Can't run scans

Hi there, I'm trying to clean a PC and am having difficulties. I have been using this site to clean and maintain my PCs for some time now and since the first couple of times, I have been able to correct all the problems that I've had up until now. The PC is running WinXP. It is my sisters PC and she's not sure if things are up to date as far as Windows is concerned. I am on a different PC now and cannot check at this time, but I can post back later with that info. I know that she is running Avast AV, but unsure of firewall. When I turn it on, it ends up at a black screen that says "virus present, continue;Y or N". When I hit Y, Windows will boot most of the time. I can use the PC for a few minutes, but as soon as I try to run SpybotSD, it immediately shuts down. Same for AV and online scans. It is a fairly new PC and it is clean inside so I don't think it is overheating as it only shuts down when I try to run any scans. I went into safe mode and got Ccleaner to run on all accounts, but no Spybot. This started as soon as I installed it and tried to run the program. It seems to have installed as it is on the PC, but it will not run so it has not been updated. The PC was shutting down previously when I was trying to run Avast AV scan, and it also will not run the online scans. I am going to go back on it to get more info about the state of the PC, but I wanted to post this to get the process started and to see if anyone has any idea of what is going on here. I read through a few back posts to see if there was a thread on this, but could not find the exact problems.

 

Hi chas, and thanks again. I started the procedure you linked and while attempting to run combofix, the PC shutdown and now I can't get it to turn back on for long enough to do anything. I'm starting to suspect bad memory or some other hardware problem? I will let it sit for a few hours while I go to work and try again later. I had the same problem last night, it would start up and work OK for a bit, but once it shuts down a couple of times, it won't start again for awhile. It works OK for normal stuff such as browsing or using explorer, but it dies when I try to run any kind of scan. I will post back later with any results I can get, if any at all. Thanks again.

 

I can get it to run in safe mode, here's the file from MGTools. I'm not sure if it is right because I couldn't see the "I Accept" button on the HJT window, but I hit Tab and enter on the keyboard and there is a log file in there, so I hope it will help.

 

OK, thanks, I'll try your recommendations and follow your advise. I just have an issue uninstalling the My Web Search (Cursor Mania). I already tried to, it was one of the first things I tried to do when going through the sticky the first time as it is on the list there. When I try to uninstall, I get an error message;
RUNDLL - Error loading C:\PROGRA~1\MYWEBS~1\bar\1.bin\mwsbar.dll
Also she has told me that she recently had the motherboard replaced because they told her that it was causing these problems. She has had them for some time and the place where she bought it tried to fix it by replacing the MB. My guess would be that they stuck the same memory board on the new MB and I am curious as to whether that could be the cause? Should I post in the hardware forum? Thanks for your help again chas. It is much appreciated.

 

OK, here's where I'm at. I have followed all recommendations up to this point. I un-installed Avast to see if it was that, but it was not.

This was something that she installed, it can go if you think it will help.

I un-installed the Java update 2 and Counterspy, and I followed your directions to get rid of the My Web Search (Cursor Mania) entry.

There are 4 DIMM slots on the MB and 2 memory modules. I took them both out and then tried each of them in each slot 1 by 1 and it still shuts down upon trying to run any kind of scan. It also shuts down during start-up, but only during POST, not once WinXP starts. When I get Windows to start, the PC works fine for browsing and working with small files and also with multiple applications open. It only crashes when I try to run any kind of scan, but chkdisk has run OK upon a restart when it crashed earlier. I haven't tried to move a large file within the PC yet.

This is where I am at this point; When I hit the power button, it goes to a screen with 2 options; F10 for Boot Menu and F2 for BIOS Settings. If I don't hit either of those, it goes to another screen with a message that says "F11 to start recovery" with a 3 second timer. If I hit F11, it immediately shuts down. Also on this screen, a message that says "Boot Sector Write!! Virus: Contunue? Y or N_". If I wait until this message appears, or do nothing at all, it shuts down. The only way I can get it to start Windows is to hit the Y button while the 3 second timer for the "F11 to start recovery" message is on the screen. Then Windows works fine as long as I don't try to run any scans.

The last abnormality (he he) is a small window that pops up during software loading that says "Critical Softwrap... - Softwrap file error 1" with an OK button.

I'm completely stumped, I just wanted to make this last post in here to see if you had any other ideas before I try to start another thread somewhere else.

Thanks again for all your help.
Ray

 

I disabled it and it didn't help. I think this one is beyond me, save for hardware replacement. Thanks again for your help. Keep up the good work:dood

 

No, the message that says "Boot Sector Write!! - Virus : Continue..." does not appear, but the PC is still crashing.

 

It will start in safe mode, but the behavior is the same.

 

It just crashes.

 

No error messages, just immediately shuts off, same as when I try to run ANY type of scan.

I did run it in safe mode, cable unplugged...

I didn't try that last bit, "sfc /scannow", but I have given up and gave her PC back. She is going to try to take it to where she got the MB replaced and have them try to do something with it as I have a good feeling that it is a hardware related issue.

Thank you for all the help chas, keep up the good work, we would all be lost without the precious time of people like yourself and others in here. This is a great site.

 

Chaslang is on vacation this week so I am replying to his threads.

I have only briefly read thru this thread, based on what I've read it does sound to me as it's not malware related and in fact hardware related.

Hopefully she can get it to the right person who can fix it up for her.

Good Luck!:major