Getting Start back

A program has invaded my computer. When I boot up this program appears instead of my start up screen. The program tells me to remove the program if I don't want it. My Start icon is not visible to even try to do this. I can work around it by going to www.microsoft.com/Privacy and then going to other web sites from there but to access change remove programs is not possible since I don't have access to "Start." The program is called Privacy Center. They want 59.95 to buy the program so my computer is being held by virtural pirates. I never heard of the outfit. I have a Gateway computer with Windows Vista. 3 gigs of memory. Help Please.

 

you can access the control panel by

[Windows Icon] + R
type "Control" (without the quotes)

from here you can try to uninstall it like you would anything else.

you may also want to try to type explorer if your entire bar is gone.

i am not sure if you will be able to remove it from the cp, considering the invasive nature you have described, but its worth a shot.

 

can you tell me what you mean by [windows icon] plus R?

i have McAfee virus scan on both computers so don't understand how this could happen. I'm writing you on the computer that isn't down. Can't even get to my email on the other one.

Would starting from scratch, doing a reinstall of Vista solve my problem? That is my last resort as I'd lose all of my work.

Anyway to do a system restore? Maybe through DOS?

I'm quite upsit with all of this but do thank you so much for trying to help. Fred

 

on your keyboard, there's a windows logo key, next to the left ctrl and alt. the try the step in the above post....the control panel should open up, then you should be able to access the add/remove programs feature. If you cant, can you end the running program, with ctrl, alt, del and ending the program from there? once you are able to do that, head over here:
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407