Ongoing problems (since January)

Question

I originally posted the following to the virus board.  After checking my Hijack This log, they suggested I come here: When I log on to my administrator account, I sometimes get the infamous blue screen.  The stop error messages keep changing and admittedly I have yet to actually test my power supply, but it's only 2 years old.  My system will also crash occasionally when I am signed on and I'm getting different error messages (I haven't written them all down.) I regularly get the registry recovery box (one of my registry entries has been replaced by a previous log or copy, etc.) And finally, I'm unable to install updates to my anti-virus or anything else for that matter if it's been downloaded off the internet. [additionally I get error messages when I install from disk) What I've attempted to correct the above (besides running HJT): After my last clean install - cleaned out the inside of my box using appropriate anti-static precautions, including removing the system fan and cleaning with compressed air.  Have also vacuumed the power supply through the vent on the outside. Done a complete hardware diagnostic with the disk that came with my Dell (purchased around two years ago) - no problems. Installed the Security Update by Microsoft from the CD and then ran Windows Update after applying the firewall that came with Windows.  \ Reactivated Windows, installed Microsoft Works and reactivated Word2002.  Installed NAV 2004, downloaded AV defs separately on floppy and installed, downloaded Live Update separately (the newer version) and installed.  Managed to download one set of updates and that's it.  Did a complete system scan. Upgraded BIOS from A.0 to A06.  Ran chkdsk /f.  Installed Norton Utilities 2002 and did a system scan - I did clean up a lot with that, but it didn't solve the problems. The only sites I visit regularly are hotmail, microsoft, symantec, and now dell.  I also subscribe to a variety of PC newsletters from PCWorld and PCMag.  So, the only virus I know for sure that I was hit with was the Blaster Worm - twice at least.  I've been trying to repair and diagnose problems since late January. Adiletante

Annie70 · Answer

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/ Adaware

http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download Spybot Search and Destroy

Did you download, update, and then run both of these programs?

pskelley · Answer

Hi Adiletante, I will add my thought in hopes something will help you. First, I just wish to make sure that after you removed MSBlast, that you did turn off and restart system restore to make sure it was not storing the virus/worm to reinfect you? I also want you to know the there are so many possible error messages that it is very hard to attempt to troubleshoot them without the EXACT wording of the error message. You can use the Print Screen key and Paint to make a screen capture, and save the error message in the .jpeg format for easy inserting into forum messages. I will also include a couple of sites to view error messages in case you do not have them. Something might jump out at you. Good luck.

http://labmice.techtarget.com/windowsxp/TroubleshootingXP/error.htm

http://www.generation.net/~hleboeuf/erriexpl.htm

http://www.xptuneup.com/xptuneup_stopmessages.htm

http://helpdesk.oneonta.edu/resnet/training/win_errors.htm

Adiletante · Answer

I apologize for double posting (Windows XP and the virus forum). I want to thank you for your help. The sites you've mentioned will be useful, but so far not for the problems I've been having. I've actually gotten numerous blue screen messages. IRQ_LESS_THAN_NOT_EQUAL. PAGE FAULT, etc. Stop 0x000000A messages and a few others. They all seem to point to a problem with drivers but I've tested memory, hard drive and checked the installation compatibility list to see what might be causing problems. I checked all the hardware. One simple thing I did was reseat the power plug in the computer. Blue screens have gotten less, but other error messages have multiplied.

And finally, with Spybot and latest updates installed, Norton AV installed, Windows Internet Firewall active, I got the infamous NT/Authority RPC message and my connection got funny. Checking again - I haven't been installing all the patches I thought I'd been installing. Windows Update showed I only needed to install 4 patches, but my latest patch previous to that? 12/03 was the date.

Anyway, if someone wants to tackle this one, good luck. I'll keep trying different things - my next step is to do yet another clean install, only this time I'll use FDISK to reformat, booting from a floppy I have. Maybe I'll put in a new power supply. I've finally got my zip drive to work with XP, so I'll download on another machine and transfer every patch I can find to XP. I will try to speak to a live body when I attempt to reactivate XP and Word. Maybe I got hit with the new super blaster. ?

(Maybe I can keep this particular project going until August and beyond, although I've got a lot of projects going besides this one that I really need my computer and internet access for. (training programs I'm quite behind on, research for an art project, etc.) ) Ok, again thanks for the help.

Adiletante

maxd · Answer

Few ideas if you haven't re-installed yet.(?)

Adiletante · Answer

It's been awhile since I've posted here. Unfortunately, I have a full time job, am studying computers, and have a house to take care of. And occasionally having a life. Ok so you don't need to know all that.

Since I last posted however, I've done a number of things. I fdisked my hard drive and decided to install RedHat Linux 9 which I've had on hand for awhile and got the following messages: RAMDISK Compressed image in block 0. And Error 2 - cpio - Bad Magic.
I know this is the XP forum, so I'll continue. I did the following things - installed new hard drive, installed another 256MB stick of memory - putting that in the first slot and added an Ethernet card - with router and subsequently broadband (linksys card and router). I reinstalled and reactivated XP. Renamed the catroot2 folder. Have Norton Internet Security and Norton Antivirus 2004 with all the latest updates. Ran Spybot and Adaware. Ran HiJackThis.

I've had a couple of blue screen errors all having to do with device drivers and/or memory (no problems per device manager), so I've been updating drivers. Most recently I got the following message again which I was getting constantly before I did the reinstall:

"One of the files containing the system's Registry data had to be recovered by use of a log or alternate copy. The recovery was successful."

Again, I'm posting this message to also the antivirus forum and in addition I'm adding the linux forum.

Windows General

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