Not Malware

I have been on the malware forum the past few days. After running through scans and posting results it was determined that my log files were clean and that I ask for help here. My computer only boots in safe mode and it runs very slow. I'm not really sure how to proceed but I would appreciate any help and direction I could get. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

I'm running Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002 Service Pack 2. I looked at one of the scans I ran from the malware forum and that said Windows XP version 5.1.2600.
Celeron 2.8GHz with 348MB RAM.

 

Where can I look to see that?

 

Sorry...I'm on 2 computers and the one that has the problem is only downloading 5kb / sec and I have a cable modem.

 

ok first remove all driver files from the computer in question. reboot and see if that works, if not uninstall SP2 yes uninstall it, if that does not work try a windows repair

 

40GB Hard drive but I don't see anything called RAM. I know what it is but I can't find it. I can only work on that computer in safe mode.

 

I closed EVEREST and now I can't open it again.

When I right click it says exactly:

System:
Microsoft Windows XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

Registered to:
My Name

xxxxxxxxxxxxx (serial #)

Intel(R)
Celeron(R) CPU 2.80 GHz
2.80GHz, 384 MB RAM

 

Here is the EVEREST report.

 

Thanks Tim...Is that why my computer is messed up? What should I do?

 

Tim, I'm not sure how to do that. I should probably go get an external drive to back everything up right?

 

You don't have to back up to change RAM. Look at this generic how-to. Basically you would remove the outermost RAM stick, restart your computer and see how much RAM is reported. If 256 then that stick is good, less than that stick is bad. Then go back and remove the that stick and put the other stick in the first slot and restart and see how much RAM is reported. One of the two sticks should be reporting less than 256 RAM.

http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_ram.htm

If you have manual from your manufacturer there should be a brief description in it. HP manuals are available on line.

 

Thank you...I've been running mem test 3.5 and it found no errors after running 564%. Should I stop the memtest?

 

TimW knows much more than I about those test programs. I just posted to let you know changing RAM was not a major project.

 

Thanks for the help!!!

 

How long should I run the mem test? it's at 1,689% now.

 

I'm doing it with both. I started to run it while we were discussing taking out the memory sticks. IS that ok?

 

I really appreciate your help.

 

Do the following if the above gives no results.

Okay, the machine boots into safemode only.

Try:

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

Click the radial button "Selective startup".
Uncheck "Load STARTUP Items".

Then click the tab, Services.
Check the box, "Hide all Microsoft Services".
Click the button, "Disable ALL".
Press OK, yes to reboot. Does the computer now reboot into normal mode, vice safemode.

 

Umm, he has an integrated ATI video card which uses 128MB of RAM...this is why Windows reports 384MB of RAM (512-128=384)...this is normal. I don't think his RAM is the cuplrit at all.

On top of theefool's advice, check in MSCONFIG & make sure the "/safeboot" option is unchecked in the "boot.ini" tab, as that would cause the constant booting into safe mode.

 

Both of your points, are a very good observation and excellent things to look into.

 

I tried to clean up my hard drive and when I boot up (in safe mode) my computer doesn't even get to windows. Do you have any idea what the problem might be since it doesn't seem like it's the RAM?

 

Hrm, from your original post, you said that computer can boot into safe mode.

How far does it boot into safe mode?

Does it tell ye that your are in safe mode?

 

It starts to boot then a blue screen quickly flashes and it goes to the screen where it asks if you want to boot in safe mode, safe mode with networking, etc....when I select safe mode the screen fills up with:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\pci.sys and a bunch of other extensions after DRIVERS\...This is as far as it gets.

 

now when you said you cleaned up the hard drive did you delete stuff out of your windows folder? what did you delete?

 

I went to My Computer...Properties...Tools...Error Checking (checked both boxes)...Re-Booted...And that's as far as I got...On the re-boot it got hung up.