[mugglemarble]

I turned on my computer today and everything's messed up. I'm running windows XP on a Sony Vaio (about 6 yrs. old). I have 2 separate CD drives, and my computer won't recognize them. Sometimes when I restarted it'd recognize one of them. When I'm in the BIOS screen it only shows 1 CD drive. I can't copy or backup files; I wanted to backup so I could revert back to factory settings. I also can't install or uninstall anything. My anti-virus program (McAfee) says it has updated, but when I run a scan it says my definitions are 5 months out of date. It suddenly takes a really long time to boot up. I tried doing a system restore, rolling back a few days, and that didn't do anything. Windows would not run a system scan on startup after I told it to. I also just bought internet from Qwest last week, I don't know if that has to do w/ anything. Do I have a virus? If I do I don't know what to do about it since I can't update my anti-virus program. I tried installing windows one care (it came free w/ my internet) but it said there was a network problem and couldn't install. However; my internet was and is working just fine. I'm no computer expert and I'm at a loss. Please, can anyone help?

[JonnyDangerously]

I would recommend a diagnostic startup, go to Start --> Run, Type in msconfig, in General tab, check diagnostic startup. Click okay, click restart on the popup, when windows boots up again, let me know if you see everything and if at least most of the stuff that wasnt working, is now functioning, chances are you have a virus.

[mugglemarble]

I tried what you said, except after I changed it ti "diognostic startup" a message popped up saying, "An access denied error was returned while attempting to change a service. You many need to log on using an admin. accnt. to make the changes." But I only have one acount setup on my computer and I am the administrator. I just exited the message and it restarted anyway. I could see 2 CD drives listed (usually they show up as a DVD/CD-RW and a DVD Rom--I don't know if the change in type means anything.). However, I still can't run/update my antivirus and have trouble installing/uninstalling. I went to IDrive and got 12 GB of online storage, hoping that I could back-up my files there and maybe reinstall windows, but that didn't work.

[JonnyDangerously]

There's definitely something malicious running on that computer, you'll want to boot into safe mode to try and get your usability back. But if you're looking to just reinstall windows, I think that would be easiest for you. Try Mozy Backup, that works pretty well, it provides 2 gb free space, and lets you download each file you've backed up individually.

If you want to make another attempt at restoring your usability, boot up in safe mode. To do this, restart, when its starting to boot up it will give a list, press f8 for safe mode, F9 for bios, f12 for hard disk priority etc, its different for a lot of motherboards, but chances are you either have to press F8 while booting up, or hold down F8 while booting up.

When safe mode is started, run MSconfig again, Click on diagnostic startup, then click on selective startup (this only enables all the essential requirements)
Then select all items underneath selective startup

Go to Services and enable only the following services (dont disable any, all the unessential ones to run successfully should already be enabled)

http://tinyurl.com/ksohag

If some services are missing that is okay

When complete-

Go to startup and enable only noted startup services in the text pad I provided, if they are missing, keep an eye out for only the essentials on startup (your sound drivers, nvidia or ATI control panels, firewall)

Now I also recommend installing and running SpybotS&D
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/o...rs1/index.html

And, instead of McAfee, I recommend Comodo Firewall,
http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/d..._firewall.html

And Ccleaner
http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

Scan with those utilities in safe mode, install/download them in normal mode though.

When installing comodo it asks if you want to install Ask.com toolber etc, please, uncheck that, lol, not like you'll use it, no reason to clutter up your browser.

I would re-install mcafee if you really actually want it to run well again.

And if you're not already, use Google Chrome browser, its far safer and superior to IE, and Firefox