Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin (
More info?)
pips99 wrote:
> i'm running windows xp home edition. i'm stuck with not being able to
> restore because the screen opens to a blank window. my home page was
> changed, i can't download anything, game popup windows won't come up,
> and the help and support link opens to "this page cannot be displayed"
> Windows XP was on the computer when i bought it so i don't have a disc
> to restart it.
It sounds like you have malware on your computer which will need to be
cleaned up before you can do anything useful. System Restore is not
going to solve this issue for you. I'll give you general malware
removal steps, but from your post I would say your best course of
action would be to take the machine to a computer professional (not
your local equivalent of BigStoreUSA). I'm not saying this to hurt your
feelings; just being practical.
As for the issue of you not having an XP disk, the person and/or company
from which you bought it had the legal obligation to provide you with
some method of restoring Windows. It could be a Restore CD (image), an
image on a hidden partition on the hard drive, or an actual operating
system cd. If you are sure you got none of those items, then you need
to contact the place where you bought the computer to rectify the
situation.
Here are the general malware removal steps. Obviously, you would need to
get all necessary tools/updates from a different, known-clean computer
with an Internet connection and a cd burner:
First delete all Temporary and Temporary Internet Files. For IE's
Temporary Files, go to Control Panel>Internet Options>General tab.
You'll see where you can delete cookies and files. For Firefox, clear
its cache by going to Tools>Options>Privacy>Cache> Clear. For Windows
Temporary files, Start>Run cleanmgr [enter]. Then follow these detailed
malware removal steps, doing everything with updated tools in Safe
Mode. You can find all the links to referenced programs and sites on
my website here:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2004)
antivirus using updated definitions.
Before you remove malware, get LSPFix or WinSockFix for XP - see links
below.
2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.
Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).
If the malware remains even after you used Ad-aware and Spybot, you can
scan with HijackThis. HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and
disable hijackers, but it requires expert skill. See the links on my
website for a HijackThis tutorial and places where you can post your
HJT log. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get help
with it.
3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore after the system is clean because malware will be in the
Restore Points. With ME, you must disable System Restore completely.
With XP, you can delete all but the most recent (presumably clean)
System Restore point from the More Options section of Disk Cleanup
(Run>cleanmgr).
4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.
5) Run a firewall.
Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
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