XP security center virus strange issues

[digital dilemna]

i was on the web doing absolutely nothing to give myself a virus. windows security center flipped out and started saying i had a ton of viruses and trojans. i found this very strange seeing as i had disabled the security center in favor of symantec and AVG. suspicious, i ran an avg scan and it came up clean. soon after i discovered that i could not use the internet browsers nor could i access the security center. 10 minutes later i found it was a virus that infects security center and gives fake viruses to try and get your credit card information. [ironicly i don't have a credit card]

i have looked into removing it, but all the solutions require booting into safe mode. therein lies my issue, as i cannot find the option no matter what i do as it boots up. below is the information on my computer and the virus i have, as well as the symptoms in case i have the wrong virus in mind and you notice which it is.

operating system: windows XP
computer: Dell, optiplex GX260 Series
antiviruses running: AVG free trial, symantec endpoint protection
symptoms: can open the internet, but browser refuses to let me use webpages and insists they are unsafe, even ones that i created and are only on my hard drive, which was a big hint it was fake. cannot access the security center via control panel, multiple processes called cnp.exe running with 64kb mem usage, runs the "scan" immediately on startup and without fail comes up with the same viruses in order, and one was apparently located in the AVG file and called joke.

webpages i have used:
http://www.spywareremove.com/removexpantivirus2012.html
http://www.disablemalware.com/xp-anti-virus-2011?gclid=CIGCsPDCnq0CFYvDKgodnx5hkw

how do i start in safe mode, how do i remove this, and how do i make sure it stays gone?
i have removed many viruses before and know how to use the restore and safe mode, i just cant find it on this desktop for some reason. i will supply any further information you need, just please help me get rid of this.

also, after this has obviously gotten through my antivirus, im looking for a new free program that will perform better or will fill the gaps in the other two.

 

[digital dilemna]

oh, and letting me know how to make a link in a forum post would help too. i gave up after it failed using the <a href=""></a> and what you see above -_-

 

[Emerald]

if you cannot get to Safe Mode via F8 during Start up, try to run msconfig, under the boot tab you can check Safe Mode. When you restart the computer it should boot into Safe Mode. Just make sure to uncheck it before you reboot from Safe Mode.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/248626-45-simple-free-guide-removing-malware

 

[Brian_12]

Hi,

Try following the steps in this virus/malware removal guide: http://www.selectrealsecurity.com/malware-removal-guide

It contains step by step instructions that will remove most malware infections. If you have any questions, just ask me. I hope this helps you.

Brian

 

[digital dilemna]

i knew how to remove it. i have given myself a fair share of viruses so removing them is nothing new lol

my problem was that i could not get to safe mode. i found, by accident, that i can get to it by intentionally crashing my computer on startup. after that i finished it in about an hour.

thank you for the help though.