looks like a virus but apparently isn't

Hello and thanks for your time.

I'm having major problems with my computer. I thought this was a virus and posted a hijack this log in that forum but they say it's not malware or a virus and suggested that I bring this here.

Norton has been disabled somehow at the first sign of these symptoms and I cant get it working, I cant cut or copy and paste, drag items, save word files, the "search" and "add/remove" are useless. I cant defrag or do disk cleanup. they open and then do nothing. I cant send email from outlook express ("memory too low") The computer restarted on it's own when I tried to download cc shredder and registry mechanic but at other times has had no trouble with downloads. It has also restarted a few times when only winamp was in use. The excite homepage is blank and some links in explorer are dead as well as all links in email. All links are fine in Netscape and Mozilla.

Any ideas? Your help is very appreciated.

Thanks, Cynde

 

Wow, that's quite a few problems you have! First things first though, you're going to have to tell us what operating system you use, and the hardware details, such as processor speed, RAM quantity, hard disk size (and how much sapce you have free will help, too), and powersupply wattage.

If you're uncertain how to get this info, EVEREST will tell you!

 

Boot into safe mode and see if Add/Remove works. You "might" solve a few things getting Norton's removed, it can cause major problems when it stops working or not functioning properly.

Steve

 

Thanks for your quick replies.
I booted into safe and still cant use the add/remove.
The op system in win 2000 pro
proc speed - 850 mh
ram - 256
hard disc is 120 g and half is free.

I dont know the power supply wattage, how can I find out?

Thanks again, Cynde

 

This may help.

Click START, then RUN, then type in: CMD (press enter)

Type in:

regsvr32 mshtml.dll (press enter)
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll -i (press enter)
regsvr32 shell32.dll -i (press enter)exit (press enter)

If you get any errors, please post back.
If add/remove works, try the other items that are having issues.

 

That was quick, thanks

all three "succeded" but the same probs are still there and add/remove still wont work.

Cynde

 

Do ANY of your problems disappear in safe mode?

IIRC, Norton uses the windows installer, so it won't remove in safe mode, but knowing if your other problems disappear in that mode might help narrow things down!

 

thanks,

No it's all the same in safe mode.

Cynde

 

What happens when you click on Add/Remove, nothing?

Any error messages?

Steve

 

hi,

The window opens, the screen is blank except for som misaligned script "Change or remove ProgramsAdd New ProgramsAdd/Remove Windows ComponantsSet Program Access and Defaults" (exact with missing spaces)

Thanks, Cynde

 

Try this one , REGSVR32 APPWIZ.CPL

Steve

 

Hi,
Done, "successful" but no change.

Thanks, Cynde

 

Maybe try a restart, can't think of anything else right now.

Wait for some other ideas......hopefully.

Steve

 

Thanks,
The restart didn't help. Forgot to mention, on one of the self-restarts the "active desktop recovery" screen came up. The "restore" button doesn't work. I can reset it in properties but everytime I restart the same thing comes up.
I'm going to bed no so thanks for all your help.

Cynde

 

Make sure the Add/Remove is completely blank. Can you scroll down any, might just be a blank space and the programs are below the blank space.

Steve

 

Good morning,
It's completly blank except for the script right at the top. I tried clicking around in the blankness and there is nothing there.

Thanks, Cynde

 

You could try Your Uninstaller! 2006 (free 21 day trial) gets rid of apps using their uninstaller but then will scrub the registry and remove "associated orphaned files". Got rid of Norton on a laptop and not a trace left.

IMO I think there is a more serious issue here have you tried to goto an earlier "Restore Point" (don't know if you can do this w 2K?!?). If you can try to do a system restore at a point before all the troubles commenced.

I had just completed a Windows update 1-2 days ago and DL some optional software and had a can of worms open with a repetive error message so did a system restore and prob gone.

 

hello thanks for your input.

I cant do the uninstaller and dont know about the "restore Point". when the first symptom happened I did reboot to "last known good..." I also did the windows update this week.

I suppose the good news is that this isn't getting worse. Same as ever.

Thanks, Cynde

 

hi and thanks.

I ran the sfc /scannow. it took almost an hour and disapeared when I wasnt looking. Is this what it's supposed to do?

Cynde

 

no, it didnt help at all, same old things.

Thanks, Cynde

 

hello.

In the event viewer system log there are X's for "service control mamager" "removable storage service" and "server". 170 in total since May 5. only 2 are server. There are around 300 errors in the application log. a lot of them appear to be from us trying to install AVG but lots say "ccEvtMgr" "EventSystem" "LoadPerf" "MsInstaller" "PerfDisk" Perflib". "TrueVector Service" "Usernv" and "rasctrs" have 1 or 2 entries each.
Double click does nothing. Right click has a "properties" but clicking that doesn't bring up anything. Right click and "help" only gives me general info.
This info is probably an over-kill but I hope it helps.
Thanks again, Cynde

 

PS I cant close the event viewer. It says "close all property pages before closing event viewer" There are no property pages open and nothing in the task manager for the pages or the event viewer that I can recognise. hmmmmm

Cynde

 

I dont know what process to end in the task manager so I'll restart and wait to see if anyone has any more ideas.

Thanks, Cynde

 

Just a few things listed below you might have a look at Cynde. They might apply to your situation, just be sure to double-check everything and backup the registry should you decide to make any changes. I still think if you can at least get Norton's uninstalled someway it would solve alot of the problems and we can work from there.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q309663&id=309663&SD=MSKB

The one below was provided by Halo.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;Q266668&ID=KB;EN-US;Q266668

Steve

 

my burner has given up also so I'm going to try backing everything I need in my gmail. could take awhile so I'll try the last suggestion after it's all done

Thanks, Cynde

 

Hi cynde
I was wondering if Start=>Run=>cleanmgr.exe would work for you. I had a similar fooferah when my C: drive was stuffed to the gills.

 

Did you ever remove norton? What norton product do you have installed?

IF 2003 and below: http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3077

IF 2004+ : http://www.majorgeeks.com/Norton_Removal_Tool_SymNRT_d4749.html

Norton may or may not be causing quite a few issues.

I really do hate workarounds, but in this case, the above may help.

 

Hi all and thanks for your help. I finally had to reload windows. The repair wouldnt work and had to wait fo advice on how to get it going. It's taken me about 30 hours work and I just finished. Everything is working fine. I even managed to save everything and then had to merge some of it. I re-installed everything fresh. A little paranoid maybe but I didn't want to re-install any problems. I never did get to the last 2 suggestions so I dont know if they would have worked.

Again, thanks, Cynde