Installed & ran anti-spyware program ... now Windows won't start up!

Hi, I posted this on the malware removal thread but received no replies so I thought that this might be the more appropriate forum.

I installed Spyware Doctor on my computer, ran a scan for malware, and was asked by the program to reboot ... now Windows won't start up again (I have XP). The screen with the Windows logo and the moving "progress bar" appears, but instead of loading Windows after a few seconds the screen just turns black and nothing happens. If I push the power button, the same thing happens. Windows just won't start.

I've tried starting Windows in safe mode and with the "last known good configuration" but each time the black screen comes up instead of Windows. I'm a little low on memory (about 1~2 GB left on my hard drive) and Spyware Doctor found a few viruses on my computer (but supposedly fixed them before the reboot attempt) ... would these factors have anything to do with this? I had no problems with my computer before I installed and ran Spyware Doctor, so I have to believe the program's the root of my problems. But now that Windows won't start, I don't know how/if I can uninstall the program.

Please help! I don't know what to do ... many thanks in advance.

 

Thanks Mark, I didn't know how that forum worked.

All I know is that I apparently didn't have problems when my computer was infected, but I had a serious problem the first time I tried to reboot my computer after installing the software. Unless the act of removing the virus itself caused the problem upon shutting down my computer, my first thought is that the software is to blame. Who knows. Either way, I can't start Windows! :confused

Hopefully someone can help me out.

 

Thanks Mark ... I was kind of afraid that might have been the cause. Kind of sad that "going to the doctor" might have been a worse option than "staying sick". Of course, going through this now might be better than even worse problems down the road. Although, Windows not starting seems like a major enough problem!

I will try recovery in repair mode ... I will come back here if any other issues arise. Fortunately I backed up my files at the end of last month, but I'll still lose some stuff if I have to start from scratch so hopefully "repair" works.

 

What is your current status? Up and running again?

 

Success, I think

"Repair" recovery mode seemed to work ... I will need to re-install some software, re-update others, and re-customize my programs but it appears that most if not all of my files are intact. Oddly, my computer is also running much, much faster than before ... overall, I end the day in much better shape than how I started it! Thanks for the help!

 

Re: Success, I think

Since it is running faster now, when you get time you might went to check out some of the information on computer maintenance which is available on this site.
Glad to hear it is running again.