Vista Freezing, Black Screen

I've looked ALL over Google, Yahoo! Answers and even this site for similar threads. I've tried and tried to fix this problem but it seems I'm the only one on the internet who has it, anyway,

My computer is, as they say, on the fritz. I'm on it right now, in Safe Mode With networking. I'm running Vista.

There's usually 3 or 4 problems that occur on startup when I choose to start Windows normally. The most common two are either A) After I type in my Password to log in, the screen goes black. No cursor. No Error message. Just, black. or B) I get to my desktop, and after about a minute, my Start Circle and all my icons lose function, and I can't click them. CTRL+ALT+DELETE doesn't work. It's like the computer freezes but my cursor still works.

The other two just started today (the first two problems started 3 days ago approx.)

On startup, after I click my profile, the computer doesn't show the box for my password entry, or my Display Picture. It's just the windows background. And lastly, when I press ENTER to type in my password, it freezes.


Note, all of these happen when I try to start windows normally. Everything works flawlessly, within the loaded drivers, in Safe Mode W/ Networking. I really want to save myself 40 dollars to send in my brand new computer for repair, and possibly having to buy Vista again because it was pre-loaded. Any kind of help, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Please help a little nerd in need?

 

Someone will help you on your subject BUT never put your email on the internet like that. People come on forums and the internet looking for emails and they will fill it up with spam like non other.. I suggest taking it off quickly

 

It's a spare e-mail. It's not my main. and I just realized I get email alerts so yeah, good plan.

 

Have you tried cleaning your computer with the proper programs, and making sure there updated. And to make sure that something nasty isn't causing your issue? http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

 

I just deleted AVG and Avast! cause I got NOV32. Although I have not a clue how to work it yet. I have Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. Should I, heck, can I run that In safe mode?

 

Yeah you can run it in safe. After you do all the proper scans then post the logs in the malware section. Not here.

 

Alright I'll run the anti-malware, a disk defrag and I'll see if I can get a NOV scan going.

 

Read all the rules and don't have other stuff running while doing it.

 

Alright. I ran MalwareBytes, got nothing. All combofix did was delete install.exe, RootRepeal found some hidden stuff when I scanned it but that's it.

I saved the logs from ComboFix and RootRepeal. Running MGTools now.

 

MG tools found nothing either. I have the logs for it as well.

 

Link to the thread with the logs.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1353526#post1353526

 

In malware section should add all the logs to what you scanned (even tho it says nothing was deleted or found)

 

I'd have to rescan with Malware Bytes, since I had to restart for something. It was a half hour scan.

 

I wasn't aware of that. I only have Combofix out of those 3. I'll have to download SAS and MBAM.

 

Aah. I'm stupid. I didn't understand the abrevations.


I can't get SuperAntiSpyware since my computer is in safe mode. I can't use normal mode. At all.


And I have to rescan for the malwarebytes log.

 

I can get it as long as it's the last one? Cause I had to restart my computer afterward.

 

Yes. Which made the problem worse. I'll try doing one of a later date.

And thats scary that you can hack my crap like that.

 

Driver issues are the first thing that come to mind when I read the OP.

 

This restore has WORKED. From what I can see at least. My desktop is working again. It appears AVG had something to do with it when I checked my points. Since I uninstalled it. 20 minutes later it seemed to re-install itself.

 

My System (acer) came with McAfee. It wasn't working because it was a 30 day trial, so I got Avast! then I heard that AVG was better so I now have both. And yes, everything is working perfectly.

 

Having both installed on your computer can be a danger.

 

How can I safely remove them? With their Uninstall clients or just by Add And Remove Programs?

 

Depends what programs you want on your computer personally. Theres threads about what people use and that they switched from this to that.

 

I just got NOV32, so I want Avast gone and AVG gone. McAfee as well due to it's fail.


And I tried uninstalling AVG but it gives me a warning, and resets all my icons, which take about 2-4 minutes to regain their functionality.

 

Whats warning say?

 

Installer initialization failed due to following error:
Error: @AvgErrorCode_0x0253 %FILE% = "C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG8"
@AvgErrorCode_0x0020


@DOM

I want to delete all three. And keep NOV32, which I'm awaiting to reinstall.

 

Okay, now I've run into a new problem. I'm using Firefox.

I downloaded the McAfee uninstaller, and now I cant click it. Or right-click and choose "open". It's just gray. It says that the download has completed however.

 

Yes, I tried to open the containing folder, but it's won't. and it's not appearing where it usually goes.

 

I've done that. I even changed it so it would save on my desktop. There's nothing. Maybe it's a result of the system restore?

 

Same thing happened.

 

Okay.

I went to the link that you told me to go to, clicked "Download". almost immediately in the firefox downloader, after choosing "save to Desktop", it said "scanning for viruses." Then, about a minute after, the download was complete, but I could find no trace of the file.

 

No it isn't. only 2 rows of things.

I did a Windows Search for the file. It's not in my system.

 

same thing is happening.

 

It's since christmas.


and it's not just .exe's. It's also pictures and the like. I think a reboot might fix it but I dont want to risk that tonight, since it's the first time I've heard my music in 4 days.

I'll try tomorrow and see what happens, and keep the thread posted.

On another note, THANK YOU so very much for all the help so far. I would never have gotten this far on my own and it's people like you who make this world a better place.

Thanks again.

 

I suggest you type in about:config into the address bar of Firefox, agree to the warning and scroll down to the line that begins with browser.download.dir and check what it is set to.

 

How about disabling UAC and testing?

Then disabling Windows Defender and testing?

 

I'm not sure if UAC is disables, due to my System Restore. Idk. We'll see after I reboot tomorrow.

 

Another method to try to get around the 'missing' downoads may be to install a download manager such as DownThemAll directly into Firefox - type hxxps://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/downloads/latest/201/addon-201-latest.xpi into the Firefox address bar and it should ask you if you want to install the extension.

Restart Firefox and and try to get files by right-clicking on the file links and choosing downthemall.

Hmm, link is fouled by the forum software - replace the xx's with tt's

 

Alright. I have good news to report. I've followed the steps and all 3 anti-viruses are gone. At the moment there is no issues, except for the no dowloading, which was fixed from downloading a toolbar for firefox. Thank you so much for the link, by the way.

My computer seems faster as well. Especially on start-up. I guess 3 anti-viruses was overloading my computer some.


Also, Avast! didn't uninstall on its own either. I needed to download a uninstaller from Avast!.


Anyway, I'll check back in a few days. Hopefully the problem doesn't re-arise.


THANK YOU to everyone who helped me, even when I was being difficult and barely co-operative. Like I said, you guys are the unsung heroes of the computer world. Thanks for everything.

Aero

 

I think this was caused by a fouled A/V installation, my feeling is that it was AVG, try to reinstall the latest version of AVG Free http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=886

It's possible that in about:config, changing the browser.download.manager.scanwhendone to false might fix the Firefox part of the issue, I'm still trying to find the equivalent in IE.

 

Ok, some reported bugs that seem to backup my last post, http://kb.mozillazine.org/Unable_to_save_or_download_files#Disable_virus_scanning_in_Firefox_preferences_-_Windows,

The next 2 seem to implicate older versions of AVG as having some bearing.

, http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1198715
and

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=488672

 

Speculation ... ? interesting choice of word, DomLuc, I've backed up my "speculation" here with a little research linking the Vista/Firefox/AVG downloading problem with similar reports over the last 3 months, a partial workaround recommended there was the same .xpi download manager that has already helped the OP and a fix for others affected that involved reinstalling AVG.

Shouldn't we ask the OP to test out the AVG reinstall and/or the about:config change the browser.download.manager.scanwhendone to false and test?

If that fails, I think we should ask the OP to create a new user account and test, that may provide us further clues.

If it only fixes the FF download issue and not the IE, perhaps asking the OP to then reset the IE security settings to default might be a good idea.



Can I suggest we work with what we have before resorting to looking for "further possibilities"?