I'm really, really lost....

[trekkie]

• Reboot your computer into SafeMode. You can do this by
  

That's the problem with canned responses - they're impersonal. As you can see:

I ran it in both Normal and Safe Mode
-snip-
Arrgh! It won't let me turn on System Restore in Safe Mode
-snip-

I'm quite capable of doing basic things like booting into Safe Mode. Where the problem is, though, in this case, is which one...

I booted into Safe Mode with Networking to get the program, but I stayed there to run the scan. Is there any problem with running it in Safe Mode with Networking, as opposed to good old Safe Mode?

[SuperDave]

That's the problem with canned responses - they're impersonal. As you can see:

Canned speeches are the only way I can operate effective. I'm working on four different forums and deal with 15-20 responses.
I do not know the computer skills of each OP so I try to cover all the bases. I'm sorry if I can't be more personal.

I booted into Safe Mode with Networking to get the program, but I stayed there to run the scan. Is there any problem with running it in Safe Mode with Networking, as opposed to good old Safe Mode?

That should be good.

[trekkie]

I test booted into Normal Mode after the scan - CPU's still at 100%, so it didn't fix the problem. But it did catch something.

Kas.txt:

Autoscan: completed 2 hours ago   (events: 4, objects: 350008, time: 02:41:50)   
18/05/2011 16:27:16   Task started         
18/05/2011 18:21:25   Detected: Hoax.Win32.Screensaver.b   D:\System Volume Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-49B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}\RP567\A0182680.DLL      
18/05/2011 18:22:11   Deleted: Hoax.Win32.Screensaver.b   D:\System Volume Information\_restore{129201FA-B0AC-49B3-96B2-DEB8B91E727B}\RP567\A0182680.DLL      
18/05/2011 19:09:07   Task completed         

[SuperDave]

How to use CodeStuff Starter to view services and startup items:

• Please download and install *Blocked Russian URL*/StarterSetup.zip]CodeStuff Starter[/url]
  
• Run Starter by finding it on your start menu after it is installed.
  
• When the program opens, you will see three tabs on the main screen (Startup, Processes, Services)
• Please click the Startup tab and make sure that All Sections is selected on the left hand side under the sections view pane.
  
• Once the Startup tab and all sections is selected, please click the File menu and choose Save as HTML.
  
• Please save the file to your desktop and call it startup.html.
  
• Now, please click the Services tab.
  
• Once the Services tab is open, please click the File menu and choose Save as HTML.
  
• Please save the file to your desktop and call it services.html.
  
• Now that both files have been saved to your desktop, close CodeStuff Starter.
  
• Locate the startup.html and services.html files on your desktop.  Both files can be attached to the forum, as is.  Please do so in your next reply.
  

.

[trekkie]

• Please download and install *Blocked Russian URL*/StarterSetup.zip]CodeStuff Starter[/url].
  

Something went wrong there. Try again.

[SuperDave]

It can't understand it. It looked ok in preview but when it hit post, it changes. I tried fixing it a couple of time to no avail. I'll be back.

[SuperDave]

How to use CodeStuff Starter to view services and startup items:

• Please download and install CodeStuff Starter
  
• Run Starter by finding it on your start menu after it is installed.
  
• When the program opens, you will see three tabs on the main screen (Startup, Processes, Services)
• Please click the Startup tab and make sure that All Sections is selected on the left hand side under the sections view pane.
  
• Once the Startup tab and all sections is selected, please click the File menu and choose Save as HTML.
  
• Please save the file to your desktop and call it startup.html.
  
• Now, please click the Services tab.
  
• Once the Services tab is open, please click the File menu and choose Save as HTML.
  
• Please save the file to your desktop and call it services.html.
  
• Now that both files have been saved to your desktop, close CodeStuff Starter.
  
• Locate the startup.html and services.html files on your desktop.  Both files can be attached to the forum, as is.  Please do so in your next reply.
  

.

[trekkie]

Both files can be attached to the forum, as is.

Um, it won't let me attach the .htmls, but I'll try and link to them.

C:\Documents and Settings\Anna McManus\Desktop\services.html

C:\Documents and Settings\Anna McManus\Desktop\startup.html

EDIT: The urls didn't work for me, so I doubt they will for you.

[SuperDave]

Please try uploading them to Wikisend and give me the links.

[trekkie]

Negatori on that. The site seems to be down (HTTP 500 Internal Server Error).

[SuperDave]

I just tried it and it works ok for me.

[trekkie]

Wikisend still isn't working for me, but my chum Google found me a site called 4shared.com, which seems to be working. Here's a link to the folder that contains the files:

http://www.4shared.com/folder/8Jz8qc5I/ComputerHope.html

Note: I'm a privacy freak, so it's password-protected, and I'll give you the password in a PM.

[trekkie]

Alright, I wiped the HDDs and reinstalled the OS. Everything's working fine so far, so although we didn't "solve" the issue, per se, since the problem's gone, I think we can mark it solved, chuck it into a cell in the archive, lock the door and throw away the key.

Just before you do that, can you tell me: Does MS Security Essentials function as a firewall, or do I need a 3rd party firewall? BTW- Windows Firewall?!? More like Windows' Continent-Sized Bullseye!

...On second thought, put the key somewhere a PM can get at it.

Finally- Go raibh míle míle maith agat (a million thanks) for all the effort you put into trying to fix my computer, even if it was in vain in the end. ...Well, I doubt the site will let me add a million thanks to your profile, so this will have to serve as the remaining 999,999 thanks.

[SuperDave]

You're welcome. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. As for MSE; this a very good AV program but you should have a third-party firewall. The Windows firewall in XP was not very good but they have tried to improve it in Vista and Windows 7. I will lock this thread.