Next
I'm going to move on with this, and assume that Check-Disk finally finished. Just so ya know, I'm about to be on the road for the next 3 hours. So if I dont respond in awhile, thats why.
OK,
For these next steps you have to log in normally. I'm hoping that you can log in still. I know you said it takes a long time, but it will
eventually load your desktop, right?
(
If you cannot load your desktop at all, see the bottom of this post. *)
*Next we will be using CCleaner ([EDIT]but not in safe mode) to clean your computer and try and fix any registry problems.
Start your computer
normally that way we can run this program and have it work correctly.
Then do to following:
We are going to install CCleaner, This is their home page,
http://www.ccleaner.com/
This is a great tool that many people use to fix, clean, maintain their computers. I will also give you a direct link to the download here:
http://www.ccleaner.com/download/downloading
After it downloads, just click the file and go through the install. Yes it is an .exe but its free of malicious intents, so no worries there. Just "ok" everything throughout the install.
Now:
1. Once you have finished the install and the program opens, its a simple matter of getting started.
2. Go to the "Cleaner" tab and press the "Analyze" button at the bottom.
3. Once its finished analyzing, click the "Run Cleaner" button.
4. Then go to the "Registry" tab. And click "Scan for Issues", once that is done it will ask you if you want to backup your registry. Do so now. Name this file so you know
exactly what it is, then save the file in a place you can find.
I name my backup files things like: "KEEP, CCleaner registry backup"
(without the quotes, of course)
5. Once you finish with the Registry scan, close CCleaner. But don't shut-down windows! We have more to do, see below.
--------
Once we are finished with CCleaner we can move on to the next step.
We are going to give you Malwarebytes-Antimalware. Its a great program that works as a malicious program removal tool. In short it eliminates the harmful stuff your antivirus scan may miss.
Lets get started!
1. Lets download the program, here is their homepage:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/
and here is a direct link to their free download, just click the "Download Now" button and save it. Yes this is also an .exe, but this file is safe:
http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebyt...4572.html?part=dl-10804572&subj=dl&tag=button
2. once its installed open the program and click the "Update" tab. The click for it to update.
3. When its finished updating, go to the "Scanner" tab. Then click the "Perform Full Scan" bubble, then click the "Scan" button. Just so ya know, It may take awhile to scan.
4. Once it finishes scanning it will tell you, then it will show what it found presented in a report.
IMPORTANT: Save this report somewhere you can find it. You will need to post the log to this forum.
Now, restart computer normally and see if things are better.
If things are better,
your done!
===================================================
* If you cannot load your desktop at all!, continued from top of post.
If you can not get your desktop to load
at all then here is what we need to try.
1. Turn on your computer, Tap F8 and enter safe mode.
2. Click Start, point to
All Programs, point to
Accessories, point to
System Tools, and then click
System Restore.
3. On the Welcome screen, click "Restore my computer to an earlier time", and then click "Next".
4. On the Select a Restore Point page, select the date from the calendar that shows the point you'd like to restore to and then click "Next".
Note: The calendar can be flipped back to previous, weeks/months by using the arrow buttons on the calendar.
In your case I would recommend you go back to whenever you are
absolutely sure your computer was working correctly.
5. On the
Confirm Restore Point Selection page, verify that the correct restore point is chosen, and then close any open programs.
6. Click
Next if you are ready to proceed or click
Back to change the restore point.
7. The computer will shut down automatically and reboot. On reboot, you'll see the
Restoration Complete page, and then click
OK.
Note This:
After reviewing the stability of your system, you can choose another restore point or undo this restoration. Just open System Restore and make the appropriate choice. After you use System Restore, you'll have an additional task, Undo my last restoration, on the System Restore Welcome page. Remember that you'll have to reinstall any programs that were installed after the restore point.
If System Restore doesn't work in Normal Mode, it might work in Safe Mode. To use System Restore in Safe Mode, press the F8 key during reboot and choose Safe Mode. When your computer starts in either Safe Mode or Normal Mode, System Restore can be used to capture a working previous state. System Restore can't be opened unless the system is bootable into one of these modes.
(Though most of this information was all mine, some information was from Microsoft. [<http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/getstarted/ballew_03may19.mspx>. "Windows XP System Restore Is Easy to Use". Ballew, Joli. 10/2/2009.]
)