Hi, I have a Gateway computer that is running Windows ME. The problem is you turn the computer on, and within 2 minutes, it freezes up, regardless of what I do. I am infested with spyware, and God knows what else (I haven't even bothered to do a virus scan.) I want to restore my system to factory settings, but I need to back up data. I bought a USB thumb drive, but I need a driver for it. I can start the computer in safe mode, but how can I load the driver in safe mode???????? any help is appreciated

While your PC is in safe mode, do a virus & spyware scan. You probably will not have to re-install, but if you want to, your PC will work OK to get the job done. If you try to back things up as it is, you may also back up the bugs.

Hold off on that disk wipe, try these things first: Disable your system restore: http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001012513122239?Open&src=sec_doc_nam&docid=2001111912274039&nsf=tsgeninfo.nsf&view=docid&dtype=&prod=&ver=&osv=&osv_lvl leave it diabled until the pc is clean. If you do not use SpyBot and Adaware, download, install, and go into in Safe Mode, and dump %TEMP%: double click your My Computer icon, put %TEMP% in address bar, click enter, highlight and delete all that will delete. some will not. Still in Safe Mode: Delete TIF files: click tools, click internet options, click delete files, when the box opens check 'delete off line content' click 'ok' , click delete cookies, click 'ok'. Empty your recycle bin. Run SpyBot and Adaware in Safe Mode: Spybot: Download and Read the SpyBot tutorial here: http://s89223352.onlinehome.us/mirror/spybot/index1.php Downloading hint: One other thing I do on downloading (anything) is, after you get the download (M$ does not structure its downloads so you can do this for some reason), after download BEFORE INSTALL, #1. log off the net, #2. disable AV (right click tray icon), #3. then ctrl-alt-delete to close AV in close-program, THEN (and only then) #4. click on the install procedure. Otherwise your AV might read the install as an invader and mess with it. Then manually shut down for two full minutes. Download it, Unzip the program, and immediately check for updates, install the updates and then do the scan. Let it fix everything marked in red. Reboot but not with restart, shut it down for two full minutes. You’ve got two measely minutes and it’s worth it, and let Spybot run if it indicates. To add an item to your ‘Ignore List” click on the little ‘+’ sign next to the item and left click it to highlight it, then right click it and a menu appears, select the function you want. When you are done reboot again same way. Two full minutes shut down is best. Also, go to the update page. Notice 3 icons across the top. Between "Search For Updates" and "Download Updates" there is an icon for the download mirror location. After you click on ‘search for updates,’ the one in the middle will change. If it doesn't say "Spybot.US by Rootboxen.net USA" click on the dropbox arrows and click on Rootboxen, and use only that one. If you got a "checksum error" trying to download --that's why. Ad-Aware: Download AdAware from http://www.lavasoft.de/ check for updates at "webupdate". I use these settings (green check) From main window click "Start" then make sure " Activate in-depth scan" has a green check next to it. Put a black dot nest to "Use custom scanning options” and click Customize" next to it, then green check these options: "Scan within archives" ,"Scan active processes", "Scan registry", "Deep scan registry" ,"Scan my IE Favorites for banned URL" "Scan my host-files" At the top of the “STATUS” page notice the Tweak (gear) icon. Click on it. The first setting is “Scanning Engine.” Click on the little plus sign next to it, and in the drop-down green check "Unload recognized processes during scanning", and “include basic Ad-Aware settings in log file”. Next click on the ‘+’ next to "Cleaning Engine" and in the drop-down green check "Let windows remove files in use at next reboot" and Delete quarantine objects after restoring” Click "proceed", that will save those settings. Click "Scan" When the scan finishes, mark everything for removal and delete it. Right-click the window and choose "select all" from the drop down menu, press ‘next’ and then ‘yes’ to the prompt: “remove all these entries”. However, if you have certain programs running that will give a false indicator of a browser hijack attempt, such as Script Sentry, which places a monitoring function in the registry and looks like a browser hijacker but is not, then you may want to add that to the ignore list because you want to keep it there to do it’s job. To add an item to the ignore list, put the a cursor on the file it reveals and left click it to highlight it, then right click it and a menu appears. Click on ‘ignore list.’ Shut down, two minute shut down is best, and let Adaware run on reboot if it indicates. ____________ If your system has been hijacked--changed start page that won't change back, or changes again--you will have to post a HiJackThis log to identify and fix the problems that way. Hold off on that until after you do the above things first, or just wipe the disk. Thresher

Hi guys, Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. I just wanted to thank you, your suggestions worked, and I don't have to go thru the hassle of restoring my system!!! Thanks again!