Help! Think i've got a virus or something
 

Got the home desktop PC, running Windows XP with all the latest updates & service packs etc. Connects to the internet through a Wanadoo/Orange router via RJ45 cable. Got McAfee virus scan, which is fully up to date + i've got Zone Alarm which is also up to date.

Also got works laptop, which connects to the internet from home via the Orange router wirelessly. I was sitting working away on the laptop today, not using the desktop at all, when I seen the desktop flashing up a McAfee message saying something about a change to my computer - if I was expecting the change then I could ok it, but if I wasn't expecting the change then I could click No - do not accept the change. This message has appeared at various time when i've been installing new software and the answer has always been yes, but today I hadn't installed any software - the desktop had been sitting there for an hour not doing anything.

Now the machine won't start up properly - it takes ages to go from the welcome screen to my windows desktop, and even then all my dekstop icons are missing + the start bar. I can do a ctrl alt delete which allows me to bring up the task manager and I can see about 5 entries for svchost.exe

If I click all of them and 'end process' the machine then goes into windows properly, with the desktop icons + the start bar appearing. However, after about maybe a minute i get a message saying the machine needs to shut down - the message says: "The system is shutting down. Please save all work in progress and log off. This shutdown was initiated by by NT AUTHORITY/SYSTEM." It then starts a count-down of a minute and there is no option to cancel.

I also can't use System Restore.

If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated - you can either reply here or catch me on MSN Messenger - andy_oobAThotmail.com

Sounds like a driver update. Have seen this before, try getting into safe mode and removing the last windows update - probably showing todays date.

svchost.exe is a system process belonging to the Microsoft Windows Operating System which handles processes executed from DLLs.

try System Restore frew safe mode, start up tappin F8 for safe mode.

MattW - I can start up the machine by pressing F8 on startup, but when I go into Control Panel - Add Remove Programs and check the 'include updates' box, there are no updates from today. The last one was the 10th October.

Hudders - When I go into System Restore (which the machine wouldn't let me do half an hour ago) the only date in there is today's date - even when I click the back arrow to go back to previous months it just isn't clickable.

System Restore, make sure it isn't disabled

Hudders - I don't understand what you mean.

The machine is no longer shutting itself down doing the countdown thing, but for some reason the start bar is no longer the XP blue, it's the old windows 98 grey colour.

And it isn't loading many of the usual startup items, like McAfee VirusScan or ZoneAlarm.

If I go into MSConfig and look at the startup items McAfee isn't even in there - i.e. at all.

It also won't connect to the net.

can you see them in add&remove programs?

Yes, McAfee Security Centre appears in Add or Remove programs.

When I try to run it from the programs menu it starts to open but then just disappears - it doesn't hang, it doesn't appear in the Task Manager either.

Thats why I think i've got a virus - it's making me not able to open any virus stuff.

I also can't get on the internet.

go to control panel,go to task bar and start menu you can alter task bar settings.

you could remove all your virus stuff then reload them. a bit risky but i think their is a problem with your security center etc. when you download updates etc the Internet could of froze for a second. that happened to me with Norton i had remove all Norton using safe mode then re download it.

mark

Yea but if McAfee isn't even running, then why won't it go onto the internet? Why is ZoneAlarm not showing in the system tray and in the Startup list inside MSConfig?

Sounds to me like you have a nasty worm virus.Had this myself about 2 years ago(probly surfing porno or something) :lol1:.try this fix -
http://securityresponse.symantec.com...r/FixBlast.exe

More info here - http://securityresponse.symantec.com...r/FixBlast.exe

Its an old virus that though so i cold be wrong.

Hope it helps
Matt.

Those links don't work matt

NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM SOULUTION! read this - Tech Support Forum
Virus alert about the Blaster worm and its variants

Sorry mate god knows why they didnt work, scrol down the first link to around the 2nd post and a fix is located there.Theres also some info on the 2nd link.

Hope it helps you out man.

Failing that a complete reinstall of windows always does the trick though i appreciate thats not the ideal solution.

Oobster - penny's just dropped, i remember now when I used to get this problem. it was on my work laptop and happened after a Macfee update. To fix I had to de install Mcafee and re install. Always sorted it.

PS - you don't have Skype do you. Not got the problem since I de installed that.