Can a virus completely disable a computer?

Use these to remove Malware (Virus, Spyware and Adware).

First :-
Spybot S&D and Ad-aware using the settings and links provided
Here

Failing those solving your problems a post of a hijackthis log for the experts to advise.
HijackThis From Here
or one of these other links:-
http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip
http://www.aluriasoftware.com/tools/hijackthis.zip
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/

Important: Create a folder on the C: drive called C:\HJT.
You can do this by going to My Computer (Windows key+e) then double click on C: then right click and select New then Folder and name it HJT. Unzip HijackThis into this folder. (See this link for graphical instructions)
Then run, scan, save log, then in notepad copy the FULL log by copy and paste as a reply to this post and an expert with HijackThis Knowldge, will have a go at giving advice. A lot of posters make mistakes here in copying and pasting so reread the left info sidebar called Copy and Paste
Please note the list of experts names below, very few forum regulars here have had this training.

DO NOT FIX ANYTHING WITH HIJACKTHIS WITHOUT EXPERT ADVICE, most of what it finds you need for normal MS Windows tasks.

Known Spyware HijackThis fighters in DellTalk - If you are, and are not on the list please PM Me.

TomCoyote (of http://tomcoyote.org/forums/index.php fame)
YoKenny (Expert at TomCoyotes, Trusted Advisor Spywareinfo)
baskar1234 (Teaching Assistant at TomCoyotes, Trusted Advisor Spywareinfo)
ChrisRLG (Classroom Coordinator at TomCoyotes, Trusted Advisor Spywareinfo)
Tuxedo Jack (Teaching Assistant at TomCoyotes, Trusted Advisor Spywareinfo)
Yellowhammer (Trusted Advisor at Net-Integration, First Responder at Computer Cops)
tashi (Teaching Assistant at TomCoyotes, Trusted Advisor Spywareinfo)
therock247uk (In Training at TomCoyotes and Spywareinfo)
irelynmisses (In Training at TomCoyotes and Spywareinfo)
Texruss (Spyware Fighter at Wildersecurity, In Training at TomCoyotes)
PGPhantom (Trusted Advisor at Spywareinfo)

You could also go to one of the more specalist forums where more experts will be able to help.
http://tomcoyote.com/forums/index.php
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php
http://www.net-integration.net/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi (Home of Spybot S&D)
http://boards.cexx.org/index.php
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/index.php
Do read the sites FAQ before posting, and advise your problem and what steps you have already done to try to cure your problem.

I, and the other hijack experts mentioned above, are in all those sites (and more) with the same login names. You might get one of us at those sites also to anwser your log, but other experts will also be available.

Chris,

Thanks for the reply, however, my computer is completely disable and I cannot download and run any software.  I'm posting this from the local public library.  Any other ideas?

It does sound like a video card problem. Does anything appear on the screen at all after power is applied? Have you checked to be sure the video cable is securely fastened to the video connector in the machine?

Given the other symptoms, such as the fact that the machine shuts down, there may be something more fundamental than the video card that's failed. You may want to contact Dell Support for assistance in troubleshooting the problem.

Jim

Thanks for the reply Jim.

Yes, I made sure the cable to the monitor is securely attached.  I tried it both connected and disconnected from the computer with the same result: "no video input".  Two questions if you don't mind:

1.) What are the symptoms of a hard disc crash.

2.) Is Dell technical assistance a charged or no-charged service for out of warranty products?

Mike

1.) What are the symptoms of a hard disc crash.

There are various kinds. One is that the drive won't even spin up. That can usually be detected by the lack of the normal sounds coming from the drive when it's spinning up. If the drive has suffered a "head crash", it may emit screeching sounds when it attempts to spin up. If there are unrecoverable errors on the drive, the symptoms can be more subtle, depending on the place on the drive that the errors have occurred. Those can range from a complete failure to boot to system crashes accessing programs or data stored in the corrupted parts of the drive.

Ordinarily, booting to the Diagnostic CD and scanning the hard drive for errors is the way to distinguish among these. Clearly that doesn't apply in this case. Nor does checking in the BIOS setup to see if the drive is still listed.

2.) Is Dell technical assistance a charged or no-charged service for out of warranty products?

Yes. I haven't found the specific Dell document explaining lifetime hardware support, but I'm pretty sure it's available. Since the system's out of warranty and not under an extended support contract, any replacement hardware would have to be paid for.

One more thought on the video problem - With all power removed from the system, and the monitor disconnected, try reseating the video card.

Jim

Mike (12mjdavo): Please don't post twice (two threads in main index on same topic) for the same topic...much appreciated.

Texruss

Message Edited by Texruss on 05-27-2004 10:57 PM