Odd pop-up messages.
 

Every so often I get a box come up (only when online) with a message similar to....

Message from SYSTEM to ALERT on 14/11/2005 18:56:23
STOP! WINDOWS REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Windows has found 47 CRITICAL SYSTEM ERRORS!
To fix the errors please do the following:
1) Download Registry Repair from: www.fixnow.net
2) Install Registry Repair
3) Run Registry Repair
4) Reboot your computer
FAILURE TO ACT NOW MAY LEAD TO DATA LOSS AND CORRUPTION!

Getting this all the time, though the PC has just had Win XP re-installed so the PC is as clean as its ever going to be. I loaded all my virus software on after re-installing Windows & the very first time I went on-line I got this or similar message.

Any ideas ?

R.

are you on AOL?

AFAIK do this

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel (or point to Settings, and then click Control Panel).
2. Double-click Administrative Tools.
3. Double-click Services.
4. Double-click Messenger.
5. In the Startup type list, click Disabled.
6. Click Stop, and then click OK.

HTH Nick

Or go to http://grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm for more info.

Its also a good idea to get an anti-spyware program.

Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
and/or
Ad-Aware - http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/
are two of the best - free too ;)

I will tell you exactly what it is....

You just re-installed XP, yes?
Did you install Service Pack 2 before going online, no?? I bet not.

If not, you almost certainly have either a virus or malware. The message you listed is a widely known malicious one. I have seen it myself on a friends system.

I suggest you reformat and install Service Pack 2 this time before going online.

In a recent test, it took less than 60 seconds for an unpatched system to become infected!!

Sounds like you've got some critical system errors there son, have you tried downloading the registry repair from fixnow.net?? ;)

Thanks all, will take all that advice !