No program will open at all.

[Akhet]

I am very puzzled as I know my Internet is connected but firefox will not open. No other program will either. All that happens when I attempt this is the cursor doing a twirly dance. Firefox will not open in safe mode either. Unfortunately my computer says I have no restore points. This all started today when my computer inexplicably crashed. I donot have malwarebytes installed but I have tried running lavasoft adaware to no avail. It wont run either. What can I do?

[Bjs]

Either malware or registry / system file corruption.

1: There are a number of bootable discs / usb apps which may determine malware, links found here
2: System file corruption ... for xp you need the os install cd and from run command use "sfc/scannow" ... also valid for windows 7.
3: Registry

The quick and dirty way of fixing the registry is to replace the damaged registry using the first installed os state registry files ... this gets the system up and running but all user installed applications will need to be reinstalled again.

Once you've fixed the problem ... preferably this is done before a system develops this symptom ... you should create a master backup image ... macurium reflect dose nicely for free.

[Akhet]

How can I get a rescue program on a usb stick if I cannot get onto the internet

[jagabo]

How can I get a rescue program on a usb stick if I cannot get onto the internet

Use another computer, obviously.

[Akhet]

Either malware or registry / system file corruption.

1: There are a number of bootable discs / usb apps which may determine malware, links found here
2: System file corruption ... for xp you need the os install cd and from run command use "sfc/scannow" ... also valid for windows 7.
3: Registry

The quick and dirty way of fixing the registry is to replace the damaged registry using the first installed os state registry files ... this gets the system up and running but all user installed applications will need to be reinstalled again.

Once you've fixed the problem ... preferably this is done before a system develops this symptom ... you should create a master backup image ... macurium reflect dose nicely for free.

So far no luck getting any exe to run. So now I am try to run one of the iso rescues......Which apparently won't run either.

[jman98]

So far no luck getting any exe to run. So now I am try to run one of the iso rescues......Which apparently won't run either.

I recommend using the Trinity Rescue Kit - http://trinityhome.org

If you cannot get the Trinity Rescue Kit to boot then you've got problems more serious than anyone here can help you with and you'll need to consider either paying a repair shop to fix your PC or you'll have to find a very experienced friend with IT skills to work on it.

[wulf109]

Could be you caught some new version of "XP Total Security" virus.

http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=82696

Malwarebytes Pro,the pay version does seem to protect well.

[Akhet]

I can use that even if I don't have linux but Windows?

[Akhet]

Could be you caught some new version of "XP Total Security" virus.

http://forums.malwarebytes.org/index.php?showtopic=82696

Malwarebytes Pro,the pay version does seem to protect well.

I wish!! :l THe weird thing about this is that there are no ads not fake virus scans. Nothing.

[Bonie81]

if nothing works, it is time to wipe-out everything and a fresh-start with clean installation of OS.

[johns0]

If you have files you want to save you don't need to wipe everything out,just do a new install and windows will ask you if you want to install anyways due to there being an o/s already there,install and backup your files to usb etc... then reformat and reinstall if needed.

[neomaine]

Have you tried at least booting in Safe Mode? I'm leaning towards the old 'XP/2007-2011 Security' issues as well. I've been able to rescue a many computers by getting into safe mode and using one of the above metioned tools. Sadly, I've never found a single tool to fix them all. It's always manifested a little differently.

Get to another computer and get the latest versions of the above tools: Spybot, Malwarebutes... Being able to boot in safe mode and bring up something like Spybot S&D (Adaware doesn't have the tools for this...) and use the advanced tool's startup check.

AFAIK all the lastest antivirus/malware tools should have caught this. Make sure you're running an updated program and definitions. You should even consider MSE. I've been using it as my first line of defense for relatives and friends. It was Avast which updates itself (good) but needs a re-register every 12 months or so, which - unfortunatly - is still beyond the attention span and ease of use of most.

[Akhet]

Have you tried at least booting in Safe Mode? I'm leaning towards the old 'XP/2007-2011 Security' issues as well. I've been able to rescue a many computers by getting into safe mode and using one of the above metioned tools. Sadly, I've never found a single tool to fix them all. It's always manifested a little differently.

Get to another computer and get the latest versions of the above tools: Spybot, Malwarebutes... Being able to boot in safe mode and bring up something like Spybot S&D (Adaware doesn't have the tools for this...) and use the advanced tool's startup check.

AFAIK all the lastest antivirus/malware tools should have caught this. Make sure you're running an updated program and definitions. You should even consider MSE. I've been using it as my first line of defense for relatives and friends. It was Avast which updates itself (good) but needs a re-register every 12 months or so, which - unfortunatly - is still beyond the attention span and ease of use of most.

I have tried installing malwarebytes and other programs via u sb stick but they will not run even in safe mode

[mike20021969]

How can I get a rescue program on a usb stick if I cannot get onto the internet

This is a trick question, yes?

[aedipuss]

I have tried installing malwarebytes and other programs via u sb stick but they will not run even in safe mode

it may not show up on screen but that is one of the fake a/v sigs. another is not letting .exe's run. the third tip off is that they kill all restore points. you're infected all right.

the only way to get mwb to install is to change the .exe extension to .com no guarantees but it might work, then also change the program .exe to .com

most likely you should be planning to re-format and then re-install windows. i just did a laptop that got infected with a fake a/v by just visiting an infected site. there was no repairing it, even after removing the infection too much of the o.s had been wrecked.

[jagabo]

I can use that even if I don't have linux but Windows?

Isn't this clear enough?

Trinity Rescue Kit or TRK is a free live Linux distribution that aims specifically at recovery and repair operations on Windows machines

[Cornucopia]

So to recap,

1. Use a friend's computer to get these items and create a bootable USB.
2. Boot from the USB and copy off your data files that are important to you (Just In Case - should have been done anyway).
3. Then, you have 3 choices, either:

A. wipe clean and re-install your OS, or
B. just do a re-install ON TOP of your current OS, or
C. attempt to do an extremely thorough cleaning (AV, Anti-malware, RegDb, etc) via your USB/CD bootdisc

Scott

[johns0]

Just curious,how are you sending and replying to messages on videohelp.com if you cant get on the web?

[Akhet]

Just curious,how are you sending and replying to messages on videohelp.com if you cant get on the web?

Kindle

[Akhet]

I have tried installing malwarebytes and other programs via u sb stick but they will not run even in safe mode

it may not show up on screen but that is one of the fake a/v sigs. another is not letting .exe's run. the third tip off is that they kill all restore points. you're infected all right.

the only way to get mwb to install is to change the .exe extension to .com no guarantees but it might work, then also change the program .exe to .com

most likely you should be planning to re-format and then re-install windows. i just did a laptop that got infected with a fake a/v by just visiting an infected site. there was no repairing it, even after removing the infection too much of the o.s had been wrecked.

Yikes. Sounds bad! But what about all my files and music,? I am going to try to fix this even though I know its quite hard to do so.

[Cornucopia]

Whoa there, pardner!

Do it the right way and you may not lose ANYTHING.

Start with a bootable USB/CD with a number utilities on it.

Before doing anything else, copy your data files to a separate medium (removeable/external HD, CD/DVD, USB, etc).

Clean up your disc as best you can, including a "restore *.exe files" and similar reg fixes, all while running from the USB/CD.

Then boot into Safe Mode and add local A/V & Anti-malware apps and run them each (sometimes multiple times).

Then you're ready to try booting up normally.

If this doesn't work, THEN you're ready to reinstall.

See this recent thread...

Scott

[Akhet]

I have just used the avira rescue Cd. It found only two infected files. Both were deleted, but with reboot the problem persists. No programs open. I guess its on tot trying the other rescue cds out there. Trinity etc. Is there a point trying the lot?

[magillagorilla]

Once the OS gets that hosed I wouldn't trust it anymore, even if I could recover it. Just backup your media files and reinstall Windows. Install a new copy of Windows, not an upgrade/repair. Once you have SP3, AV and anti-spyware installed on your new image, scan your backup device. Better yet, upgrade to Windows 7 if you have the hardware to handle it.

[jman98]

I live in the USA and where I live there is unreliable power. My house gets several brown outs a year. The power will just completely cut off for a fraction of a second before coming right back, but it's enough to shut down electronic devices. I feel stupid to admit this as I should have known better, but I went for many years with no UPS of any kind. I have UPSes now. In fact I even have my LCD TV plugged into a UPS simply to provide reliable power in the case of brown outs.

In the past, EVERY Windows PC I had at home developed a problem eventually where it simply would not boot. It could not be fixed and it took a complete reinstall to get everything working. The data on my hard drives was fine but they would not boot. I never had this problem with any PC I ever used at work and we leave our PCs up all the time but they are connected to UPSes. I finally decided that it was related to the brown outs where just having the power yanked out from a running system eventually messed up the disk drive so it wouldn't boot. You say that you began to have problems after a crash so I am wondering if you might be having similar issues. Do you have a UPS? If not, has your PC been subjected to hard crashes caused by brown outs or prolonged unplanned power outages? If you have the same situation I did then the good news is that you will be able to copy anything you want off your hard drive but you should buy a new one and do a complete new installation to get working again. Two infected files does not necessarily indicate that you were taken down by a virus. I'd like to examine the brown out possibility that I mentioned. I do not see much point in trying other CDs such as Trinity if you still can't run anything. I think you need to prepare yourself that it's likely going to require a new install to fix this.

[aedipuss]

i'd bet on an infection by fake a/v. the hp laptop i had to reformat had all the same symptoms. all restore points were erased, and if he goes into his start menu i'd bet every single folder is empty. the effing virus erased all the program entries, so even after getting rid of it all programs would have had to be re-installed. and there were only 2 infected files(.exe's) on the laptop.

luckily the hp had one of those restore partitions on the drive to allow re-install of the o.s. - it even included a "minimal install" option that left off all the useless trialware/adware that comes on a new pc.

[TBoneit]

i'd bet on an infection by fake a/v. the hp laptop i had to reformat had all the same symptoms. all restore points were erased, and if he goes into his start menu i'd bet every single folder is empty. the effing virus erased all the program entries, so even after getting rid of it all programs would have had to be re-installed. and there were only 2 infected files(.exe's) on the laptop.

luckily the hp had one of those restore partitions on the drive to allow re-install of the o.s. - it even included a "minimal install" option that left off all the useless trialware/adware that comes on a new pc.

Actually as long as you don't run a temp file cleaner everything is recoverable. Over on http://www.bleepingcomputer.com there is a little program called unhide.exe

It recovers all the program shortcuts that the Virus had moved over into a folder in the temp folder. It unhides documents etc.

They also have virus removal forums where you can get help with cleaning up viruses.

If they feel it is warranted they will tell you to backup, wipe & reload. It depends on the Virus.

[PartingShot]

I live in the USA and where I live there is unreliable power... You say that you began to have problems after a crash so I am wondering if you might be having similar issues.

i'd bet on an infection by fake a/v.

I wonder if the OP's problem is with HDD sector failure, as the PC specs he has in his profile look quite old (assuming this is the PC in question).