I have a problem. Explorer.exe repeatedly starts and exits, when I try to
launch windows explorer or internet explorer, they are blocked and shut down
as well. the CPU usage is very high and network traffic is active. There is
nothing I can do!!

I have re-installed windows xp several times, and I have updated all updates
but as soon as I restart I am back to square one and have to do a re-install
again. I have also scanned my computer with f-secure's online scanner, and it
doesn't find anything. could it be a bios-virus or is the problem in the
windows xp update routine?

My install CD is a "windows xp professional edition with integrated sp2".

1) Download the following three items...

Trend Sysclean Package
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp

Latest Trend signature files.
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp

Adaware SE (personal free version)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/

Create a directory.
On drive "C:\"
(e.g., "c:\New Folder")
or the desktop
(e.g., "C:\Documents and Settings\lipman\Desktop\New Folder")

Download sysclean.com and place it in that directory.
Dowload the signature files (pattern files) by obtaining the ZIP file.
For example; lpt202.zip

Extract the contents of the ZIP file and place the contents in the same directory as
sysclean.com.

2) Update Adware with the latest definitions.
3) If you are using WinME or WinXP, disable System Restore
http://vil.nai.com/vil/SystemHelpDoc...SysRestore.htm
4) Reboot your PC into Safe Mode
5) Using both the Trend Sysclean utility and Adaware, perform a Full Scan of your
platform and clean/delete any infectors/parasites found.
(a few cycles may be needed)
6) Restart your PC and perform a "final" Full Scan of your platform using both the
Trend Sysclean utility and Adaware
7) If you are using WinME or WinXP,Re-enable System Restore and re-apply any
System Restore preferences, (e.g. HD space to use suggested 400 ~ 600MB),
8) Reboot your PC.
9) If you are using WinME or WinXP, create a new Restore point
10) Please report back your results

Dave




"parazyte" <parazyte> wrote in message
news:66b7
| I have a problem. Explorer.exe repeatedly starts and exits, when I try to
| launch windows explorer or internet explorer, they are blocked and shut down
| as well. the CPU usage is very high and network traffic is active. There is
| nothing I can do!!
|
| I have re-installed windows xp several times, and I have updated all updates
| but as soon as I restart I am back to square one and have to do a re-install
| again. I have also scanned my computer with f-secure's online scanner, and it
| doesn't find anything. could it be a bios-virus or is the problem in the
| windows xp update routine?
|
| My install CD is a "windows xp professional edition with integrated sp2".

Thanks for the help David.

I tried everything you said and here's my report:
1. Adaware found 65 items and put them in quarantine. But it seemed like it
found nothing seriously dangerous.
2. Sysclean ran so slow in safe mode that I had to run it in normal system
mode. It took approx. 1 sec per megabyte of file, so it would probably have
needed a week or two to complete. :)
3. Sysclean completed, found nothing, but generated some error codes when
trying to access files (Error code: -94 or something)

Anyway, it seems like I can use my computer normally as long as I stay away
from windows update. I turned off automatic update and turned off that system
restore thing which seems to work ill for me. By the way, maybe I should
always turn off system restore before I go to windows update? Maybe that was
what was wrong.

I have scanned the computer with sysclean, f-secure online scanner, norton
2004 and ad-aware. I don't have a virus... Something is wrong with the
config! And I suspect that the error lies somewhere between windows update,
the system restore feature and automatic update.

"David H. Lipman" wrote:
[..]

I glad its not an infector, albeit Safe Mode scans are better against stealthy infectors.

Now you need to look at the OS Kernel for the cause rather than outside factors as they seem
to be ruled out.

Dave




"parazyte" <parazyte> wrote in message
news:0f28
| Thanks for the help David.
|
| I tried everything you said and here's my report:
| 1. Adaware found 65 items and put them in quarantine. But it seemed like it
| found nothing seriously dangerous.
| 2. Sysclean ran so slow in safe mode that I had to run it in normal system
| mode. It took approx. 1 sec per megabyte of file, so it would probably have
| needed a week or two to complete. :)
| 3. Sysclean completed, found nothing, but generated some error codes when
| trying to access files (Error code: -94 or something)
|
| Anyway, it seems like I can use my computer normally as long as I stay away
| from windows update. I turned off automatic update and turned off that system
| restore thing which seems to work ill for me. By the way, maybe I should
| always turn off system restore before I go to windows update? Maybe that was
| what was wrong.
|
| I have scanned the computer with sysclean, f-secure online scanner, norton
| 2004 and ad-aware. I don't have a virus... Something is wrong with the
| config! And I suspect that the error lies somewhere between windows update,
| the system restore feature and automatic update.