Errors And Failings... Need Help!

Tech Support Forum General Software
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Hello guys, it’s been a bad day today apart from me getting my Antec 480W PSU for my new pc.

Anyways, I think this is how it started.. I left 2 programs running (Spybot S&D and Registry Mechanic). Switched user, So the programs were still running and went out. I came back a few hours later to find that someone had turned the computer off, and I thought ‘ah well’, so then I switched the PC back on and it got to the Memory testing in the boot up and said “CMOS checksum error ‘CD Drive’” not sure it said CD Drive..

So I reboot tap F8 the Advanced boot options come up, I chose Safe Mode and it went through executing all the files and then went to the bad resolution logon aka safe mode.. I logged on to the Administrator account and it must’ve been tired or something… no response from waiting 5 minutes.

I switched the computer back off and tried loading normal boot up.. which worked but I couldn’t logon to my account so I tried my dads and luckily it worked. Sadly, there’s no taskbar (Start button etc..) So I had to navigate and run programs with Task manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del).

First things I did was check for viruses. Seen as though I had no Specific protection always running (My McAfee Subscription ran out last week). I came to the end of Spybot S&D and it had found around 4 infections. I cleaned them and then logged off my dads account.

Thinking that the viruses was the cause for all this I attepmted to log back to my account. This time it worked and loaded all my normal setting and everything. Except it couldn’t seem to sign in to MSN Messenger. I troubleshooted and still no connection.

So then I want to install some permanent security until, I get the next security. I downloaded ZoneAlarm Free Edition and popped up a window saying “You cannot have mcafee and zonealarm firewalls running on the same computer blah blah blah blah..” So then I go to Add/Remove programs and Try and remove ‘McAfee Personal Firewall’. Im thinking ok I’ve got it all sorted and then COMPLETE BLACK OUT.. I have been meaning to post about this for a while but never though whilst I have been browsing HWF. So what it does is black out for one second then refreshes as though it will come back on but it doesn’t. So i reboot and find that I can’t log back onto my own Account.. I am currently posting this on my dad’s windows account using Windows Task Manager..

I have tried some things like clearing the CMOS by taking the motherboard battery out and I tried resetting the jumpers something willhub told me a while ago but i wasn’t certain of what to do.

Here’s some specs:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-7DXE
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2200+ (Reset to default 1.8GHz)
GPU: 3Dfx Voodoo Banshee .. I know :eek:
PSU: 350w Generic … it works though
RAM: 768MB PC2100 [1x512,1x256]
Optical Drive: 52x24x52 CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combi
Hard Drive: Maxtor 40GB
FDD: Generic Floppy Drive

I think the problem is that the computer was turned off when having 2 scans in the run.. or that mixed with some malware..

I would appreciate any input thanks in advance!

Chris_

EDIT: I think it still might be that CMOS checksum thing because I updated the Spybot S&D and when i downloaded the Virus Definitions it said “CMOS CHECKSUM ERROR” any infrmation you can offer would be awesome! :smiley:

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My guess is that Registry Mechanic was doing a automatic scan when the system got turned off and in doing so, screwed with the registry.
I’d prob just try a repair install or try rolling back to a previous restore date!
P.S - In task manager, click new task and type ‘explorer’ without the quotes and your taskbar should come back :cool:

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[QUOTE=pelvis_3]
My guess is that Registry Mechanic was doing a automatic scan when the system got turned off and in doing so, screwed with the registry.
I’d prob just try a repair install or try rolling back to a previous restore date!
P.S - In task manager, click new task and type ‘explorer’ without the quotes and your taskbar should come back :cool:
[/QUOTE]

I rolled back to another date just after I posted and nothing has changed. And I knew to run explorer after one of my mates computer kept blacking out.

Now I get this error. It pops up every 60 seconds say :mad:

Here’s another few screens, am I running anything suspicious?

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Thanks, Chris

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Damn, I think that ‘userinit.exe’ is either the virus (probably trojan), or is infected with spyware. Im running registry mechanic again and it’s identified thousands of problems. I better start backing up and maybe reformat.

EDIT: And yes it was. Right no for removing it. It’s a trojan, I know that and so far Spybot hasn’t helped neither MS AntiSpyware. I’ll try Lavasoft’s Ad-Aware.. has anyone came accross this before?
Here’s the image :mad:

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Try grabbing a copy of The Ultimate Boot CD and do a virus scan with it. Hopefully you’ll be able to remove it!

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A reformat and reinstall would be the best thing to do. If your system is badly damaged in the registry aswell as by malware then I would recommend it. When you do make sure all updates and service packs are installed as well as all security software.

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If you don’t have anything backed up, just do a repair. If you have everything backed up already, I’d just format and re-install WindowsXP. Bye bye problems (save for windowsxp :P)

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[QUOTE=StimpE]
If you don’t have anything backed up, just do a repair.
[/QUOTE]

Repair installs can also stuff things up too!
Backing up your data in any case should be considered.

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[QUOTE=pelvis_3]
Repair installs can also stuff things up too!
[/QUOTE]

I’ve only seen repairs damage data if it gets interrupted, but yeah, you should be backing up data all the time. But who does :stuck_out_tongue:

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Lol, I will start backing up tonight and I haven’t got a XP Pro cd anywhere :mad: