Just before the computer stopped functioning properly, I saw a message box for "WinAntiSpyware 2007", which had previously infected my computer and caused a similar problem. I was able to ultimately fix it using a system restore, but this time I have no recent checkpoints that work, so that's out of the question.
After seeing the message box for WinAntiSpyware 2007, I turned off the computer rather than risk clicking one of the icons. When I turned the computer back on, the trouble began. First off, let me state I don't believe WinAntiSpyware 2007 is actually on my computer, I've followed the instructions for removing it as best I can and I don't see any of the registry keys (possibly something attached to WinAntiSpyware, or part of it, is the problem?).
When I boot up windows, it initially looks fine, but then the screen flickers as if the computer is rebooting windows. The screen goes black, the icons disappear and then everything comes up again as if windows just loaded. A bubble from Mcaffe Antivirus that only comes up on the system start-up keeps popping up. However, if I start up Firefox (as I'm now using), Firefox stays up throughout these "resets", but the task bar under it disappears entirely.
After this process of flickering on and off (but doesn't turn off Firefox, or the task manager if I have them on while it's happening) continues for a few cycles, the taskbar and the windows desktop disappear entirely, and the reseting process stops entirely. After the reset process stops, the only thing I can activate is the task manager (through ctrl-alt-delete, as no icons are visible to press).
Using a system restore didn't work this time (although when I had the same problem a month or so ago it did), and when I try to run windows in safe mode, the same flickering reset process happens. I am very certain this problem is related to WinAntiSpyware 2007, or some spyware attached to it, but due to the constant reseting cycle the only way I can remove anything is by using the task manager and bringing up the run box.
Please help! I have photos from a recent trip Europe that I have yet to backup to CD, and I want to save my files before they are gone forever! Any help will be very greatly appreciated.
[Also, first post: Sorry for not introducing myself but as you can imagine this isn't exactly a good time for me. Either way, hi!]
After seeing the message box for WinAntiSpyware 2007, I turned off the computer rather than risk clicking one of the icons. When I turned the computer back on, the trouble began. First off, let me state I don't believe WinAntiSpyware 2007 is actually on my computer, I've followed the instructions for removing it as best I can and I don't see any of the registry keys (possibly something attached to WinAntiSpyware, or part of it, is the problem?).
When I boot up windows, it initially looks fine, but then the screen flickers as if the computer is rebooting windows. The screen goes black, the icons disappear and then everything comes up again as if windows just loaded. A bubble from Mcaffe Antivirus that only comes up on the system start-up keeps popping up. However, if I start up Firefox (as I'm now using), Firefox stays up throughout these "resets", but the task bar under it disappears entirely.
After this process of flickering on and off (but doesn't turn off Firefox, or the task manager if I have them on while it's happening) continues for a few cycles, the taskbar and the windows desktop disappear entirely, and the reseting process stops entirely. After the reset process stops, the only thing I can activate is the task manager (through ctrl-alt-delete, as no icons are visible to press).
Using a system restore didn't work this time (although when I had the same problem a month or so ago it did), and when I try to run windows in safe mode, the same flickering reset process happens. I am very certain this problem is related to WinAntiSpyware 2007, or some spyware attached to it, but due to the constant reseting cycle the only way I can remove anything is by using the task manager and bringing up the run box.
Please help! I have photos from a recent trip Europe that I have yet to backup to CD, and I want to save my files before they are gone forever! Any help will be very greatly appreciated.
[Also, first post: Sorry for not introducing myself but as you can imagine this isn't exactly a good time for me. Either way, hi!]