Windows XP Pro SP1 Will Not Boot Properly

Hi Everyone,
I would really appreciate some help here with this new problem I'm facing. I have a HP desktop purchased in 2000, running XP Pro with Service Pack1, about 500 MB RAM, and two hard drives (30 GB, 160 secondary). Recently I have had a major issue with popups, so I downloaded Spybot Search and Destroy. The Scan found a few things which I deleted. My computer worked fine after that.

My computer froze up a few times recently so I had to hard reboot it. Each I restarted I would let the system do its check to make sure there was no damage to the disc, etc. and there wasn't.

The problem I face now is that the computer will not boot properly and I can't access anything. When I start it up, it takes me to the Windows XP login screen and I click on my user icon like normal. It then boots the desktop and all the icons, but then all of the icons will disappear automatically, leaving only my background image. I can bring up the task manager by pressing control-alt-delete and have noticed that CPU usage is almost at 100% and the majority of it is being used by teatimer.exe which is the real time protection service offered by Spybot Search and Destroy. I've ended this process, but it doesn't help anything.

I can restart and turn the computer off using the dropdown options in the task manager, but this is ALL I can do. My computer does nothing else!

Can anyone please help me with this issue? I have so much music, pictures, documents on this computer that I really need to recover, not to mention I'm really attached to this computer. Sorry for the long post. THANK YOU!!!

 

Hi and welcome. Can you boot in safe mode?

 

Hello, and thank you for the welcome. That is one of the things I meant to ask about actually as I've heard of safe mode but don't really know what it is.

How do I go about booting in safe mode, and what do I do if I am able to?

I apologize, but I'm not the best with computers. If I have step by step instructions I can do things just fine however. I really appreciate your help!!!

 

You get to safe mode by hitting F8 on your keyboard just before Windows boots.

Usually right after your computer manufacturer's logo goes away.

If you see the Windows XP logo on the black screen, you missed it. Try again.

Once you get in in safe mode, see if you can launch MSCONFIG.EXE and go through your start up environment and shut down anything you do not recognize. Reboot into normal mode and see if it works.

Sounds like your anti-spyware software or virus software may be compromised. Your data should be safe, but you may want to get an expert involved ASAP to back it up for you.

-joe

 

I will definitely try booting in Safe Mode this weekend when I'm around my computer and will report back. Thanks for the instructions.

Something else I thought was weird after I noticed all of these popups was that I was unable to select a System Restore point to restore my computer to. I know I created one not all that long ago, but it was gone, and all of the other bold dates I tried (regular system checkups) were unsuccessful and I'm not sure why.

Thanks again!

 

if you have Norton running you have to turn it off to run system restore . this link has a few other programs to look for
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/srfail.html

 

Hi Everyone,
I am very, very happy to report back with good news. I was able to start my system in Safe Mode, even though all I got was a black screen that read "Safe Mode" in all 4 corners of the screen. I did Control-Alt-Delete to get to the Task Manager and noticed that the teatimer.exe (Spybot program) wasn't even running this time, but my CPU usage was still at 100% and a process called HelpSvc.exe was running at 96-98%.

I then ran msconfig.exe from the dropdown Run option in Task Manager. I unchecked the following programs and then restarted the computer in normal mode:
1.) qttask.exe (Quicktime)
2.) ituneshelper.exe (iTunes)
3.) Reader_sl.exe (Adobe Reader 8.0)
4.) _A00FA942070.exe (I have no idea what this is, but it was in my temp files folder. I Googled it and came up with nothing.)
5.) teatimer.exe (Spybot Search and Destroy Real Time Protection)

I am now able to surf the internet, access my pictures and music, and am VERY HAPPY!!!

I do still have the problem with popups though and they are very frequent and so annoying. I think I will uninstall Spybot Search and Destroy as I don't think it did all that much to help me, and maybe in fact had something to do with my system shutting down in the first place. What are your thoughts? You guys are the pros! Thank you all very much!!!

 

Racer,

Please do yourself a favor and get a backup of all your important files ASAP. Buy an External USB Hard Drive (100.00 gets you 300+ GB these days)

You are likely still dealing with a compromised system. You may also consider getting a copy of a totally different Virus / Spyware scanner like Norton 360 or Microsoft OneCare and run it a few times.

Good luck and glad to hear your system is up and running.

-joe

 

_A00FA942070.exe, that is probably malware or a virus.

You should now post a Hijack This log to this thread. You can find the instructions on how to do so in the very first thread in the Malware Removal forum.

 

Hi Everyone,
I followed the directions on how to run Hijackthis and am very interested in hearing what you have to say about my log that I've posted below.

AcaCandy, would you mind taking a look at it for me whenever you get the chance to let me know what you think? I would really appreciate it.

I am still having a serious problem with popups (some open in a new browser window, and others open in a popup box on top of a window). They are for various things, and seem to repeat each other time after time. The popup boxes over the browser windows are all warning me that my computer could be infected with spyware or a virus and asks me to press OK to download something. The actual popup browser windows are for virus removers (www.registrydefender.com), chat rooms, search engine optimization website, 101inks.com (printer ink), ovguide.com (online video guide), etc. etc. So annoying!

Everyone, thank you very much again for your help thus far. I am so excited to have my system working again and am eager to get everything that is wrong with it fixed once and for all. Take care.

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 12:45:07 PM, on 10/5/2008
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 (6.00.2600.0000)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AppCore\AppSvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Hawking Technologies\Hawking_HWU54G_Utility\HWU54G.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wuauclt.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\LUCOMS~1.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Eric Hanau\Desktop\HiJackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://rd.yahoo.com/customize/sbcydsl/defaults/sp/*http://www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.thehungersite.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://msnmember.msn.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://rd.yahoo.com/customize/sbcydsl/defaults/su/*http://www.yahoo.com
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://rd.yahoo.com/customize/sbcydsl/defaults/sb/*http://www.yahoo.com/search/ie.html
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://rd.yahoo.com/customize/sbcydsl/defaults/sp/*http://www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.my.yahoo.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://rd.yahoo.com/customize/sbcydsl/defaults/su/*http://www.yahoo.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = c:\windows\SYSTEM\blank.htm
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by MSN
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Companion BHO - {02478D38-C3F9-4efb-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\ycomp5_1_3_0.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {1E8A6170-7264-4D0F-BEAE-D42A53123C75} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\coShared\Browser\1.0\NppBho.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - (no file)
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Companion - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\ycomp5_1_3_0.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: Show Norton Toolbar - {90222687-F593-4738-B738-FBEE9C7B26DF} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\coShared\Browser\1.0\UIBHO.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [osCheck] "C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\osCheck.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Symantec PIF AlertEng] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\PIF\{B8E1DD85-8582-4c61-B58F-2F227FCA9A08}\PIFSvc.exe" /a /m "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\PIF\{B8E1DD85-8582-4c61-B58F-2F227FCA9A08}\AlertEng.dll"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSConfig] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe /auto
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Uuau] C:\Documents and Settings\Eric Hanau\Application Data\srso.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\System32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\RunOnce: [] C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/se...0000049.000000b9&c=00000082.00000049.000000bb
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [SRUUninstall] "C:\WINDOWS\System32\msiexec.exe" /x {CACE0C9D-9EF7-4F3B-9C64-88FBA245BA9C} /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'Default user')
O4 - Global Startup: Hawking HWU54G Utility.lnk = C:\Program Files\Hawking Technologies\Hawking_HWU54G_Utility\HWU54G.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msjava.dll
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Login - {2499216C-4BA5-11D5-BD9C-000103C116D5} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\ylogin.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Yahoo! Login - {2499216C-4BA5-11D5-BD9C-000103C116D5} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\ylogin.dll
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM95\aim.exe
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - (no file)
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search && Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://msnmember.msn.com
O16 - DPF: {215B8138-A3CF-44C5-803F-8226143CFC0A} (Trend Micro ActiveX Scan Agent 6.6) - http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/housecall/applet/html/native/x86/win32/activex/hcImpl.cab
O16 - DPF: {4ED9DDF0-7479-4BBE-9335-5A1EDB1D8A21} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcinsctl/en-us/4,0,0,84/mcinsctl.cab
O16 - DPF: {A17E30C4-A9BA-11D4-8673-60DB54C10000} (YahooYMailTo Class) -
O16 - DPF: {BCC0FF27-31D9-4614-A68E-C18E1ADA4389} - http://download.mcafee.com/molbin/shared/mcgdmgr/en-us/1,0,0,21/mcgdmgr.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{6E103948-1353-46D4-A05E-AFD9B2DB4390}: Domain = sonoma.edu
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{FBF21318-537F-40B2-9D9D-7F29E18B72E8}: NameServer = 4.2.2.1,4.2.2.2
O20 - AppInit_DLLs: C:\WINDOWS\System32\dpcdll32.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: 276f0aef382 - C:\WINDOWS\
O20 - Winlogon Notify: 276f0aef448 - C:\WINDOWS\System32\dpcdll32.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: __c00C8CF4 - C:\WINDOWS\System32\__c00C8CF4.dat
O23 - Service: Automatic LiveUpdate Scheduler - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\LiveUpdate\ALUSchedulerSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Lic NetConnect service (CLTNetCnService) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: COM Host (comHost) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\VAScanner\comHost.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec IS Password Validation (ISPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\isPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate - Symantec Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\LUCOMS~1.EXE
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate Notice Service Ex (LiveUpdate Notice Ex) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSvcHst.exe
O23 - Service: LiveUpdate Notice Service - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\PIF\{B8E1DD85-8582-4c61-B58F-2F227FCA9A08}\PIFSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Core LC - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec AppCore Service (SymAppCore) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AppCore\AppSvc32.exe
--
End of file - 8842 bytes

 

Why do you not have ANY Windows Service Packs installed?

 

Hi AcaCandy,
I thought for sure I had Service Pack 1 installed, but I take it from your last post that I do not. See how much I know about these things. I thought I downloaded that a few years back when I used to download all of the Windows Hot Fixes and Security Updates, etc. through Windows Updates.

I do not have Service Pack 2 installed, well, simply because Microsoft will not allow me to download it if you catch my drift. Can we just leave it at that? I wish I had it, as there have been many things I've wished to add/download to this computer that I cannot because it's missing.

Please do not hesitate to ask any more questions or anything like that. I really look forward to hearing from you about my Hijackthis log since I've heard a few things about Hijackthis here and there in the past and now I get to live it (for the better or worse I guess we'll find out).

Thank you!