Friend got DSL, now computer is acting weird. I'm stumped.

[Viper87227]

A friend of mine got his DSL today, and after the intallation, he went to reboot his computer, and it wouldnt. It woudl get to verify DMI pool then it would reboot and windows would bring up its windows did not start proprly crap. I try safe mode with networking, and I can get on windwos and everything looks as it shoud. I tryed getting online, and I could. So then I rebooted, and I could get into windows that time, but after about a second or two, everything disapreads. All icons and the start bar are gone. Restart, same thing. I can go into safe mode and it all looks fine. Anyone got an idea as to why everything is disapearing. This never happeded till he got the internet. I was almost thinking a virus, but how could he get a virus having the internet for 5 minutes, I dont think its that. Any suggestions woudl rock.

[KillerB]

Actually you can get a virus in a matter of minutes of being conected to the net without having proper protection (firewall and virus scanner) in place. If you can get into safe mode and onto the net try running a full virus scan just to be sure. Trend Micro (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp) has an online scan and so does Symantec (http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym) along with numerous others.
If there is no virus' I would check hardware. Did you have to install a new NIC? Try moving it to a different slot, it maybe conflicting with another device (prehaps sound or video?) when the drivers are trying to initalize during a regular boot.

[Viper87227]

Actually you can get a virus in a matter of minutes of being conected to the net without having proper protection (firewall and virus scanner) in place. If you can get into safe mode and onto the net try running a full virus scan just to be sure. Trend Micro (http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp) has an online scan and so does Symantec (http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym) along with numerous others.
If there is no virus' I would check hardware. Did you have to install a new NIC? Try moving it to a different slot, it maybe conflicting with another device (prehaps sound or video?) when the drivers are trying to initalize during a regular boot.


No virus. NIC is onboard. No problems with that, I used my network to send him files when I built the system

[r00k]

also try using the F8 menu to use last known good configuration. i've had that work occasionally.

[KillerB]

Hmmm...still sounds like some kind of driver conflict seeing as it will boot into safemode but not into windows. Maybe try uninstalling video drivers and rebooting or sound and rebooting and see if you can get into windows without losing your desktop. Just a suggestion, good luck!

[Viper87227]

Hmmm...still sounds like some kind of driver conflict seeing as it will boot into safemode but not into windows. Maybe try uninstalling video drivers and rebooting or sound and rebooting and see if you can get into windows without losing your desktop. Just a suggestion, good luck!


Tried uninstalling and resintalling the software, no go. I think I am ready to just format and reinstall windows, all hes gunna loose is starcraft.

[Warrior]

i would format and Reinstall...and before you acually think about getting online..install a firewall AND antivirus, or this will happen again....i also believe that your explorer.exe is crashing..something must have tampered with it...re-installing windows will be the only way to get rid of this mess...but DO NOT GET ON INTERNET WITHOUT FIREWALL OR ANTIVIRUS!

[IceBawx]

I also wouldn't use the software sent by the ISP. With the correct Lan drivers, you should be able to get online without ever having to install any ISP software.

[BakedON]

i would format and Reinstall...and before you acually think about getting online..install a firewall AND antivirus, or this will happen again....i also believe that your explorer.exe is crashing..something must have tampered with it...re-installing windows will be the only way to get rid of this mess...but DO NOT GET ON INTERNET WITHOUT FIREWALL OR ANTIVIRUS!
this makes me laugh....

[Viper87227]

Guys, im telling you, its not a virus. He has SP2 windows firewall, AVG 7 Free, and AdawareSE on there. With all that going, and without visiting any websites, no way in hell he woudl contract a virus IMIEADILTY after isntalling the internet. It wasn't delayed, it was imeadite. The software screwed it up somehow, but formatting seems to be the only fix. Don't talk to me like I am an idiot.

[Elledan]

Never install the software the ISP provides unless you're forced at gunpoint ;)

As long as WinXP's built-in firewall is enabled, he should be safe from external attacks.

SP2 has been known to mess with some systems, so you might want to look into that as well.

[Mauli]

yeah i was wondering the same thing, why would u need to istnall ISP sofrware?

You have dsl, you have a lancard, you plugg it in, then you create new connection and tehre you go... thats all you have to do..

[Viper87227]

I know, i know...the isp software is crap. I didn't want to install it, and I new it woudl work, but my buddy insisted otherwise.

[Mauli]

so is it fixed now?

[Phoenix86]

With all that going, and without visiting any websites, no way in hell he woudl contract a virus IMIEADILTY after isntalling the internet. It wasn't delayed, it was imeadite. The software screwed it up somehow, but formatting seems to be the only fix. Don't talk to me like I am an idiot.I'll just state that "with all that going on" you can still get infected, you should never rule something out because you don't think it can happen. The only thing keeping virii off of that machine your describing is the SP2 firewall, *assuming* it's setup correctly. Simply put, you can get a virus off of an unprotected internet connection within minutes. Assuming SP2's firewall is golden is also ignorant. Sure it's good, but nothing is perfect.

I know, i know...the isp software is crap. I didn't want to install it, and I new it woudl work, but my buddy insisted otherwise.
Well, if he's wanting you to fix it, perhaps he should listen to you in the first place... Gotta love that slap in the face "I'm not going to do what you recommend, but when it breaks I want you to fix it."

Anyways, is it throwing any errors? What about in the event viewer app/system logs, anything there on boot? Have you fixed/reformatted it yet?

[Viper87227]

I'll just state that "with all that going on" you can still get infected, you should never rule something out because you don't think it can happen. The only thing keeping virii off of that machine your describing is the SP2 firewall, *assuming* it's setup correctly. Simply put, you can get a virus off of an unprotected internet connection within minutes. Assuming SP2's firewall is golden is also ignorant. Sure it's good, but nothing is perfect.


Well, if he's wanting you to fix it, perhaps he should listen to you in the first place... Gotta love that slap in the face "I'm not going to do what you recommend, but when it breaks I want you to fix it."

Anyways, is it throwing any errors? What about in the event viewer app/system logs, anything there on boot? Have you fixed/reformatted it yet?


I ended up just doing a system restore to the day before he installed it. Working like a champ so far. Thanks for the replys.

[laserlights2000]

Guys, im telling you, its not a virus. He has SP2 windows firewall, AVG 7 Free, and AdawareSE on there. With all that going, and without visiting any websites, no way in hell he woudl contract a virus IMIEADILTY after isntalling the internet. It wasn't delayed, it was imeadite. The software screwed it up somehow, but formatting seems to be the only fix. Don't talk to me like I am an idiot.


Haha, you have no idea. You can throw a system on the net, and it'll be affected by a worm/virus instantly without viewing any websites. For future reference, make sure you run live update, or whatever program your AV uses to update. Nobody is talking to you like an idiot, you should appreciate any advice given to you here.

[Mauli]

k heres the story you can be infected by a virus while just having a cosntant connection to the internet. Windows automaticcaly accesses on it, also, the internet is sending packages back and forth as well. That means that u can be infected anytime.

Second, and i don't want to turn this into a discussion about SP2 becuase i ma sure there have been lots of those, a microsoft firewall, i wouldnt trust whatsoever. Get a real, a respected one. and even that doesnt hundret percent protect you from all the evil stuff from out of there.

[Phoenix86]

Second, and i don't want to turn this into a discussion about SP2 becuase i ma sure there have been lots of those, a microsoft firewall, i wouldnt trust whatsoever. Get a real, a respected one. and even that doesnt hundret percent protect you from all the evil stuff from out of there.
:confused:

Why do you trust the OS, but not trust the firewall? You don't have the source code of the OS to *know* it's trustworthy, do you?

You trust MS enough to install their OS, think about the implications of that for a minute...

I'm not trying to say their firewall is the best thing since sliced bread, but what are your reasons for not trusting it?

If you don't trust MS, uninstall thir OS. I guarantee you if they are not trustworthy, the firewall is the least of your concerns if your running their OS.

[BakedON]

k heres the story you can be infected by a virus while just having a cosntant connection to the internet. Windows automaticcaly accesses on it, also, the internet is sending packages back and forth as well. That means that u can be infected anytime.

Second, and i don't want to turn this into a discussion about SP2 becuase i ma sure there have been lots of those, a microsoft firewall, i wouldnt trust whatsoever. Get a real, a respected one. and even that doesnt hundret percent protect you from all the evil stuff from out of there.
Hey! TWO things that made me laugh in the same thread! WHAT ARE THEY ODDS! :)

[Mauli]

hah thanks guys

k i can tell you why i am usign widnows, there is no alternative for me. And windows XP is not a trustworthy OS, but i am dependend on it. With thrid party programs you can make the OS more secure, and i did like SP1 not two. I acutally like XP too, although all of us know that there are a countless number of securty issues. Well i am not doing aynthing on this mashine that a would be of a hackers interest, and if it gets hacked, then ill resintall it. I dont really care.

my reasons for not trusting the firewall is because i didnt turst hte first one, and i ams ure that i cannot trust this one either. plus i have only had fuss with sp2..