General Device Manager has disappeared!

Operating Win XP.
1.2 ghz AMD

Got off the computer Sunday night no problem. I downloaded the AVG anit virus software earlier that day and used the computer no glitches. It said I had no virus. Didn't use it all day Monday. Tuesday and all has gone WRONG! I have no sound. I have nothing listed under General Device manager. My AOL software will not open it. It says it needs to load some files and I need to restart. I do that and nothing happens.

All my printers are gone.

Of course I have no system restoration point I can go back to.

I uninstalled the AVG software. I get no relief.

Can somebody tell me what angle I can try a solution? THanks

 

I'm not sure it would be AVG... thats a pretty solid AV. Do you have a firewall? It is possible that someone planted a malicious code on your harddrive. Get on from www.download.com and search for Zone Alarm and Ad aware 6 and Spybot Search and Destroy... it's free.

Run scan disk, check for viruses (again) Defragment, clear all temp files, history, cookies... Delete all spyware and adware... back up ONLY the important files... you may need to do a System Recovery. But wait until other suggestions!