Once in a while I'll lose the start button, the ability to right click, and the ability to launch a program or link. I think it's triggered by pop-ups although I have a pop-up blocker.

The start button gives me a list of applications I've used recently. Not the programs or control panel options I expect to see.

Right clicking on the desktop does nothing.

Double clicking an image file or pdf or a URL does nothing.

I have to restart to regain control.

Virus scan and anti-spy find nothing. I'm using security software provided by my ISP. I can't launch the virus scan in safe mode.

Windows update is active so I assume it has the latest XP and IE 7 updates.

Anyone know what's going on?

Thanks,
Sixto
87 300D

Forgot to mention that ctrl-alt-del doesn't do anything. I have to use the power switch to turn off the PC. Is there an alt command to turn off the PC? The Windows button on the keyboard brings up the same list as the start button.

Sixto
87 300D

Sounds like a pretty nasty virus...probably infiltrated the windows \system folder with executables that your virus detection software can't find.

The virus has also run a script that changed some key registry settings, in order to prevent deletion of the offending files.

If you can run regedit.exe, there is hope...the registry can be set properly, but the virus script probably deleted the file that contains the last good registry snapshot (so that you can't easily restore settings back to the way they were).

If you can't get to the registry in safe mode, there are ways to do so in DOS. The point is, this will be a slow manual process...otherwise, it's reformat and start over.

__________________
2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

If you have the right hardware you should install OSX.

Ubuntu Linux


I dual-boot windows2kpro and ubuntu, and I have yet to switch back to windows after I installed linux.

__________________
-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

That just sounds like "normal" Windows operation to me. My old work computer did that stuff constantly. We had a little song in the office "reboot reboot reboot". It seems to me Windows is itself a virus, with all the back doors built into it for the express purpose of allowing remote control of your computer. If I knew more about Linux I would run that. I do use all the OpenOffice applications and they run fine.

Mike

__________________
1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

True! Macs don't have as much potential for virus attacks. I've been in the graphics arts business for 16 years and have worked intimately with Macs and Windows machines and have never had a virus in any Mac but almost every Windows based machine had problems. There are risks with any system though. Compatiblity issues are problems on any machine. Applications loaded on a Mac will also load fonts which need to be removed so there are no conflicts with font management software, etc.

Now I use Windows for my glass design software (since I don't want to run bootcamp or buy a dual system Mac) and Macs for everything else. The Mac is fine as purchased but I bought FULL virus protection for the Windows station and have been lucky so far.

I have also used Linux servers with no problems or compatiblity issues in a Mac/Windows environment.

BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP and you can restore when there are problems.

__________________
Chad
2013 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL

Is your OS registered?

Name brand PC with OE XP pro and Office 03(?). I installed the authenticity check patches.

I'll try Hijackthis.

Sixto
87 300D

Download Hijackthis

http://www.merijn.org/files/HiJackThis_v2.exe

And post what it finds from its logfile.

__________________
Satan creates nothing: he only ruins everything. He does not invent: he tampers. And his followers are no different ~ Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigaṇ

While you're at it, downloading hijack this, you might also want to download Spybot Search & Destroy. Be sure and do the updating of definitions and new immunizations. (once it tells you to immunize, you have to remember to click on the green + towards the top left)
If, after removing entries, you suddenly find yourself not being able to access the net, don't panic - there is another program out there to fix that too.

__________________
It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Sounds like your computer is being "zombied"...... get rid of all your share ware, ad-ware and malware. Get a good McAfee online and scan and clean. You also may want to shut off your DSL until you will actually be using the computer. It could be from P2P software and someone can fry your OS

__________________
Showing up every day isn't enough. There are a lot of guys who show up every day who shouldn't have showed up at all. - James Caan

How long since your last reformat? Every 2 or 3 years I just start clean and cut the BS.

__________________
1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

When I downloaded and used Hijack this, it actually put spyware on my computer. I was trying to get rid of one of those fake antispyware-but-really-spyware programs. The instructions had HijackThis in the order of programs to use, but when I ran one of them after HijackThis, it found some spyware that wasn't there before. I used SmitFraud Fix, Rogue Remover, and CC Cleaner to get off the fake antispyware.

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1984 300TD

HiJackThis isn't spyware, its more of an advanced program that tells you if anything nasty has gotten into your browsers search defaults, or what's starting up with your system. There's plenty of helpful sites for HJT and I'll offer the same advice. You can perform a scan and save a log then PM it to me and I'll have a look at it.

HJT combined with Spybot and Adaware has recovered many windows systems for me, and that's a lot cause I'm a technician .

__________________
Jason

00 Subaru Legacy (fun wagon)
96 Nissan Sentra (disavowed)
82 300SD (garage queen, will run again hopefully)
87 300DT (Gone: 10/15/2010)