XP Pro - Desktop / Icons / Control Panel / Taskbar is Fubarsky

[Jakespeare]

XP Pro

I am NOT listing hardware to save time, and your effort.
This is NOT a hardware problem. If you think it is, that's
ok. I think it is not, and am not going to go there.

* VIRUS * No. Norton 2002 - ALL updates, and a complete scan. Yesterday.

I have read about these symptons before, but I can not remember where. It has happened to others.
MS KB is NO HELP on this........ spent 2 hours there.


Here is how my client BRIEFLY describes his problems.

desktop stuck in XP style,

desktop icons cannot be moved,

taskbar icon images swapped and scrambled (looks like one icon but selects a different application)

in the control panel: numerous commands nonfunctional. "Taskbar and Start Menu", "Folder Options" will not open and the "Passwords" link is missing.

The desktop is treating itself as a folder, with "Folder Tasks", "Other Places" and "Details" box menus stacked on the left and displacing the desktop image.

Each time I reboot, the icons are in a different position but still cannot be drag and dropped to move them.



>>>> I can, and will, supply a complete list of
software that is loaded on this system, but only as needed.
The OS was a clean install about 3 weeks ago.
System ran "PERFECT" according to client.

Have at it.

 

[linney]

Some thoughts on this complex problem.

Was system restore attempted?
What about running System File Checker (sfc /scannow).
Re install windows over itself and select the Repair Option.


A second virus scan by another virus vendor. There are several free online scans available.

Download a trial version of a trojan scanner and run that.

The following list is supplied via Zdnet Security and Virus forum -

http://forums.zdnet.com/group/zd.Se...t/@thread@first@F@300@D-,D@ALL?EXP=&VWM=&ROS=

(thanks Kieth)


Quote.......


You can get an online scan for viruses, trojans and variants at:
1. Symantec (Norton Anti-virus) Security Check - Free on-line scan

http://security1.norton.com/us/intro.asp?venid=sym&langid=us

Click the 'Run Virus Check' or 'Run Security Check' button.
or

http://www.symantec.com/securitycheck/

Click 'Find out today if you are safe'. Then click 'Scan for Viruses'.
2. Trend Micro (PC-cillin) - Free on-line Scan - very good at detecting 'joke' viruses

http://housecall.antivirus.com

A small Download Required
3. Panda's Active Scan

http://www.pandasoftware.com

4. McAfee - AVERT WebImmune

http://www.webimmune.net

- one file at a time

http://www.mcafee.com/myapps/vso/default.asp?

- click on 'Take a test drive' for full scan
5. Anti-virus Expert - Online Virus Scanner - does not uninstall itself, unsubscribe from email ASAP

http://www.centralcommand.com/scan.html

You can get a free full featured scanner at:
6. AVG (technical support is fee based)

http://www.grisoft.com

7. AntiVir

http://www.free-av.com/

8. F-Prot for DOS ( how to create floppy disks:

http://www.claymania.com/f-prot.html

)

http://www.datafellows.com/download-purchase/tools.shtml

or

http://www.complex.is/f-prot/Download.html

Anti-virus programs do not clean Trojans well.
Here is a good site on "How to Detect" Trojans and spyware using 'netstat -an'.

http://www.commodon.com/threat/frame.htm

Be sure to check the "How to Detect" Link at the top of page.
9. "The Cleaner" is free for 30 days and removes most Trojans…

http://www.moosoft.com

10. "TDS-3" is free for 14 days and removes most Trojans… They also have some free utilities listed.

http://tds.diamondcs.com.au/

11. "Tauscan" is free for 30 days and removes most Trojans…

http://www.agnitum.com/

12. Anti-Trojan 5 is free for 14 days and removes most Trojans…

http://www.anti-trojan.net/at.asp?l=en

13. PestPatrol - Evaluation version has no expiry date but does not allow you to remove pests

http://www.safersite.com/PestPatrol/PestPatrol.asp

14. Boclean - available by purchase only

http://www.nsclean.com/boclean.html

15. TrojanCheck - free for personal use

http://www.wilders.org/downloads.htm

End Quote.........