Freezing during startup

[takemoney]

Hi,

I have a Compaq Presario C300 Notebook. Last week I seemed to have been infected with spyware and/or a virus. Sorry I'm not really a big computer wiz. I downloaded Avast virus protector and I think the other thing was called Spy Bot. They have been detecting viruses and Spybot throughout the week and supposedly deleting them. My computer has been running a little slower lately also, and its about 2 years old.

Today I started up my computer and left for about 5 minutes, when I come back both Avast and Spybot popped up saying they found something, but my computer was frozen so I held down the power button for a few seconds to turn it off. When I turned it back on it gets past the Microsoft Windows XP black page or whatever, and then it shows my default background and it will not load from there. I can move my mouse around but cannot left click or "ctrl alt delete" or anything else.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Can you try to get into the computer via Safe Mode?

What Operating System?

[takemoney]

I did just get into Safe Mode. I tired earlier but I must not have clicked F8 fast enough. I guess my operating system is Windows XP Media Center Edition? Right now my computer is stuck on a black screen with "Safe Mode" in all 4 corners of the screen and "Microsoft (R) Windows XP (R) (Build and a bunch of letters and numbers".

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

You can't see the desktop at all?

Do you have the Windows XP CD?

[takemoney]

Nope just a black background right now. And I do not have the CD with me at the moment.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

If you get the Windows XP Media Center CD, you will need to perform a Repair Install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

None of your personal files will be affected. Repair installs only 'repairs' the system files needed to boot into the OS.

[takemoney]

Okay, hopefully the CD is at my parents house, I will be able to get it in a couple days. Thanks a ton for the help I really appreciate it.

Peace out.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

All right.

Once you get the OS back up and running, chances are you will still be infected with a virus.

If so, I suggest starting here and posting in our Computer Virus and Spyware Section.
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,46313.0.html