Blank dialog box at startup with OK button

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

When Windows is starting up I get a mostly blank dialog box with an OK button
at the bottom after the Windows splash screen disappears, on top of the
Windows is starting up screen.

The dialog box that contains a small piece of unrecognizable text in the top
left corner that changes each time I start computer. Most of the icons on
the desktop have changed to the generic I don't know what you are icon and no
applications will run including Internet Explorer except the virus program .
I get an error message that Windows needs to know what application created
that file. (This includes cmd.exe)

The dialog box cannot be closed with the ( X ) in the corner and will only
continue to start windows after sitting for about 10 minutes or clicking the
OK button.

I don't believe it's a virus as the virus program does load and did do a
complete scan without finding a virus.

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.