1_Man]

Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Device Manager is where to look. I am assuming you are running XP but please confirm.

Yes, do all the scans.

[Meerkat]

Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Device Manager is where to look. I am assuming you are running XP but please confirm.

Yes, do all the scans.

Houston, we have a problem...

I tried to download the spybotware and Yahoo anti-spy and both got, uuummm...stuck.  A little box showed up saying
FILE DOWNLOAD...set up is now downloading files to your computer blah blah blah getting file information...
but guess what?  Nothing happens!
I cannot even 'cancel' the download.  The little box will not go away. When I click 'cancel, the little box gives birth to a baby box that says 'do you want to cancel the download?' to which I politely reply 'yes' and it simply reverts back to the mama box, laughing in my face!  The only way I can even type this to you is because I have dragged the little box family off to the side of the screen, where they maliciously lurk.
Next I downloaded the ZoneAlarm Firwall protection thingy that you listed, and I guess the download went OK...not sure because all the instructions were in French, which fortunately I do speak, however, my technical French is a bit limited.  At any rate, nothing seemed to happen after I downloaded the French ZoneAlarm.  But then, do the French ever do much? Just kidding of course.  we make lovely patés.

[Meerkat]

O Gifted Guru:
I am currently running that Stinger thingie.  Will debrief you upon return.

[Meerkat]

O Gifted Guru:
I am currently running that Stinger thingie.  Will debrief you upon return.

Some marginal success thanks to You, O X_Man Wizard.
The cursed Norton pop up has vanished into cyber nether regions!  Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Now, I am still trying to get my colours back.  What's next, O Mighty Mega-Byte?

[Meerkat]

Please?

[Backdated]

Did Stinger actually find anything? If so, what?

[Meerkat]

Did Stinger actually find anything? If so, what?

Backdated,
no, Stinger found nothing.  But I think it said it only checks for 54 or so bugs.

[Meerkat]

Yes, running XP

[Backdated]

Carry out the procedures listed here and post a Hijackthis logfile here when done.