Problems with Operating System, cannot boot normally

Hey,

So a week or so ago my computer was infected with a virus, and I am now unable to start windows normally. I have been running in safe mode since about a day after the virus became active. I started on the malware forums, and they referred me to this forum after ensuring that my computer is showing no viruses - at least when I run in safe mode. I am not sure exactly what the problem is, but at some point I ended the process lsass.exe when I was trying to fix my computer (stupid idea, but I wasn't very patient, I guess, at the time). After ending the process, my computer shut down, and then rebooted normally. Some time later that day, windows wouldn't boot up in normal mode. Since then, when I have tried to boot in normal mode, the computer will freeze before loading my desktop icons. Usually the background color is displayed, and sometimes a couple icons will load in the windows tray. If it is useful, I can link the thread I started in the malware forums; other than that, I'm not really sure what else useful I can say. Safe mode appears to be working normally.

Thanks very much in advance.

Edit: I am running windows vista 32 bit OS. I'll try and read through other threads and the stickies to see what else I can add, and what else I should have included in my original post.

 

And did you choose between avira and MSSE?

You do have a lot of startup programs in your HJ log, indicated by the 04 entries, could have any number of issues here.

I use winpatrol to manage these and I have attached a picture of my winpatrol startups to illustrate. You can get winpatrol from HERE

And actually, when I do a fresh install, there are no items showing here.

You can see I have winpatrol, AVG, and superantispyware running, all else is disabled. Any of the other programs you may need, like Adobe when opening .pdf files, will still work when called for, it just may take a half-second longer.

Download the winpatrol, disable all but winpatrol and your other security ware. I keep WP running because it gives you a slightly annoying "watchdog" that alerts you to programs that want to add to your system, I put up with it because it lets me know "who's coming in".

 

K. The way it is currently set up, my computer seems to be running again. My start up speed is still slower than I remember just a week ago. The first time I attempted to start windows normally, Avira attempted to run 2 scans immediately upon restart, and my computer crashed so I had to shut it off. This time (the second time I have started normally), it still took a couple minutes, but now that it is running. things seem to be going smoothly. I downloaded a program called Secunia that boots on start up, but doesn't show up in WinPatrol. Other than that, I hope nothing else is running that I am unaware of. Thanks very much for the help - it's really, really great. I probably would have just reformatted had I not found these forums, apparently with no need at all. Going to get rid of Windows Security Essentials and Windows Defender, and stick with Avira and Zone Alarm. Please let me know what to do next.

 

So you are booting in normal mode now. If so, your malware fighter, I believe it was kestrel, wanted you to post your logs again in the malware forum.

I wouldn't be adding programs like Secunia until the system is running at top speed. This would only complicate matters.