[Transience]

Just checking in since it's been a few days - still need any help on this one?

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hi,

i've tried to run malwarebytes a number of times, but have not been successful.

the issue is that the majority of the time i cannot get the computer to function even in safe mode (goes to a black screen with "safe mode" in the corners but desktop never loads).

i was able to get malwarebytes running again once but it shut off seconds after it started scanning.

i posted an older malwarebytes log (i think it's a log) above-- perhaps that will be of some help?

thanks again.

[fritz101]

hi,

i've tried to run malwarebytes a number of times, but have not been successful.

the issue is that the majority of the time i cannot get the computer to function even in safe mode (goes to a black screen with "safe mode" in the corners but desktop never loads).

i was able to get malwarebytes running again once but it shut off seconds after it started scanning.

i posted an older malwarebytes log (i think it's a log) above-- perhaps that will be of some help?

thanks again.

[Transience]

When you press Ctrl + Alt + Delete or Ctrl + Shift + Esc are you able to access task manager? If so, click on File > New task (run) and type explorer.exe. Then press enter and let me know if your desktop comes back.

If this doesn't work for you, answer the following for me:

1. Do you have the the Windows XP Recovery Console installed on this machine?
2. Do you have a Windows XP CD?

Cheers,
Dave

Edited by Transience, 22 September 2009 - 02:44 PM.

[fritz101]

hi

i cannot access task manager.

i do have a Windows XP CD.

i am not certain if i have a windows xp recovery console. is there a way i might figure this out?

thanks.

[Transience]

Okay please get your windows XP CD and configure your computer to boot from the CD. If you don't know how, restart your computer and look for the message that prompts you to "press __ key to enter setup", and press that key to access your computer's BIOS settings. From there, follow these instructions.

Once you've done that, insert the Windows XP CD and boot from it, then follow the instructions here for booting into the recovery console. Once you've reached the command prompt, please type the following command and wait for it to finish:

dir *explorer.exe*

Once the command finishes writing, please carefully record its output and post it for me in your next reply. Be particularly careful to make sure that filenames and paths are exactly correct. Let me know how that goes.

Cheers,
Dave

[fritz101]

hi-- thanks for sticking with me on this.

i won't have access to that computer till about sunday or monday-- i hope it's okay if i pick this up again then.

thanks alot.

[Transience]

Sure thing take your time

[fritz101]

hi,

so following the directions below, i made it into the recovery console from the windows xp cd.

however, when i get to this:
"Which Windows installation would you like to log onto
(To cancel, press ENTER)?"

i cannot type more than one character.
if i just hit enter, the computer restarts.
if i type in a letter, it says:
"Invalid selection. Please select a valid installation number."

I figured I should stop there before I did something wrong.


also, it never asked for an administrator password as it suggested it might in the directions.

wondering where i got off course... thanks again.
________________________

from http://support.micro...com/kb/307654#3
"To run the Recovery Console from the Windows XP startup disks or the Windows XP CD-ROM, follow these steps:
Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.

Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted.
When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.
When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and repair your Windows XP installation.

For a list of commands that are available in Recovery Console, type recovery console commands or help at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

For information about a specific command, type help commandname at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at the command prompt, and then press ENTER."

[fritz101]

hi,

so following the directions below, i made it into the recovery console from the windows xp cd.

however, when i get to this:
"Which Windows installation would you like to log onto
(To cancel, press ENTER)?"

i cannot type more than one character.
if i just hit enter, the computer restarts.
if i type in a letter, it says:
"Invalid selection. Please select a valid installation number."

I figured I should stop there before I did something wrong.


also, it never asked for an administrator password as it suggested it might in the directions.

wondering where i got off course... thanks again.
________________________

from http://support.micro...com/kb/307654#3
"To run the Recovery Console from the Windows XP startup disks or the Windows XP CD-ROM, follow these steps:
Insert the Windows XP startup disk into the floppy disk drive, or insert the Windows XP CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then restart the computer.

Click to select any options that are required to start the computer from the CD-ROM drive if you are prompted.
When the "Welcome to Setup" screen appears, press R to start the Recovery Console.
If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot computer, select the installation that you must access from the Recovery Console.
When you are prompted, type the Administrator password. If the administrator password is blank, just press ENTER.
At the command prompt, type the appropriate commands to diagnose and repair your Windows XP installation.

For a list of commands that are available in Recovery Console, type recovery console commands or help at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.

For information about a specific command, type help commandname at the command prompt, and then press ENTER.
To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit at the command prompt, and then press ENTER."

[Transience]

Press 1 and then Enter at the prompt asking which installation you would like to repair, and then continue as above

[fritz101]

hi,

so after typing in 1 (thanks), i get to the following prompt:
C:\WINDOWS>

i typed in "dir *explorer.exe*" and "dir explorer.exe" and i get the following response each time:

"The volume in drive C has no label
The volume Serial Number is XXXX-XXXX

Directory of C:\WINDOWS\*explorer.exe*

04/13/08 08:12p -a------ 1033728 explorer.exe
1 file(s) 1033728 bytes
6714736640 bytes free"

(not sure if i'm supposed to publicize the serial number-- if that's info you need let me know).

thanks again.

[Transience]

Alright seems the explorer.exe file is in its proper place... any change in the computer? Are you able to boot up or use it at all or do you still have no start bar/icons etc.

[fritz101]

hi,

still not able to use the computer.

frozen in regular mode, usually frozen in safe mode (and will freeze up in safe mode if in there for longer than 5 minutes).

thanks.