[galec]

Running winxp up to date. Instead of the normal display of these buttons on the menu bar, minimize looks like a file folder, restore is a dark rectangle and close is an open square. Any drop down arrow might look like an hour glass (it is very small). The right arrows when you click on the desktop or the start menu look like computer mouses. Radio buttons might look like a wierd Q - hard to see even w/ my magnifier!! This computer only accesses the internet maybe 2x a wk during football season and the rest of the time it's for solitaire. I've rebooted but that did not help. McAfee runs weekly last on 11/10, spy sweeper last on 11/17.

[othersteve]

Hey galec,

Try:

Click Start > Run > type regsvr32 /i shell32.dll and press ENTER.

~os

[galec]

rebooted after, did not work

[rshaffer61]

I suggest you go to the Malware Removal and Spyware Removal Forum and run all the steps located in the START HERE. These self-help tools will help you clean up 70% of problems on your own. If you are still having problems after doing the steps, then please post the reguested logs in THAT forum. If you are unable to run any of the tools then start a new topic in the malware forum and put this in the subject line...I am unable to run any malware tools

If you are still having problems after being given a clean bill of health from the malware expert, then please return to THIS thread and we will pursue other options to help you solve your current problem(s).

[b]Add a link to this topic so that malware tech can see what steps have been taken here

[galec]

I'll Try your suggestion although this computer is scanned regularly and is usually always clean. THis is husband's computer so I will probably get to it in a few days.

[othersteve]

Trust us, galec, these days, it's nearly impossible to be certain you are not infected. Even scanning regularly will not keep you safe. With the proper protection you can rest easier, but most people, quite honestly, do not have sufficient protection.

I have personally disinfected hundreds of computers to date, and most of them are in fact running virus protection while infected.

With the ubiquity of malware infections these days and their nature, such symptoms as this immediately provoke a question of security. It should be addressed first if it is asked before other solutions are investigated.

~os

[galec]

I have finally solved the problem (posted Nov 09). After researching AGAIN...Obviously corrupted Marlett font, hidden. Not seen in the Fonts folder in control panel but can be found with file search. Unhide the file and copy a good marlett font to c:\windows\fonts. YEAH!! I finally figured it out. I feel good!!