All Programs Won't Open

[trekkie28001]

I have a Sony Vaio Laptop and I think I got a virus thru Limewire. Nothing will open except limewire. I can't get on the internet, email, control panel, my computer, nothing. I can't even do a system restore. The only thing I can do is Limewire. I don't have recovery disk and I don't want to do that cause I have stuff I need to keep. I'd like to resolve this without formatting if possible. I have XP Proffessional.

[Joleen]

Can you do anything via Safe Mode?

[trekkie28001]

No. Its doin the same thing in safe mode.

[Raptor]

I don't have recovery disk and I don't want to do that cause I have stuff I need to keep.

You wouldn't have been in this situation had you taken proper precautions.

I assume you have scanned for viruses and installed a firewall by now?

Recovery disks will not remove any stored information, they will only replace Windows files I believe..

You can use the repair console when booting off the Windows XP CD.

[dl65]

trekkie28001.....Do you have a floppy drive? I would use another pc ....and go to http://vil.nai.com/vil/averttools.asp  and D/l Stinger V 2.41. onto a floppy disc and then try and run it on the infected machine .......

let us know how you make out

dl65  

[Joleen]

You wouldn't have been in this situation had you taken proper precautions.

Easy Raptor.. not everyone knows to make backups.  I don't bother with them either.

I assume you have scanned for viruses and installed a firewall by now?

Just how do you suppose this be done if the user can't open anything?

[Raptor]

Easy Raptor.. not everyone knows to make backups.  I don't bother with them either.

I never said he had to create backups. I never create backups.

I was talking Common Sense®, virus scanner, firewall, latest Microsoft (Security) updates

Just how do you suppose this be done if the user can't open anything?

Like I said, if he had taken the proper precautions, he wouldn't have been in this situation in the first place.