Screen flashes, taskbar goes to the top, what do I do?

[baseballst4r]

I have a Dell Dimension 2400 with Windows XP, with a Samsung SyncMaster 731B monitor and here's my problem.  Everytime I leave my computer for a few hours, I return to it and the taskbar has gone to the top of the screen, the screen flickers (sometimes grey, sometimes white, and sometimes black), and none of the programs work on it.  After a couple minutes the mouse cursor will move around the screen but is not able to click on anything.  This has been happening for a few months and everytime it happens the only way to fix it is for me to hold the power button down until the computer shuts down then start it back up (I know you should never do this but Ctrl+Alt+Delete doesn't work and I cant get to the start button).  Once everything gets restarted it is fine, but when I leave it be for a few hours it happens all over again.


Here is a video I took of what my computer looks like when i return to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqf1d0Jy7Kk

Does anyone know what is possibly causing this and how to solve it? 

[Broni]

Double post.

[baseballst4r]

you told me to post it in here...?

[Broni]

LOL, silly...yes, after you complete steps from this manual:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html

[baseballst4r]

I went to download the SP1a and a message popped up saying that I have a newer version than the one I was downloading so it stopped the download.

[Broni]

That means, you have it installed.
Don't worry about post #1 in that thread. Go to post #2.

[baseballst4r]

Should I do all of the 6 steps?

[Broni]

If we want to be sure, your computer is 100% clean, yes.
In worst case scenario, you may skip step #1. I don't want you to get confused.

[baseballst4r]

here are my logs, hijackthis, superantispyware and eset online scan

[saving space - attachment deleted by admin]

[Broni]

1. Print this post out, since you won't have an access to it, at some point.

2. Close all windows, except for HJT.

2a. Go to Control Panel>Add\Remove, and uninstall WebSavingsfromEbates, and WeatherBug

3. Put a checkmark next to the following HJT entries:

- R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - _{9368D063-44BE-49B9-BD14-BB9663FD38FC} - (no file)

- O2 - BHO: AIM Helper - {D70E6A20-7060-4829-B3D7-B6624A1DE7C6} - (no file)

- O4 - Startup: PowerReg Scheduler.exe

- O8 - Extra context menu item: Web Savings - file://C:\Program Files\WebSavingsfromEbates\System\Temp\ebateswebsavings_script0.htm

- O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)

- O9 - Extra button: WeatherBug - {AF6CABAB-61F9-4f12-A198-B7D41EF1CB52} - C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather.exe (file missing) (HKCU)

- O18 - Protocol hijack: mhtml -

4. Click on "Fix It" button.

5. Restart your computer in Safe Mode (keep tapping F8 key, when your computer starts)

6. Open Windows Explorer. Go Tools>Folder Options>View tab, put a checkmark next to "Show hidden files, and folders".

7. Delete following folders (if they still exist):

- WebSavingsfromEbates, AWS folders from C:\Program Files

8. Turn off System Restore:

- Windows XP:
   1. Click Start.
   2. Right-click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties.
   3. Click the System Restore tab.
   4. Check "Turn off System Restore".
   5. Click Apply.   
   6.  When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted. Click Yes to do this.
   7. Click OK.
- Windows Vista:
   1. Click Start.
   2. Right-click the Computer icon, and then click Properties.
   3. Click on System Protection under the Tasks column on the left side
   4. Click on Continue on the "User Account Control" window that pops up
   5. Under the System Protection tab, find Available Disks
   6. Uncheck the box for any drive you wish to disable system restore on (in most cases, drive "C:")
   7. When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted. Click "Turn System Restore Off" on the popup window to do this.
   8. Click OK

9. Restart in Normal Mode.

10. Turn System Restore on.

11. Run HJT again, and post back its log back here.

[baseballst4r]

Neither WebSavingsfromEbates or WeatherBug are installed on my computer... should I skip over step 2a?

[Broni]

Yes.

[baseballst4r]

Ok, I did the steps, here's my new HJT log

[saving space - attachment deleted by admin]

[Broni]

I overlooked one unnecessary program.
Restart in Safe Mode. Go to Add\Remove, and uninstall Viewpoint Manager
Restart in Normal Mode.
Post new HJT log.

[baseballst4r]

New HJT log.

[saving space - attachment deleted by admin]