unable to use start menu or task bar

  • Thread starter Thread starter suzannencali
  • Start date Start date
S

suzannencali

after startup of my computer I can't access my start menu
or task bar HELP me please ! Other symptons: when online
my system freezes up sometimes, even when opening my task
manager I can't do anything. I have an EMachines C2160
w/windows xp home edition.
I appreciate any help or advice to remedy my problem.

Thank You,

Suzanne n cali
 
after startup of my computer I can't access my start menu
or task bar HELP me please ! Other symptons: when online
my system freezes up sometimes, even when opening my task
manager I can't do anything. I have an EMachines C2160
w/windows xp home edition.
I appreciate any help or advice to remedy my problem.

Thank You,

Suzanne n cali
Click to expand...

Suzanne,

Do you see any clues in Event Viewer (Control Panel - Administrative Tools) when
this happens?

How old is the computer? Could it be having overheating problems cause of
ventilation / dust accumulation in the fan filter? Northern California is very
dusty - I have to check my filters a lot.

If that's not any help, consider a malware problem.

How current is your virus protection? Try these free online virus scans:
<http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/license.php>
<http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm>
<http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp>
<http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp>

Now check for, and learn to defend against, additional carriers of infection.

First, download LSP-Fix and WinsockXPFIx from <http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm>,
and CWShredder from <http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html>. All are
free.

Next, close all Internet Explorer and Outlook windows, then run CWShredder.
Have it fix all variants.

Now check for, and remove, spyware. Get HijackThis
<http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155> and Spybot S&D
<http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?page=download>. Both free.
1) Install and run Spybot. First update it ("Search for updates"), then run a
scan ("Check for problems"). Trust Spybot, and make all recommended deletions.
2) Install and run HijackThis. Do NOT make any changes immediately. Save the
HJT Log.
3) Have your HJT log interpreted by experts at one or more of the following
forums (and post it here):
<http://forums.net-integration.net/>
<http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/>
<http://forums.tomcoyote.org/>
<http://www.wilderssecurity.com/>

If removal of any spyware affects your ability to access the internet (some
spyware builds itself into the network software, and its removal may damage your
network), run LSP-Fix and / or WinsockXPFIx.

Finally, improve your chances for the future.

Harden your browser. There are various websites which will check for
vulnerabilities, here are three which I use.
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
http://bcheck.scanit.be/bcheck/
https://testzone.secunia.com/browser_checker/

Harden your operating system. Check at least monthly for security updates.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Block possibly dangerous websites with a Hosts file. Three Hosts file sources I
use:
http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
(The third is included, and updated, with Spybot (see above)).

Maintain your Hosts file with:
eDexter <http://www.accs-net.com/hosts/get_hosts.html>
Hostess <http://accs-net.com/hostess/>

Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
 
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