My boss uses the company laptop and, despite my efforts to keep it up to date and protected, he manages to accumulate viruses and spyware. The most recent problem prevents a full virus scan (Norton 2002)or Spybot S&D from running - the system shuts down midway. I've watched it to see if it's shutting down at the same place, but it is not. I thought it might be hardware - the machine just overheating - but I worked on it for hours doing other things without problem, as long as I don't run the scans. (The boss got annoyed and bought a new laptop. Can't wait to see what he does with that one). The other suspicious factor is that autoprotect, despite being turned on, never is on when the computer restarts. In the past I've gotten around these types of problems by using TrendMicro's online virus scan, but that also causes the machine to shut down. I've been able to use the intelligent updater to get the virus signatures current, but that doesn't help if I can't run a scan. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Anthony

Have you tried Safe Mode ? You can then run NAV or d/l AntiVir (free) http://www.free-av.com/index.htm , install and run in safe mode.

Run Spybot & Norton when Windows is started in 'safe-mode'. There are some bugs that can stop the above programs from running but in safe-mode you may be lucky. Start PC & keep tapping the F8 key and select Safe-Mode from the options that show. Use the keyboard arrow & enter keys.

Sorry, should have mentioned that I tried that. Same result. That's what made me think it might be a hardware problem, but that wouldn't explain why auto protect keeps shutting down.

It is possible that, since you are in Win Xp (or Me), that you have to disable your system restore to clean those files to get rid of this bug. That is, it MAY not yet be in the system, but only broadcasting from the system restore or temp files, possibly. Read this: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001111912274039?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam make sure hidden files are exposed: http://www.xtra.co.nz/help/0,,4155-1916458,00.html Running the scans from safe mode is what I would do, also: dump the %TEMP%, cookies, TIF: delete files--check the box >>delete all off-line content, dump the recycle bin, run Stinger just to see if it's effective: http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/ Thresher

Okay, I did disable system restore, but I didn't go into the detail that you describe. I'll try that and report back. Thanks. Anthony

Hi. I'm bookmarking this page as I have the EXACT same problem, only I am on a win2000 upgrade from 98ME. I have all current patches I have trendmicro. Can't run safemode can run scandisk from 98 start up disk When I shut down... it takes two times to boot up. I cannot run lavasoft ad-aware, or defrag, or scan for viruses, within seconds to a minute or two, it shuts the computer down. In fact after a major crash in November, I've not been able to defrag (and no it is not tasks running) - No one knows, but lost c and d drive on the same day. Just fried. So got a new seagate 80 gig harddrive. And, lots of tissue paper for my tears :( That was in November. Now: It's like the system thinks it is too hot and shuts you down, or like it is dumping memory like crazy and it shuts down as if out of resources. I have 526 megs of ram, and as long as I don't mess with trying to use the above as you have mentioned, computer runs fine. Except today, it decided to give me the the BIG blue window with dumping memory.. 3 or four times. I changed setting on bios and somehow got on, again. I did disk clean up and had more files than I have ever seen and dumped all my internet temp files. But, I have been wanting to get into safemode to try to run a scan from there. I did have the twaintec.dll got rid of it, got it back two days, later... got rid of it, and so far so good after three days. Suggestions I have gotten. incompatibility for motherboard and harddrive. The good old battery trick. (I'll try that tomorrow) Fellow could not get into safemode, and read to take out his usb 2 - he had two. Didn't work. But saw his battery in his mobo (which, I am presuming stands for motherboard) and replaced it, and he could get into safemode. By the way safemode starts... runs the system32/files down to muy.exe then quits. Oh the orange light keeps showing that it is trying, but after 30 minutes of letting it try, I shut her down. I do not have the sasser worm. Sorry about your bosses computer. I do have a virus protection, so was very surprised to get that twaintec.dll the one that makes all the windows open in your face. Anyway, any ideas, let me know. And, I'll see if a battery helps. Teresa