Neither Ctrl-Alt-Delete, Ctrl-Shift-Esc or task bar right-click can seem to rouse it.

I have completed the 8 steps, and have the logs required attached to this post.

If anyone could help me figure this out, it would be much appreciated, and a great release of stress for me.

Thanks in advance.

You need to rename HijackThis.exe to Crusty.exe. This is because some malware can hide from HijackThis.exe. Follow these instructions in order to do so.

Go to the C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe file and right click on HijackThis.exe. Choose rename. Click in the title box and hit the enter key to clear what`s there.

Now type Crusty.exe into the title box and hit the enter key. Right click on the Crusty.exe file and choose "Send to desktop Create Shortcut".

You can now close the HJT directory.

Also, please download and run this TOOL, it may well help to restore your task manger etc.

Then, post a fresh HJT log.

Such a simple solution, I feel a bit stupid. But it seems to have worked, so I am pleased, regardless.Thankyou! Does anything else look awry from what you see in the logs?

Ok, please do the following.

Open your task manager, by holding down the ctrl and alt keys and pressing the delete key.

Click on the processes tab and end process for(if there).

VistaDrive.exe

Close task manager.

Run HJT with no other programmes open(except notepad). Click the scan button. Have HJT fix the following, by placing a tick in the little box next to(if there).

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VistaDrive] C:\WINDOWS\VistaDrive\VistaDrive.exe

Click on the fix checked button.

Close HJT.

Locate and delete the following bold files and/or folders(if there).

C:\WINDOWS\VistaDrive\VistaDrive.exe

Reboot your system and post a fresh HJT log.

did you want the HJT log from running the instance of HJT that located and fixed VistaDrive, or a log created after the fact?

A HJT log created after the fact please.

Here it is.

All clean mate.

Unless you're still having problems, you should be good to go.

thanks a load! i really do appreciate your timely help. now to grind away at my hardware issues...
cheers.