Need computer help from FReeper computer experts (fatal system error c00021a and assorted viruses)

[lowbridge]

This is a bit lengthy, so please bear with me.

Damn, but I did something stupid and downloaded something I shouldnt have (no, not porn. get your mind out of the gutter :-)). When I downloaded this virus, the cmd screen came up and showed the following: crack.exe, serial.exe, number.exe, keygen.exe AND readme.bat

I panicked, deleted those things, but it hasnt fixed my problem. It seems to have hijacked my internet explorer browser. When I clicked on the IE icon, it brought up the IE browser for all of a second or two before closing. (So, I used Firefox to browse the web, which is working, thankfully) Oh, the IE browser did appear, that is when one of those pop up advertisements comes up. Which I had NO control over. It came up whenever it felt like it, then it stays open untill I close it. BUT I could not use it to browse the web as there are no buttons, tool bar, address box, etc.

And it seemed to prevent me from running/installing spyware. Oh, I was able to download the applications of some spyware programs, but then when I tried to open the application and run them, the damn virus wont let it! I have run a scan with some freeware spy scanning programs and much to my shock they revealed over 250 problems. worse of which are named "spyware.igmonster", zlob, (also spelled out by one scanning program as zlop (with a "p"), trojan.infostealer.bankers

Some spyware programs seemed to be able to download, but when I ran them, they seem to have failed in getting rid of the viruses. (I am using freeware as I do not have any money to buy a good anti virus program) Some seem to do more harm than good as one such program seems to have made me delete some important windows files (a couple of ".exe" files. The spyware program warned me about deleting such a file because it was in my WINDOWS folder, but I chose to delete them anyways as the spyware told me that they were infected) because when I tried to shut down my computer, it gave me a blue screen and an error message (coooo21a). So I had to manually turn it off, but even sometimes that didnt work, so I have to unplug it.

That isnt the end of it.

It was bad enough getting that error message when I tried to shut down my computer, but after another attempted fix of the viruses, it got worse. Now I get that blue screen with the error message when I turn on my computer and try to boot up! I would get a blue screen with the folllowing message;

STOP: c00021a (Fatal System Error) The Windows Logon Process System process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0x00000000 (0x00000000 0x00000000) The system has been shut down

And the computer wouldnt do anything. It would just sit there with that message staring at me. I would try to shut down the computer by pressing the power button on the tower, but even that wouldnt work! I would have to unplug the computer to get it to shut off!

NOW I'm getting it when I'm trying to start up my computer! I've tried to get around that by starting it in safe mode, but then I just get the above 'fatal error" all over again.

How can I fix this? Can I fix this myself (I'm not computer literate) or do I need the services of a professional (how much do they usuallly charge?)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Best advice really. But you MUST have an XP install disk and know your 25 digit license key number before formatting.

I do work like this all the time for folks who shouldn't own Windows computers.

I would suggest a new hard drive first...installed in place of your infected drive...then install Windows, activate (it will probably require a call to Microsoft) and then install the old drive as a slave, boot to Safe Mode so you can transfer the contents of My Documents and any other personal data to the new drive. Unless, of course, you have a recent backup of your data, pics and docs. Then you wouldn't need to do anything but boot with the XP CD and then wipe the drive clean then reinstall and restore. If you've never done it, take the box to a local PC person. Good luck.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The minute I installed it, all hell broke loose.

There is always one step that folks forget to do in these instances:

Right click on the file you just downloaded and select "Scan with <whatever-anti-virus-software-you-use>"

You will always find infections in these files and it should scare you enough to get you to stop downloading "cracked" software.

[Dallas59]

I do that now. I learned my lesson...You get what you pay for.

[stylin19a]

Having read all the posts and your responses, since you need the computer but said you didn't have to much data that you cared about, Post # 3 is probably the best answer..
( you have at least a couple of nasty viruses and a hijacker that just don't seem worth the effort to try heal)

You indicated you tried to start with the windows cd but nothing happened.

What does “nothing happened” mean ?

You may have to go change CMOS settings by getting into the BIOS Setup, to make your cd-rom the 1st boot drive, in order to get it to boot from the CD.

Upon PC power up, some PC's require you hit DELETE key to get into CMOS to change bios setting. Some PC's require hitting F2 (or some other key) to get into the bios.

Once there, you can make the changes then save the changes and exit. It should pick up the new settings and try to boot from the CD.

If it doesn't boot from the CD hit either cntl\alt\delete or power down, then power up to see what happens.

Once you do this, you can repartition\format & re-install windows.

Here's a decent “how to”

http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_partition_and_format_my.htm

not much...when in doubt,don't. Ask first.
good luck

[Fire_on_High]

I had an install of ME that lasted about 5 years, and 3 hard drives...just moved it each time as I upgraded or the drive started to flake. I’m 99% sure that it’d still start up and run but I finally retired the machine and cannibalized it for the parts that were still worth using.

It still ran perfectly as of the last time I used it, tho...just when the choices are a K6-3 450 mhz box or an AthlonXP 3000+ box, I couldn’t justify keeping it up any longer.

[WellyP]

These guys are good. Also try www.majorgeeks.com

[GoLightly]

In post 86, he said “I’ve tried rebooting from a CD (using my brothers windows xp service pack 2 reinstallation disc), but that doesnt seem to work.”

He doesn’t seem to have the CDs for his own OS.

[yazoo]

Not to rub salt in the wounds, but after suffering countless viruses, massive spyware, and Windows problems I switched to a Mac. Never need to run spyware or virus software and it has never crashed.

[GoLightly]

I used ME for about 8 years & would have preferred to stay with Win98. LOL With Win98 I could still do quick file management with an old DOS version of Norton Commander. I got into good file management habits from the days when I had a 44 MB hard drive.

After I was forced into ME, it was just easier to do re-formats a couple of times a year to clear off all of the junk that was collected in the registry. I shared my computer with my sons & they were always adding programs that I didn't need, didn't use & gobbled up space on the hard drive. A good share of them were also TSR memory users & rather than trying to sort out what was what, I could reformat & get back all of my resources in a few hours.

I no longer run the big DBs that require regular & good back up protocols, so file management isn't a priority anymore. I could probably get away with that old 44 MB hard drive, if I didn't need a larger one just for the OS.

I haven't had the computer that I'm using for very long & have only had to go through a format & install of XP, because my laptop’s hard drive took a dive. You can imagine how ticked I was to realize that the laptop had been shipped without any source disks & that was after I had waited a couple of days for the hard drive warranty replacement!! Warranty service had become a joke.

LOL Sorry about the vent!

[Billthedrill]

Hmm...looks like you're in a bit of a pickle, my FRiend. The real problem is that you don't have your license number or this would be easier.

Here's a couple of things to try. First, when the machine first comes up there'll be a note "Hit F1 to enter Setup" or something like that. Do so. This is your BIOS setup. Somewhere in here will be boot order. This is the order of devices to which the machine looks for a boot sector. I'm thinking it's possible your box is looking first at your hard drive and stopping there when you have your bro's CD in the CD drive. If that's the case, move the order around such that it tries first the floppy, then the CD/ROM, and only then the hard drive. Hit F10 and save to exit (on most machines).

With the CD in the drive, cycle the power. A note will probably come up something like "hit any key to boot from CD." Hit the space bar or whatever. At this point you should see it boot into a screen that will give you the (R)epair option. Do that - it will rewrite all of the system files necessary to boot the machine.

Now take the CD out and power-cycle the box again. If it gives you the same system error message there's something preventing the OS from seeing the files necessary to boot, possibly a virus, possibly a hardware issue that crept in while you were pulling your hair out over the virus issue. Yes, they do happen at the worst times.

If this does work it's imperative to scan your box as soon as you can. I've used Housecall successfully. There are several good antivirus packages that are free - AVG is one I've used in the past and is still fairly good if you can find the free version (it's buried on their website). The reason for this is that there is certain malware that will reinfect, and using the repair option very likely didn't overwrite it.

If none of this works but you could get it to boot from CD, then you're stuck with a box with a corrupted OS and you don't own a clean, legal copy to reinstall from. At that point you'll have to decide between (1) purchasing a new XP license (I've seen it for around $130 - yipes!), or (2) finding another OS that's free. The FReeper who advised Linux at this point wasn't smoking crack (but also probably is a fairly advanced user). There's a version called Mint that is as effortless (and questionless) to install as I've seen in that market. If your bro knows how to cut an ISO image to a CD you only neeed to download it. The Open Office suite on it is quite similar to Microsoft Office and you needn't be concerned much about a learning curve.

FReepmail me if some of this works and some doesn't. New hardware should be a last resort if you're cash-strapped (and I've been there, believe me).

[GoLightly]

Thanx for the link. Hopefully, I’ll never need them.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I learned the hard way as well.

[lowbridge]

How much does a new hard drive cost?

[Tribune7]

Less than $100 but you probably don't need a new hard drive.

How old is your computer? Did you buy it from a place like Dell or get it custom built or get it from a big box store? What kind of processor do you have?

[lowbridge]

“You indicated you tried to start with the windows cd but nothing happened.

What does “nothing happened” mean ?”

That meant that I expected the reinstall cd to automatically reinstall. I didnt know that the computer would ignore the disk I have in the drive.

[lowbridge]

Once there, you can make the changes then save the changes and exit. It should pick up the new settings and try to boot from the CD. If it doesn't boot from the CD hit either cntl\alt\delete or power down, then power up to see what happens.

Question: My computer is/was running on Windows xp home edition, service pack 3, but my brothers CD is windows xp home edition, service pack 2. If I were to boot with a service pack 2 cd, will it work, will this mean I will lose my service pack 3 features (whatever they are)? Or anything like that?

[lowbridge]

"How old is your computer? Did you buy it from a place like Dell or get it custom built or get it from a big box store? What kind of processor do you have? "

I bought it directly from Dell. I ordered it over the internet from them, chose what features I wanted on it. Here are some of the the specs:

Intel® Core蒂2 Duo Proc E4500 (2.20GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800FSB)
-----------------------
-- Memory --
-- 2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz - 2DIMMs
-----------------------
-- Keyboard --
-- Dell USB Keyboard
-----------------------
-- Monitor --
-- Dell 20 inch Widescreen E207WFP Analog Flat Panel Display
-----------------------
-- Video Card --
-- Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 3100
-----------------------
-- Primary Hard Drive --
-- 320GB Serial ATA Hard Drive (7200RPM) w/DataBurst Cache蒂
-----------------------
-- Floppy Drive and Media Reader --
-- 3.5 Floppy Drive
-----------------------
-- Operating System --
-- Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
-----------------------
-- Network Interface --
-- Integrated 10/100 Ethernet
-----------------------
-- Modem and Wireless --
-- 56K PCI Data Fax Modem

-- Optical Drives --
-- Dual Drives: 16x DVD-ROM Drive + 16x (DVD+/-RW) Burner

-- Optional Ports --
-- IEEE 1394 Adapter with Cable

[lowbridge]

With the CD in the drive, cycle the power. A note will probably come up something like "hit any key to boot from CD." Hit the space bar or whatever. At this point you should see it boot into a screen that will give you the (R)epair option. Do that - it will rewrite all of the system files necessary to boot the machine.

But since my computer is a windows xp service pack 3 and my brothers reinstallation cd is a wondows xp service pack 2, will I have any problems with trying to boot up a "service pack 3" computer using a service pack 2 disc?

[lowbridge]

I switched to a Mac. Never need to run spyware or virus software and it has never crashed.

Question: With a MAC, what would happen if you tried to download the same virus, from the same place, the same software I (stupidly) downloaded? What does a MAC do in that circumstance that protects you from that virus?