[DFS]

I have an ASUS A8N32 motherboard with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+.

I'm running Windows XP with service pack 2.

I have no idea what's going on. Saturday night was the last time things were normal, and on Saturday night these two things happened: The computer shut down automatically due to an overheat (I turned the fan off accidentally) and I downloaded and installed the TVU Player from [Link Removed.]

Now yesterday (Sunday) my wife tries to start-up the computer and it won't start-up, it was freezing on the black screen where it says Windows XP and the little status bar scrolls. So I tried again and nothing...and again and again and again. Then I tried F8 and it would not start in any of the safe modes or the last known good config mode. Then all of a sudden, bam, it started up like nothing was ever wrong. I took that opportunity to uninstall the TVU Player and run SpyBot and a Malwarebytes scans. Neither scan found anything.

Today the same issues...wouldn't start in any mode. Then it decides to start normally after about an hour of me just keep trying. I'm going to keep it on now and hopefully get this start-up issue addressed.

I'm very grateful for this site, someone helped me out with an issue years ago and it was awesome. Hopefully someone can tell me what's going on this time too. Thanks a million!!!

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Hi,

The current problems you are experiencing are without no doubt due to the fact at present your machine has only XP Service Pack Two installed. Support for the aforementioned was withdrawn by Microsoft:-

Support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) ended on July 13, 2010

Source.

As it stands my best advice is you perform a reformat and reinstallation of the Windows operating system as it would be pointless to to go through a malware removal process and attempt to upgrade your machine to XP Service Pack Three as malware would have made so many changes to the operating system and some which would be ultimately undetectable and thus consequently your machine would always be considered still compromised in my humble opinion.

Also your machine may have some hardware issues, possibly due to the overheating you mentioned and or either a failing motherboard/hard-drive for example. After carrying out my advice I suggest you pay a visit to this part of the forum and seek advice from one of the outstanding IT Techs here in GTG, by all means mention I have advised thus and provide a link to this topic:-

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/290821-windows-xp-start-up-issues/page__gopid__1937770

After you have performed a reformat and reinstallation of the Windows operating system:-

Keep your system updated:

Microsoft releases patches for Windows and other products regularly:

• I advise you visit: http://update.micros...t.aspx?ln=en-us
• Install the Active X
• Once installed it will advise set Auto-Updates if not set and you then you will be able to manually check for updates also via:
• Start >> All Programs >> Microsoft Updates

Install XP SP3:

There is a new service pack for XP, namely SP3. I advise you download/install this as it will increase the security side of your system.

Download can be found here or the CD ordered for your country here <--scroll down to and click on 'How to obtain Windows XP Service Pack 3 on a CD'

Please read this Microsoft article before actually installing the aforementioned service pack.

Download/Install a AV:

Download just one only of the three free anti-virus programs listed below please and then:

Install >> Update >> Carry Out a Complete Scan. Have it fix anything it finds.

• AntiVir Free.
• Avast Home Edition.
• Microsoft Security Essentials.

Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware:

Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.

• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and select then follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
• When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please post that log in your next reply.

The log can also be found here:

• Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• Click on the Logs radio tab.

Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts, click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process, if asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.

Next:

*** I have only advised you scan with both of the above after installation as a precaution after you have installed all critical updates/service packs after the reformat and reinstallation of the Windows operating system.

Do not be alarmed by this but merely view this as myself ensuring your online safety.

Now some advice for on-line safety:

Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware:

This is a excellent application and I advise you keep this installed. Check for updates and run a scan once a week.

Other installed security software:

Which ever Anti-Virus software you chose to install will automatically check for updates and downloads/installs them with every system reboot and or periodically if the machine is left running providing a internet connection is active.

I advise you also run a complete scan with this also once per week.

Be careful when opening attachments and downloading files:

Never open email attachments, not even if they are from someone you know. If you need to open them, scan them with your antivirus program before opening.
Never open emails from unknown senders.
Beware of emails that warn about viruses that are spreading, especially those from antivirus vendors. These email addresses can be easily spoofed. Check the antivirus vendor websites to be sure.
Be careful of what you download. Only download files from known sources. Also, avoid cracked programs. If you need a particular program that costs too much for you, try finding free alternatives on Sourceforge or Pricelessware.

Stop malicious scripts:

Windows by default allow scripts (which is VBScript and JavaScript) to run and some of these scripts are malicious. Use Noscript by Symantec or Script Defender by AnalogX to handle these scripts.

Avoid Peer to Peer software:

P2P may be a great way to get lots of seemingly freeware, but it is a great way to get infected as well. There's no way to tell if the file being shared is infected. Worse still, some worms spread via P2P networks, infecting you as well. My advice is avoid these types of software applications.

Hosts File:

A Hosts file is like a phone book. You look up someone's name in the phone book before calling him/her. Similarly, your computer will look up the website's IP address before you can view the website.

Hosts file will replace your current Hosts file with another one containing well-known advertisement sites, spyware sites and other bad sites. This new Hosts file will protect you by re-directing these bad sites to 127.0.0.1.

Here are some Hosts files:

• MVPS Hosts File
• hpHosts

Only use one of the above.

Install WinPatrol:

WinPatrol alerts you about possible system hijacks, malware attacks and critical changes made to your computer without your permission.

Download it from here.

You can find information about how WinPatrol works here.

Next:

Any questions? Feel free to ask, if not I will close this topic within 48 hrs and above all stay safe!

[Dakeyras]

Hi,

The current problems you are experiencing are without no doubt due to the fact at present your machine has only XP Service Pack Two installed. Support for the aforementioned was withdrawn by Microsoft:-

Support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2) ended on July 13, 2010

Source.

As it stands my best advice is you perform a reformat and reinstallation of the Windows operating system as it would be pointless to to go through a malware removal process and attempt to upgrade your machine to XP Service Pack Three as malware would have made so many changes to the operating system and some which would be ultimately undetectable and thus consequently your machine would always be considered still compromised in my humble opinion.

Also your machine may have some hardware issues, possibly due to the overheating you mentioned and or either a failing motherboard/hard-drive for example. After carrying out my advice I suggest you pay a visit to this part of the forum and seek advice from one of the outstanding IT Techs here in GTG, by all means mention I have advised thus and provide a link to this topic:-

http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/topic/290821-windows-xp-start-up-issues/page__gopid__1937770

After you have performed a reformat and reinstallation of the Windows operating system:-

Keep your system updated:

Microsoft releases patches for Windows and other products regularly:

• I advise you visit: http://update.micros...t.aspx?ln=en-us
• Install the Active X
• Once installed it will advise set Auto-Updates if not set and you then you will be able to manually check for updates also via:
• Start >> All Programs >> Microsoft Updates

Install XP SP3:

There is a new service pack for XP, namely SP3. I advise you download/install this as it will increase the security side of your system.

Download can be found here or the CD ordered for your country here <--scroll down to and click on 'How to obtain Windows XP Service Pack 3 on a CD'

Please read this Microsoft article before actually installing the aforementioned service pack.

Download/Install a AV:

Download just one only of the three free anti-virus programs listed below please and then:

Install >> Update >> Carry Out a Complete Scan. Have it fix anything it finds.

• AntiVir Free.
• Avast Home Edition.
• Microsoft Security Essentials.

Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware:

Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.

• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and select then follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
• When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please post that log in your next reply.

The log can also be found here:

• Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• Click on the Logs radio tab.

Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts, click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process, if asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.

Next:

*** I have only advised you scan with both of the above after installation as a precaution after you have installed all critical updates/service packs after the reformat and reinstallation of the Windows operating system.

Do not be alarmed by this but merely view this as myself ensuring your online safety.

Now some advice for on-line safety:

Malwarebyte's Anti-Malware:

This is a excellent application and I advise you keep this installed. Check for updates and run a scan once a week.

Other installed security software:

Which ever Anti-Virus software you chose to install will automatically check for updates and downloads/installs them with every system reboot and or periodically if the machine is left running providing a internet connection is active.

I advise you also run a complete scan with this also once per week.

Be careful when opening attachments and downloading files:

Never open email attachments, not even if they are from someone you know. If you need to open them, scan them with your antivirus program before opening.
Never open emails from unknown senders.
Beware of emails that warn about viruses that are spreading, especially those from antivirus vendors. These email addresses can be easily spoofed. Check the antivirus vendor websites to be sure.
Be careful of what you download. Only download files from known sources. Also, avoid cracked programs. If you need a particular program that costs too much for you, try finding free alternatives on Sourceforge or Pricelessware.

Stop malicious scripts:

Windows by default allow scripts (which is VBScript and JavaScript) to run and some of these scripts are malicious. Use Noscript by Symantec or Script Defender by AnalogX to handle these scripts.

Avoid Peer to Peer software:

P2P may be a great way to get lots of seemingly freeware, but it is a great way to get infected as well. There's no way to tell if the file being shared is infected. Worse still, some worms spread via P2P networks, infecting you as well. My advice is avoid these types of software applications.

Hosts File:

A Hosts file is like a phone book. You look up someone's name in the phone book before calling him/her. Similarly, your computer will look up the website's IP address before you can view the website.

Hosts file will replace your current Hosts file with another one containing well-known advertisement sites, spyware sites and other bad sites. This new Hosts file will protect you by re-directing these bad sites to 127.0.0.1.

Here are some Hosts files:

• MVPS Hosts File
• hpHosts

Only use one of the above.

Install WinPatrol:

WinPatrol alerts you about possible system hijacks, malware attacks and critical changes made to your computer without your permission.

Download it from here.

You can find information about how WinPatrol works here.

Next:

Any questions? Feel free to ask, if not I will close this topic within 48 hrs and above all stay safe!

[Dakeyras]

Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad we could help.

If you're the topic starter, and need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member with the address of the thread.

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