I'll try to make this as brief as possible. My computer had Windows NT installed and I added Windows XP (Professional). Before I could get anti-virus programs and a firewall, I received a lot of viruses. I tried to reinstall or repair XP, but since it's the Professional version on an NT base, I can't do a clean install and the disk for XP says that it can't repair it. I use Ad-Aware, Spybot, Norton Anti-virus, McAfee, Fix-It Utilities, a pop-up disabler, a firewall, don't accept cookies, and have high security level. However, I still get programs downloaded to my computer without my knowledge. Even when I put these urls on my "restricted sites". When I'm on the internet, it only lasts for about 30 mins before a "redirecter" gets installed and redirects all my browsers to ad websites. I then have to restart my computer because my computer stops responding, run all the anti-virus and spyware programs, restart the computer again, then I can go back online until the next crisis. I installed Office 2000 but when I open Windows or Excel, it tells me (1) That it can't find the disk or (2) That it's not responding and I have to restart the computer. I have the Office disk, but it won't let me repair it and when I do a clean install, it still happens. I had noticed that a lot of these programs that were downloaded without my knowledge were running in the Task Manager, so I would go in there each time I started my computer and end those processes. However, for the last month, my Task Manager refuses to start when I control-alt-delete. I choose "Task Manager" and it does nothing. Pretty much this: Everytime I start a different program, I have to restart. My internet security measures aren't working. My programs to fix the computer aren't working. (Nothing is responding) I get viruses and Malware often. I can't open my Task Manager to stop some of these DataMiners and etc. My disk check doesn't work. My backup system (restore) doesn't work. NOTHING WORKS ! I'm trying to open an online business and I'm trying to get this computer to function reasonably until I can afford a new one. I was hoping maybe I'm missing an action that would take care of most of these problems. Please help !

When it gets that bad about the only thing you can do is do a full format and re-install from the ground up. I don't know if you are using IE for a browser but it in itself is a big security hole. Try another browser like firefox. I would also suggest that your firewall may not be up to snuff or it is set wrong. Try Outpost or Sygate

You do have a problem no doubt... Hate to tell you this but blackbill is right.. Best thing to do is clean the hard d rive..I hope you have nothig on there that you must have, if so try starting it, and save the files to disc if you can. Than use the Xp cd to remove all the parttions first, obtain the disk setup wizard from Seagate, and do a low level format, this will take a few hours but it will wipe the drive, and bring it back to factory standard.. Once done create the partitions as you wish and do a clean install of XP.. If you have a recovery CD insted of the XP cd leave the drive blank once the low level format is done, boot the computer from the cd rom and let the recovery cd do the rest of the job for you, the chances are it will set up the partitions as per the factory settings. Get a real good Anti virus and bug catcher, Trend Micro PCcillin 2005 is agood all in one program.. www.trendmicro.com http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/drivers/discwiz.html The link above will take you to each of the web sites I was refering to. Hope you have plenty of time, this will not be a quick job... Hope that is of some help to you. IF IT AINT BROKE, DONT FIX IT A8N-SLI Deluxe AMD X64 3500+ Wnchst Corsair 2x512 DDR400 Dual Channel GV-NX6600128D PCIX Graphics Card Ggbyte GT Pro CPU Cooler Zalman VF700-CU VGA Cool

'I don't know if you are using IE for a browser but it in itself is a big security hole. Try another browser like firefox' - and Firefox is better? what did they find two weeks ago in Firefox, a security hole that had been fixed in IE how many years ago,4? There is NO completely safe browser. Their very nature makes them security risks in that they would not work if they were tightened down to be completely safe.

Agreed... nothing is perfect. But IE has been around long enough so that it's first in line for attack. Given enough time firefox will be the same. But at this point in time firefox is the safer of the two.

You don't say what version of XP Pro you have- vanilla, sp1, sp2? I recommend you do a clean install, make sure the MS firewall is enabled, go on the internet and download/install the free version of Zone Alarm firewall. The default settings are fine. Then go on the internet and install the MS updates- sp2 if necessary and the later critical updates. I do not like Norton myself, and have used My eTrust AV for a long time. Not free, but worth the $30-$40 dollars. Anyway make sure you install and update the AV you select.

Just a few things you could try, to see if you can pin down the problem before taking the nuclear option. (Apologies if you have already tried these). First, check for Windows updates to make sure your copy of XP is fully patched. Second, run msconfig and disable all startup items, then reintroduce them one by one to see if you can identify which one causes the problems. Third, check the old startup programs that we tend to forget about these days, ie autoexec.bat and config.sys (not to mention win.ini and system.ini). I came across one redirector which installed itself in the "run" section of the registry, but also in autoexec.bat, so even though it was cleaned from the registry, it bounced back every time you rebooted. I've a feeling the others are right about reformatting though...