Member Panel

Hi

Had the problem with no .exe files working yesterday - that seems to be fixed (ty to all who helped with that)

Reformated my drive - put XP SP1 back on - managed to get firewall / virus guard on and it blocked the little blighter that was causing my problems.

Downloaded 31 updates from Windows update and rebooted.

From power on - it goes through the motions, but before it gets to the welcome screen, it reboots and tells me windows did not shut down properly - gives me 3 options

Start Windows normally
Load last know good configuration
Boot in Safe Mode

The first two options just keep me in that cycle of rebooting then getting the same message

I can get into safe mode ok from where i have ran all AVG / Adware / Spyware / registry checks and removed all bad things

Still cannot though get booted up. What else can i do in safe mode that will let me fix whatever is wrong?

Thanks in advance

It sounds like the "little blighter" is getting into your system soon after installation, I recommend you do the following:

Burn your Adware/Spyware/AVG e.tc onto a CD, then boot off your Windows XP CD and delete your partition, recreate then format and reload your machine.
(sounds like you have recently formatted so I guess there isn't any important information on your machine)
Before you start installing windows, make sure your machine is disconnected from any network or broadband connection.

You can follow this guide to help with your installation of windows:
http://www.pchelpforum.com/component...0/topic,1852.0

After installation you must install your AVG, Spyware e.t.c, reboot your machine and upgrade to service pack 2. Then install any windows updates that are on the update site and hopefully things should be OK.

cheers for that

That seems to be what i have already done.

After the no exe's running fault yesterday - i formatted and reinstalled software etc but the bug/trojan snuck in before i had fully installed Adware / ZAP as i was trying to install SP2

I formatted again and put ZAP on before doing any windows updates and it blocked something called Polkabot65 (i think thats what it was called)

Anyway i got passed the stage where previously on 2 occasions exe files stopped working and manged to get all my protection programs on.

The problem with not being able to boot is only since i downloaded the windows updates. Using safe mode i've checked with Adware / Sbybot / ZAP and my AVG and it tells me there is nothing bad on my PC

So you think formatting again is the only solution?

Boot into safemode and go into control panel, check in there for any windows updates that may have been installed and try to uninstall them.

That way we might be able to roll back any changes.

Do you know whether any drivers were updated, if so you can roll back those updates by following these instructions:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...rrollback.mspx

EDIT - Information from Microsoft site - (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro.../hfdeploy.mspx)

Removing Updates
You can remove an update for Windows XP by using Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel.

If you install multiple updates that replace the same files, and you want to return your computer to its original state, you must remove the most recently installed update first. For example, assume that UpdateA and UpdateB replace the same file and that you installed UpdateA before you installed UpdateB. To return your computer to its state before the installation of UpdateA, you must remove UpdateB before you remove UpdateA.

To remove an update for Windows XP

1.
Open Control Panel.

2.
Click Add or Remove Programs.

3.
Select the Show updates check box.

4.
Click the update that you want to remove, and then click Change or Remove.

5.
Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Important

? If you try to remove the updates in the wrong order, a warning appears that lists all of the updates and programs that have been installed since you installed the update that you are trying to remove. The warning names the update you are trying to remove and warns you that if you continue, the programs listed might not run correctly. Click No if you do not want to remove the update, and if you prefer to remove the programs and updates that are listed before you continue. Otherwise, click Yes.

? You cannot remove updates that were installed by using the combination installation method unless you reinstall the operating system. Reinstalling the operating system overwrites the updates.

The only drivers I installed were for the monitor and for my modem

Last night Windows update installed 31 updates onto the PC

I assume you mean to go to Add/Remove programs and remove all of the updates from there?
Is that all of those Hotfix things beginning with K ?

It might be easier for you to use System Restore to perform this "roll-back" - just select a restore point prior to your patch installations.

Did you format all partitions/HD's ? (if you have more then one)

Also when youre reinstalling windows its a good idea to unplug youre internet and dont plug it back in untill windows , AV and a firewall is installed. And then the first thing is to go to windowsupdate before anything else to prevent probs like this.