Hi, My daughter has aquired some sort of virus that pretty much disabled her machine. As soon as the computer boots, an obscene email is displayed. Same one each time. I cannot get into regedit but I can get into msconfig. I can't load AVG7...6 has run out. I can't load most EXE files. ANy ideas? If this is a duplicate post, I apologize. Billy

How to Perform a Clean Boot in Windows XP To help troubleshoot error messages or other issues when you cannot determine the cause of the issue, disable common startup programs, settings, and drivers to eliminate possible software conflicts when you start Microsoft Windows XP. This procedure is known as "clean booting." (Can be done by way of Windows Safe-Mode, logon as Administrator, but where it says RESTART, restart into normal Windows.) How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP and that one is a heavy duty article. Print the articles for reference. To find out what each Startup(or Process) item does or means, and any recommendation as to if you should close the process: Task List Programs Also look here if you want: The Process Library Not all found at each place. Each advertises their software product. Check for Spyware: Spyware info.from Microsoft

Hello, Billy. I suggest that you download Microsoft AntiSpyware (go to: http://www.microsoft.com/spyware and download it from there - it's free) and do a full in-depth scan. After you do the antispyware scan, go to Housecall and do a free virus scan/clean. To achieve this, just go to housecall.trendmicro.com and click on "Free Virus Scan." Lastly, go to download.com and download HijackThis and follow the instructions. Hope this helped! :) -Andrew

Andrew, Went to Housecall just for the heck of it on my machine@work. Clicked on one of the viruses in the virus advisory box called Worm_Fatso.a. Low and behold that is exactly what my daighter's machine. The exact obscene message. I hope I can follow the removal directions. Thanks for the tip. Billy

Anytime! :D -Andrew