windows won't run any programs

ddbad · Dec 30, 2008

hello, i've searched and browsed and don't see anything close to my problem. it started when I permitted a few files to access the internet (from norton internet security) b/c they looked like valid windows files and nothing had gone wrong when i allowed it in the past. but then one time the internet security started scanning a TON of outgoing emails that were obviously not from me b/c i don't even use an email client. it was like an email bomb and i couldn't quit the outgoing scans so i did a hard reset and i thought everything was ok
the next day I turned on the computer and windows booted fine, but i could not open any programs or windows. if i clicked on a program, it would freeze the computer. i tried resetting and basically after any reset, I can access the start menu or sometimes a folder on the desktop (but not my computer or my documents) but within a minute or two, the taskbar will freeze up or if i try to run anything, it will freeze up. the task manager is ok unless i click the Networking tab, then it will freeze.

i haven't been able to run any of the scans because anything i do freezes the computer.
i can't get into safe mode either b/c once i get to the option screen, my arrow keys don't work and i can't select safe mode so it boots up in the last know configuration which takes me back to windows and will freeze up if i run anything.

has anybody else had this problem? i saw a post in the software section from 2004 that sounded similar, but his problem only occurred for his one login. i can't try another login b/c my computer boots straight to windows and doesn't have separate user accounts set up.

any help???:cry

chaslang · Jan 2, 2009

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Unless you can get us some sort of logs as a starting point, there will not be much we can do for you so try the below and see what you can do. One other option would be to take your hard disk out of this PC an put it into another PC as a slave drive and scan it. If the problem is malware, it may or may not help. If it is a Windows issue, it will not help at all. Note it is a very bad idea to directly boot your PC like you chose to do. It is not a secure method and no you have no other user account to possibly help you work around this.

Please begin by clicking Start > Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager > View > Show Hidden Devices.

Scroll down to “Non-plug and Play Drivers” and click the plus icon to open those drivers.

Then search forTDSSserv.sys

Let me know if you find this or not.

If you do find it, right click on it, and select Disable. Do not try to uninstall it.

Also if TDSSserv.sys is found and you disable it, then reboot.

After reboot continue on with the below cleaning instructions.

Please follow the instructions in the below link and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going.

Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not.

Notes:

If you run into problems trying to run theREAD & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode. You can run steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:

Starting your computer in Safe mode

If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools on another PC and burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.

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windows won't run any programs

ddbad Private E-2

chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member