Heres One for ya

Greetings.
I am a new user here, so if I commit any breaches of protocol, please let me know and I will adjust.
I am having a problem. I have some sort of virus or worm or malware (or something!!!) that is causing my computer to lock up or restart. I cannot find any references to this problem in any of the threads I explored.
I attempted to follow the steps recommended on the (TRY THIS BEFORE POSTING) bulletin. The bug will not allow some of the virus scans to complete before the computer locks up or restarts. I have had current Nortons installed on the computer, and ran the Nortons as well as spybot S&D, and AdAware every week. I did get my Nortons to complete a full scan and it found nothing. The online scans recommended will not even begin to run. When I DO get a virus scan to run, no viruses are found before the computer crashes.
I ran my system restore disks and the bug is still active. I have no problem with wiping out my entire hard drive if necessary, as there is nothing on there that I need to keep at this point anyway.
I will disclose more details if necessary, Im just a bit frustrated at this point.

 

Yes I am replying to my own message. Yes I know I didnt disclose my system specs. Yes I am an idiot because I cant figure out how to edit/delete my post. Excuse me while I hit myself in the head with a hammer. D'OH!!!
I am posting this from the computer at work, so Ill have to get my system specs when I get home and post them then. Excuse me while I bash my head against the monitor.
D'OH!!!
Please Kick Me.

 

Okay I attempted to come online this morning and post my specs, but the f****** computer kept locking up on me, and I couldnt complete the task. I have an e-machines T1440, 1.40 GHzm, 40gb hard drive, 128sdram. I run windows XP.
Can I just blast the entire hard drive, deleting EVERYTHING on it to get rid of my problem?
I have access to this computer at work, so if there is something I can download and save to disk I can take it home and run it on the affected computer, as I have problems running it long enough to download stuff sometimes. Sometimes it will run for an hour without locking up/restarting, and sometimes I cant get 3 minutes out of it before it crashes.
Maybe its time to unpack my old Commodore 64.

 

After SEVEN attempts to upload the log file, I have had to drive BACK up to work after working a 13 hour shift just to upload a 5kb textfile. This is total B.S. I dont see how I can fix the affected computer when it wont run for more than 90 seconds without crashing.
Heres the log.
I am too pissed to write more.
I hate computers.

 

If you still can't get the attachment to upload copy/paste the entire log into a post and one of us will convert it to an attachment for you.

 

Please tell me I am not so retarded that i can't even post an attachment.
But alas, this seems to be the case.
Please kill me now.


(thank you abby!)

 

No problem FED up! Hang in there! Every once in a while people run into problems attaching logs...sometimes it's security settings....sometimes it's a nasty..and sometimes...it's just one of those things so don't worry about it...glad to help.

 

From what I see your log file looks legit.

I may jsut be missing something, but nothing horrible stands out to me.

gl hf
Jeff

 

I am not getting ANY error messages

 

No blaster worm found
No sasser worm found

 

I get either a restart or a system lock up

 

Okay. I am now at a computer at work, so I can take more than 45 seconds to post a more detailed message. What happens is this: within a couple of minutes of power up, I get either a restart or the system freezes. When it freezes, the screen usually (but not always) goes black for a fraction of a second, and when it freezes, the active light on the hard drive stays on indefinitely. As I mentioned previously, I get NO error messages, and I am getting NO other symptoms of ANY other problems whatsoever. I DO believe the problem could be hardware related, though, and here's why: The very first time the computer locked up was at the PRECISE, EXACT instant the air conditioner in the house cycled off. The house was built, I believe, in 1962, and the electrical system is the original, and obviously outdated. The lights in the kitchen go dim when you turn on the toaster, if that gives you any idea of what I'm talking about. Could a power surge/spike cause by the A/C have damaged a component within the CPU that is causing this problem? If so, wouldnt it be more economical to simply replace the CPU (which is outdated now anyway) rather than attempting to replace what is screwed up in the CPU? I also wonder if maybe the modem was damaged by a power spike, could the modem cause the computer to lock up? I guess I need to disconnect the modem and see if the computer locks up with it not connected.
Yes I know IE is running with outdated updates. I never updated IE because I was using only FireFox. But now, after reading these threads on MG, I realize that it is important to keep IE updated anyway.
I NEVER ran updates for the OS, because I am a dillwad and didn't realize the importance. Truth be told, the affected computer is actually my mothers', who uses it only for e-mail. I only used it occasionally for surfing. So i can tell you now that there has, in all likelyhood, NEVER been an update run for any of the Windows Products on the computer.
I guess that I will ATTEMPT to run through the tutorial in safe mode, as MA suggests. I will buy a new bottle of aspirin to get me through this process. I will write down all activities and results, and will post them ASAP.
Perhaps I should start shopping for one of those gigantic hammers I have seen in the cartoons on TV. Just a thought.....
I would also like to tell you folks that MG is a freakin' GODSEND. You people are doing a WONDERFUL job counterbalancing all the maliciousness on the internet. If there is a heaven, y'all got a first class, non-stop ticket waiting.
I have learned some good things here, and you can rest assured that I will turn to MG for any and all future support issues.

>>>>>>>>>>> THANKS <<<<<<<<<<<

 

What I meant by CPU is the tower unit.

 

I was just in safe mode for more than 30 minutes with no crash
\I ran AVAST! cleaner abnd STINGER in safe mode and nothing was found

 

Problem is I cant establish an internet connection in safe mode (with networking)
how can I do that?

 

Oh and I have an external modem
I need to establish an internet connection in safe mode so I can complete the online scans in the tutorial

 

Okay. Once again I had to come up to work to post a message.
The computer locks up just the same if I dont connect to internet or open any browsers. Also, it locks up in safe mode as well. I have no idea how I was able to run in safe mode so long earlier today, but I can assure you now that it DOES lock up in safe mode.
I will attempt to attach the BELARC file to this message, I was able to run that.
I cannot figure out how to run the MICROWORLD ANTIVIRUS TOOLKIT in safe mode, as I cannot find the file. But I was able to run a partial scan in normal mode and it found:
ALEXA found - no action taken
"HKLM\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\sharedDlls"refers to invalid object C:\windows\system32\msxml3a.dll"
"HKCR\CLSID\{88E729d6-BDC1-11d1-bd2a-00c04fb9603f}refers to invalid object"fde.dll"

Then it locks up. Both times I tried it.

Why cant I find the toolkit in safe mode?
Yes, I do understand that the tower unit is basically the whole computer. That particular tower i can get new for probably less than $300. Thats why I was wondering, if the affected one IS having a hardware problem, if I would be better off just buying a new tower unit (since the affected one is old and slow anyway)

I cannot connect to DSL from safe mode? I guess that is the same as dial-up as far as connecting from safe mode (cant be done) ?
Hm.... Cant think of anything else while Im here on a good computer so,
WHAT NEXT?
Have I missed something I should have done?

After attempting to zip the HTML belarc profile, I am told that an output file cannot be created, so apparently I cannot upload it. Isn't that nice?

I hate computers.

 

heres this.........
Great. It wont let me upload the completed scan log from MICROWORLD tooldkit.
It says the file is too large.
Isnt this fun?

 

Okay, ill move to the hardware forum.
THanks for all your help!

 

Dearest Major Geeks:

I certainly appreciate all the help I have received concerning this issue. Although the affected tower unit shall soon meet its destiny as a doorstop, I am happy to report that this problem has served its purpose as a solid excuse to buy a new computer. This morning I purchased a brand new Gateway 827GM. I will most certainly return to MG for assistance during my adventures with the new computer. I have learned many valuable lessons during this experience, largely from visiting MG. You guys are awesome. Thanks.
Oh, and I swear Im going to stay on top of my updates this time!

 

Heck yeah, Im gonna take yer advice, chaslang.
One more thing.
Could you recommend a site where I can learn about the basics of (home) computers and operating systems, hardware and the like? I am hungry for this knowledge.
HOOK A NIZZLE UP!!!

Thanks!